would have been burned in calm weather at the State's 

 expense, just as was done a few years ago at Blackduck, 

 and this catastrophe, I feel satisfied, would not have 

 occurred. 



Mr. J. P. Neal, of Duluth, representing this ofi&ce 

 and writing from Hibbing under date of September 8th, 

 says: 



"I went to Chisholm with Mayor Weirick, of Hibbing, this 

 P. M., and we looked over the sitviation together. From many- 

 sources I learn that fires have been in progress back in the woods 

 for at least six weeks. These were not looked after at all; the 

 townspeople seem to have felt perfectly secure, because there were 

 no woods near the town. Even at four o'clock on Saturday the 

 Chisholm people considered that the town was not in danger and 

 at that time, even, made no effort to check the fire. In an hour 

 the town was doomed, fire leaping across acres of open clearing 

 in clutch of the gale and set the wooden houses on fire. The water- 

 works plant was among the first buildings to be destroyed, leaving 

 the people helpless. It seems to me that the neglect of the small 

 forest fires was, to say the least, imprudent, but it is true that 

 such fires are most difficult to quench entirely. They keep spring- 

 ing up after they are seemingly put out." 



It was Mr. L. W. Ayer who ascertained the origin 

 of the Chisholm fire. Writing to this office under date 

 of Duluth, September 30th, he says: 



"I came into Duluth last evening from Chisholm and vicinity. 

 Sent you a telegram this morning, 'Chisholm fire located,' etc. 

 Thinking of it after sending, it occurred to me you might understand 

 I had traced it to the party responsible therefor. This I did not 

 accomplish. In fact, it is practically impossible to identify the 

 guilty parties, but I have without question located the exact spot 

 where the fire originated. Was caused by carelessness of fishing 

 party from Chisholm. Referring to the map, you will find a chain 

 of small lakes in the southwest corner of township 59, range 21. 

 Fishing parties from Chisholm have been out to these lakes every 

 Saturday and Sunday through the summer. Their principal 

 rendezvous was on Hobson and Hahn lakes, as they were nearer 



