J 84 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



than last year. At the start, in the spring, the soil seems to have had much 

 less than its normal amount of moisture because of the drought of the 

 preceding year and this condition seems to have held the season through, 

 the runoff of the streams and rivers being steadily low. During the early 

 part of the season, however, and during the period of change into the new 

 system, fires were mercifully small in number and severity. June, July and 

 August averaged dry, but fortunately, after each considerable dry period, 

 moderate rain came down and moistened up the surface of the ground. 

 There was, indeed, during the course of the season one very threatening 

 day. This was Sunday, August 15th. On that day, after prolonged dry 

 weather, a heavy wind sprang up and at once small catches of fire which 

 had not previously been known of sprang into threatening proportions. 

 More than twenty fires are reported to this Department as of that day. 

 There were five in the district of Patrolman Collins alone. Had there 

 been extensive fires abroad at the time or had the wind and dry weather 

 lasted for several days, almost certainly the State would have suffered 

 material loss. As it was, the wind blew up a storm and in the course of 

 the next two days an inch of rain fell all through the country, the most 

 generous rain that was had during the season. But even this rain did not 

 raise the rivers — it only soaked into the ground. Later in the season 

 the rainfall was again light, October particularly being much below the 

 normal, and conditions were right almost any time for heavy conflagrations, 

 if the fires that started had not been promptly taken care of. They were 

 taken care of, however, and no one familiar with the circumstances can 

 doubt that large values were saved to New York State thereby. In con- 

 clusion, it may be said that the season was dry enough so that heavy damage 

 might easily have been experienced and the record of fires and of losses 

 sustained is, therefore, one of which it is felt the Department has no cause 

 to be ashamed. 



