50 First Annual Report of the 



protection. New York is the only State in the northeast that does 

 not exercise supervision or authority over forest fires in the entire 

 State. The law should be amended to give this commission 

 authority to organize in any section of the State, outside of the 

 ninetvnsix fire towns in the forest preserve, where the forests are 

 threatened and forest interests are sufficient, a suitable fire 

 organization to be paid for by the territory protected and towns 

 benefited. All local officers should also be required to make reports 

 to the commission and sufficient authority given to compel them 

 to faithfully perform their duties in connection with preventing 

 and suppressing forest fires. 



Railroads. 

 The law now in force relative to railroads should also be 

 amended to cover the entire State, wherever the value of property 

 or danger from fire demands. This work should be accomplished 

 with not more than one additional inspector and the co-operation 

 of the Public Service Commission. 



Chestnut Bark Disease. 

 The prevalence and destructive effects of the chestnut bark 

 disease have received much attention during the summer. In 

 co-operation with the State Department of Agriculture a survey to 

 determine its extent and general condition has been completed, 

 covering the eastern half of the State. This matter is of so much 

 importance, the future of the chestnut as a forest tree of so much 

 consequence, that the work ought to be carefully followed up. A 

 conference was called by Hon. R. A. Pearson, Commissioner of 

 Agriculture, which was attended by representatives of Pennsyl- 

 vania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and this State. 

 The details of the work will be incorporated in a special report at 

 a later date. 



Fungus Tree Diseases. 



This disease, together with our former experience with the 

 white pine blister rust and many other serious fungus troubles, 

 requires the services of an expert plant pathologist. The nature 



