FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 1 85 



Fire Service Disbursements to Nov. 5, 1909 



ADIRONDACK. CATSKILLS. TOTAL. 



Salaries of superintendents and 



patrolmen $13,087 19 $2,137 38 $15,224 57 



Expenses of superintendents and 



patrolmen 7. 2I 3 2 6 i>*94 20 8,407 46 



Office expenses 1,19122 8 50 1, 199 72 



Telephone 5,54114 417 32 5,95846 



Tools 812 44 24 75 837 19 



Protective work 120 20 15 28 135 48 



Total $27,96545 $3,79743 $31,76288 



Expended for fighting fire in towns ._ 8,412 53 



$40,175 41 

 Rebates paid towns for fires in 1 908 2,642 87 



$42,817 28 

 To be rebated by towns 4 , 206 1 2 



Total to November 5, 1909 $38,611 16 



Plans for the Future 



Study of the records shows that the period of forest fires begins in 

 April and ends in November, most fires occurring in normal years either in 

 May or in September and October, though the seasons vary considerably 

 from year to year. The plan should be to start in the season, as soon as 

 weather conditions point to the necessity, with a force of men sufficient 

 to organize the whole district and to cope with the fires of a normal year. 

 In case of a very dry year, such as 1903 or 1908, rapid expansion must 

 be made and this will have to be planned in advance. 



The equipment of a full system of mountain stations has been or will 

 be mainly paid for out of the appropriation of 1909, so that this expense 

 will not be had another year. There are, however, other permanent works 

 requisite to make up an efficient protective system, such as the clearing 



