TOP-LOPPING IN THE ADIRONDACKS 61 



doubted danger of starting fires which will bvim indefinitely in the duff 

 in addition to the danger of destroying more or less young growth and 

 mature standing timber. Cutting operations are carried on during 

 the summer months, so that burning of brush as a regular part of the 

 operation is clearly impracticable. The only way the situation could be 

 handled, were the cost not prohibitive, would be to pile the brush away 

 from living trees and btim the piles at a favourable time, as in the fall 

 when the ground is wet on account of rain or snow. This method 

 was, however, eliminated on accotint of cost. 



After much deliberation, the Committee appointed by the Con- 

 ference, decided that the enforced lopping of tops of coniferous species- 

 was the most feasible measure that could be considered in connection 

 with the lessening of the slash menace on futvtre operations. Therefore, 

 the Committee, on which the lumbering interests were strongly repre- 

 sented, recommended the enactment of legislation which became law 

 early in 1909, in the following form : 



"Every person who shall, within the forest preserve cotmties 

 of the state, cut or cause to be cut, or allow to be cut any coniferous 

 trees for sale or other piorposes, shall cut off or lop or cause to be 

 cut off or lopped from the said trees, at the time of cutting the said 

 trees, all the limbs or branches thereof, tmless the said trees be cut 

 for sale and use with the branches thereon." 



During the four summers that have elapsed since the passage of 

 this law, climatic conditions have been such that fire danger has been 

 very materially lower than in 1908. In addition, the severe lessons of 

 1908 and of previous years have resvdted in a very much more efiScient 

 State fire protective organization, in the form of special patrols and a 

 system of mountain lookout stations. The ejctent and efficiency of the 

 lookout station system has been increased through the co-operation 

 of the Federal Government under the terms of the Weeks Law, which 

 provides for co-operation with states for the prevention of forest fires 

 on the watersheds of navigable streams. 



The fire danger has also been very materially decreased through 

 the issuance in 1909, of an order by the PubHc Service Commission of 

 the State of New York, requiring the use of oil as fuel on locomotives 

 running through the Adirondacks in the day time, between April isth 

 and November ist of each year. NattiraUy the worst and most exten- 

 sive slashings in the Adirondacks were to be found along, or within, 

 a few miles of the railways, since ease of transportation is the governing 

 consideration in determining whether lumbering operations on a par- 

 ticular tract are financially practicable. At the same time, the danger 

 of these slashings catching fire from the coal-burning railways was very 

 great, on account of the escape of sparks from the locomotives and of 



