FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 201 



The railroad fire situation in this district has shown an improvement 

 over former years on roads that were compelled to maintain a fire patrol, 

 keep their engines screened, and allow an inspection each week of every 

 locomotive running over the road. On the other roads the same condition 

 existed as in former years; there was no patrol system, ash pans were left 

 open, grates not screened, right of way only partially cleaned, which simply 

 means setting fires along the whole length of the right of way. 



We had two oil-burning locomotives in use several weeks during the 

 season, which proved a perfect success ; and I firmly believe that railroad 

 fires will never be eliminated until every road running through the Adiron- 

 dack Park is compelled to burn oil, and every road running through the 

 forest preserve counties is obliged to maintain a proper patrol, screen 

 its engines and live up to the requirements of the law. 



Since the season has closed we have completed telephone lines on 

 Hurricane mountain, Keene, N. Y., and Pharaoh mountain, Schroon Lake, 

 N. Y., and will soon have one completed on St. Regis mountain, Paul 

 Smith's, N. Y. In the construction of these two lines, twelve miles of wire 

 was used. It will be necessary to erect two more stations in this district 

 in order to completely cover the territory — one on Lyon mountain, and 

 one located between Hurricane and Pharaoh mountains. 



We have had seventy lumbering operations in the district and I am 

 pleased to say that the Top Lopping Law has been observed very satis- 

 factorily, many operators admitting that they were getting enough extra ' 

 timber to nearly pay the expense incurred by lopping. I believe the Top- 

 Lopping Law is one of the greatest protections to the Adirondack forests 

 we could have. All danger from forest fires, in these operations, is practi- 

 cally over after the first and second year, the tops being then decayed so 

 that all danger is passed and they then begin to retain the moisture and are 

 a substantial benefit to the forests. 



Respectfully yours, 



M. C. Hutchins, 



Superintendent, First District. 

 Lake Placid, N. Y., December 15, 1909. 



