308 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



One-half of this amount will be repaid to the State by the towns in which these 

 expenses were incurred, in accordance with the law providing that the cost of fight- 

 ing fire shall be borne by the State and town alike. Ordinarily, the town, pursuant 

 to the provisions of the fire law, pays the entire bill each year for expenses of this 

 kind, after which it receives a rebate from the State for one-half of the amount thus 

 expended. On account of the many fires last summer it became necessary, in cer- 

 tain towns, for the State to advance the entire' amount, one-half of which will have 

 to be collected from the towns. 



The item of $146.46 paid the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Co. was for a locomotive 

 and special train which Commissioner Babcock used in moving parties of men to 

 the fires at distant points where there was no resident population, and where men 

 could not otherwise be obtained. This train was in use four days, part of the time 

 both night and day. 



In view of the commendable promptness with which the Governor and Comp- 

 troller provided the funds necessary to protect our forests in time of great danger, it 

 is hoped that the Legislature will promptly make the necessary appropriation to 

 reimburse the State treasury for the sum thus advanced. 



A report of each fire was received at the office of the Commission, and from 

 the statements thus forwarded by the various firewardens the following table was 

 prepared : 



