FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 119 



patrolmen, lumbermen, men in the employ of the railroads, and experts 

 in various lines. From them a large amount of testimony was secured as to 

 the number of fires caused by railroads; extent of these fires, damages, reme- 

 dies required, means of fighting fires, the attention given these matters by 

 the railroads, value of patrols, etc. 



The following railroads were investigated at the hearings: Mohawk 

 and Malone Division, New York Central Railroad; Saranac Branch, New 

 York Central Railroad; Chateaugay Division of the Delaware and Hudson 

 Railroad. The attorneys representing the New York Central Railroad did 

 not question the facts that the locomotives were the cause of hundreds of 

 fires, but they did try to minimize the damages produced thereby. The 

 Delaware and Hudson Railroad did not appear at their first hearing, 

 which would seem to indicate they also admitted beyond question the fact 

 that the engines were causing fires. The cause of fires from locomotives 

 is not entirely a case of negligence on the part of the company in not supply- 

 ing satisfactory screens and ashpans. It seems to be a conceded fact that 

 an engine screened fine enough to prevent the escape of sparks so small that 

 they will cool before reaching ground, interferes with the draft so that the 

 required amount of steam cannot be generated. Ashpans are imperfect, 

 and at their best are difficult to keep in a satisfactory condition. There 

 is a matter, however, where the railroads have been negligent and have not 

 complied with the provisions of the law. The law states that " all railroads 

 running through forest land shall cut and remove from their right of way 

 at least twice each year all inflammable material." Still, if this were done 

 the damage from fire during the past season along the railroads would not 

 have been prevented, although it might have been reduced, nor would it 

 give adequate protection against fire so long as the locomotives run through 

 our woodlands belching forth showers of red hot cinders and scattering 

 large live coals from the ashpans.* 



People not familiar with the Adirondacks can hardly understand that 

 there are places where one can travel along highways for nearly twenty 

 miles without seeing a house, and even along the railroads for half that 

 distance. If a fire starts in one of these isolated places it is often discovered 



* Since the above was written the Public Service Commission has granted the application of 

 Commissioner Whipple and now the principal Adirondack railroads are burning oil from 8. a. m. to 

 8 p. m. during the months from April to October inclusive. — Ed. 



