Conservation Commission. 81 



Causes. 



The total number of fires occurring in both the Adirondack 

 and Catskill regions is, classified by causes, as follows : 



Locomotives 93 



Smokers 59 



Unknown , 48 



Fishermen 37 



Lightning 34 



Campers 32 



Incendiary , 20 



Burning brush 10 



Carelessness 10 



Hunters 10 



Clearing land . . 7 



Berry pickers 7 



Burning buildings 5 



Children 4 



.Bee hunters 2 



River drivers 2 



Blasting ... 1 



Steam-roller 1 



Saw-mill 1 



383 



The railroad locomotives are still responsible for more fires than 

 any other agency, but it should be said in this connection, how- 

 ever, that no railroad fire this year burned over an area exceeding 

 forty acres and that most of the land which was damaged by these 

 fires was denuded or brush land on the outskirts of the forest 

 proper, so that a comparatively small amount of damage from 

 this source has been done. The expense incurred by this depart- 

 ment in connection with fighting railroad fires has been charged 

 to the railroads responsible for the salne, and these bills have for 

 the most part been promptly paid. The decrease in severity of 

 railroad fires is due to the enforcement of the law requiring 

 proper cleaning of the rights of way and the application of 

 proper protective devices on locomotives. 



