152 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



up the deep duff in which it was burning, $7 worth of dynamite, as he says 

 doing the work of forty men. The varied experiences of the different men 

 during the past season will be made of service to all of them by means of a 

 conference of those who were retained for the winter, which is to be held 

 some time in the near future. 



The upshot of the matter on the personal side is this — there are 

 plenty of capable, ambitious, right-minded men to be had in these forest 

 regions of New York State, ready to undertake this work for the com- 

 pensation offered and perfectly capable of adding to their efficiency through 

 experience and training. If these men can be had in all cases, given the 

 work of fire protection as their sole business, and organized in a way com- 

 mensurate with their own ability, New York can have at moderate cost 

 a system of fire protection that will surprise many of its citizens — a 

 system equal at least to that of any American community. 



Control of Railroads. 



Those lines of the New York Central and the Delaware and Hudson 

 Railways which run through the great northern forest were a year ago put 

 under the surveillance of the Public Service Commission so far as their 

 engines are concerned, and the results of the thorough and steady super- 

 vision of their inspector have been very apparent. Patrols were, however, 

 maintained by the railroads under direction from this office and the clean- 

 ing up of their rights of way by these roads the past season was looked 

 after by our patrolmen and inspectors. The Delaware and Hudson Rail- 

 way performed this work in a satisfactory manner and the New York Cen- 

 tral went to large expense in cleaning up along the main line of the Mohawk 

 and Malone road, doing this year which they were under obligation to do 

 in past years. The Carthage and Adirondack branch and the line from 

 Tupper Lake to Moira were not, however, dealt with in any such way and in 

 November a report on the condition of right of way along their lines was 

 handed to the Legal Department of this Commission for attention. 



There was also made twice during the season, in early August and in 

 the last of October, a thorough inspection of the rights of way, not only 

 of the above-named lines but of all the railroads in the forest preserve 



