244 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



On the 14th of July there was a fire at Gull Pond, which was put out easily. It 

 burned over about one-half acre. Damage $5. The origin of this fire is unknown. 



Small fires started up also at Bridge Brook Bay, Hamlin Bay, Back Island Bay, and 

 on Long Island, all of which I put out before any damage was done. After careful 

 investigation I find that all of these fires were started by hunters and fishermen who 

 failed to put out their fires on leaving camp or stopping places. There was not much 

 actual damage done ; but it was a very dry time, and if these fires had not been 

 thoroughly attended to, a large amount of property would have been destroyed. 



James Wardner, Firewarden for the town of Brighton, reports: 



On May 2, 1895, a fire occurred in this town near the line of the Adirondack and 

 St. Lawrence Railroad which was started by sparks from a locomotive. It happened 

 on the premises of Dayton Bryant and Lorenzo Chase, and if it had not been fought 

 promptly would have destroyed their houses and barns. About five acres were burned 

 over. No damage. Expense in fighting this fire was $6.00. 



On May 25th a spark from a locomotive on the Adirondack and St. Lawrence 

 Railroad caused a fire on the premises of J. M. Wardner. Two acres of meadow were 

 burned over. Damage $20. Cost of extinguishing same and watching fire, $4. 



On July 10th a fire on some waste land was set by a train on the Adirondack and 

 St. Lawrence Railroad. About one-half acre was burned over. No damage. 

 Expenses, $1.00. 



Paul Smith, town of Brighton, reports : 



A fire occurred in this town July 30th, 1895, on Lot 84, Township 18, which burned 

 over one hundred acres. The damage, at a low estimate, amounted to $200. 



A town highway was being built through the land referred to, and the men were 

 burning the timber, brush, etc., as fast as the right of way was cleared. On account of 

 the heavy winds they lost control of the fire and could not stop its spreading over the 

 ground mentioned. 



James W. Littlejohn, Forester, of Loon Lake, Franklin county, reports: 



On Saturday, May 25th, 1895, a f* re started by James Hodge, town of Franklin, 

 for the purpose of clearing land, got beyond his control, and did considerable damage 

 to forest land belonging to Edward Denio and others, and endangered forest land 

 belonging to the State. He had a "bee" that day to assist in clearing the land. The 

 fire was started several days before, but did not become unmanageable until Saturday. 

 Mr. Hodge told Mr. Denio that he was not going to burn the fallow, but would have 

 the firewarden do it. But he neither notified the firewarden nor the owners of 

 adjoining lands. The people are anxious that the man shall be punished. I have 

 to-day sent the particulars to the district-attorney. 



