414 



A. That is another hypothesis; I don't assent to it or dissent from 

 it. 



Q. Do you know how many trees — take a large tract of land — 

 how many soft-wood trees on the average, will be furnished by an 

 acre of land? 



A. I don't know very much about in; there are some parts of the 

 woods where the trees are almost all soft wood. 



Q. Bidges and streaks and places ? 



A. Yes, and others where there are very few. 



Q. Take a large tract, the average number of trees per acre, you 

 are unable to state ? 



A. Yes. 



Q. You have no information from the lumbermen or others that 

 would enable you to make an estimate ? 



A. I think I have heard estimates here, but I don't recall them now. 



Q. How many times have you been in the Adirondacks, yourself, 

 that region ? 



A Oh, I should think seven or eight; more than that. 



Q. Did you ever see a fire while you were there ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Large fire ' — running fire — what is called a fire in the woods? 



A. I have seen a fire in the woods. 



Q. You noticed how it runs and leaps ? 



A. Yes. 



Q. And the coals will fly, and the fire brands, for a long distance ? 



A. I can't say I have seen an extensive fire. • 



Q. Have been over pieces of ground that have been lumbered? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Lumbered only a short time before, or were they old lumbered 

 jobs ? 



A. I think they were all old lumbered jobs. 



Q. Did you notice the tree tops scattered through the woods ? 



A. I have seen them. 



Q. And, in your judgment, would scattered tree tops, lying up as 

 they fell, when they were dry, and with the wind, promote fires in the 

 woods, make it dangerous ? 



A. Unquestionably. 



Q. And as many as twenty to thirty tree tops on an acre would pro- 

 mote fires very much? 



A. All authorities agree in saying that. 



Q. And if an act were passed by the Legislature requiring lumber- 

 men to cut off the branches and let it flap on the ground, would not 

 that tend to prevent/fires, in your judgment? 



