FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 3 7 



Fire loss: 1903 1908 



Standing timber $695 , 282 $629,084 



Pulpwood and logs : 153,391 128,528 



Buildings 34,443 44- 5 2 3 



$883,116 $802,135 



Cost of fighting fires $ x 53 ,000 $189,661 



These figures are very significant. The period of drought was more 

 severe and considerably longer in 1908 than in 1903, thereby making the 

 fire danger much greater and affording what was probably the most favorable 

 condition for conflagrations ever known in the Adirondack region. Please 

 note the larger number of fires in 1908, yet the acreage burned over was less 

 than three-fourths of that of 1903 and the loss one-tenth less. 



These results cannot be explained, — in view of the infinitely worse 

 conditions of the past year, — except by greater departmental activity, and 

 volunteer work done by individuals. An important factor was, that for 

 the first time we had established a thorough patrol on the railroads, whereby 

 over 2,400 incipient fires were extinguished before serious damage was done. 

 Many of these fires are not included in the above tabulation. Yet, as already 

 said, there were eighty-nine fires started along railroad lines which resulted 

 seriously. There seems to be no good reason for the provision of law that 

 requires the State to pay one- half of the cost of patrolling railroads. The con- 

 dition is created by railroad companies and should be cared for by railroad 

 companies. In order to get them patrolled, the State should have the right 

 to put the patrols on as necessity requires, and the railroad companies should 

 pay for the work necessary to protect the forests from fire from this cause. 



Reasonable provision has never been made to protect our forests from 

 fire. Fires are the one great danger. The cause and opportunity for fires, 

 so far as possible, must be eliminated. That this may be done, a system of 

 paid patrols should be established. For this work, only the best men will 

 suffice. They ought to be well paid so that good men may be secured. The 

 Commission should have a free hand in selecting them. They should have 

 ample authority to enforce their orders. Danger from fire is so imminent, 

 the necessity for preservation so great, that, at whatever cost it may entail, 



