FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 103 



duty after a fire, even when there was rain, because the large number of days' work 

 returned this year was partly due to the employment of men for this purpose. 



While at Indian Lake I received a telegram from Dr. B. E. Fernow, of the State 

 Forestry College, announcing a large fire on the university lands near Axton, 

 Franklin county, and calling for assistance. In reply I telegraphed him to employ 

 whatever men were necessary, and that the State would furnish the money to pay 

 them. 



The rain on the 21st having rendered everything comparatively safe, I left 



Indian Lake and returned to the Saranacs, where I found that owing to continuous 



showers the men who were working there were through with the fire fighting, but 



were still on watch around the various burned districts. 



< 



I have outlined here only some of the general features of the work which 

 devolved on the Department during the serious emergency last summer. The 

 limited pages of this preliminary report will not suffice for recounting all the move- 

 ments, operations and business details incidental to the management of the Forest 

 Preserve at such a time. 



Mention should be made, however, of the good work done at the fires which 

 threatened the Cornell University forests on Township 23, in Franklin county. A 

 large number of men were employed, and, under the direction of Profs. Fernow and 

 Roth, they succeeded in holding the fire, so that very little green timber was 

 injured, the burned district in this case including only a few acres of forest aside 

 from the barren plains on which the fire originated. 



At one time the outlook around the Upper Saranac Lake was serious. Town- 

 ship 20, one of the most beautiful and valuable in the entire forest, and a part of 

 the State Preserve, was in great danger. The owners of the beautiful cottages on 

 the west shore of the lake had all their guides and other help at work to save 

 their buildings. The thick smoke obscured the view in every direction, even for 

 a very short distance, and increased the- anxiety of the people. The guests at 

 the hotel had their trunks packed and on the docks awaiting the steamers which 

 were ready, if necessary, to take them to some place of safety. 



Unfortunately, owing to a lax organization, there was no firewarden in the town. 

 Meeting Commissioner Babcock, I suggested the appointment of Willard Boyce, 

 and placed him in charge. This appointment was approved and made permanent 

 at the next meeting of the Board. Boyce, who was road commissioner for the 

 town of Santa Clara, had a large number of men at work on the new road from 

 Saranac Inn to Wawbeek Lodge. He ordered all these men to leave the road and 

 fight fire. 



