Conservation Commission 79 



The effect of this campaign of education and co-operation has 

 already manifested itself by the decrease in the number of fires. 

 The spring season is, on account of the dead vegetation present 

 upon the ground, always one in which fires occur. The snow 

 fall during the past winter was far below normal and, as a result, 

 the period before vegetation became green was longer than the 

 average, consequently the period of danger was lengthened. In 

 spite of these facts, however, the number of fires did not materially 

 increase, and greater interest was shown by parties, who fre- 

 quented the woods in extinguishing and reporting fires. 



This campaign of education has only started. It must be con- 

 ducted indefinitely, and every available means and opportunity 

 be taken to point out to everyone who travels through or uses, or 

 is in any way connected with or interested in our forests, the 

 damage caused through carelessness in its many forms. Smokers, 

 as already stated, are the cause of the largest number of fires, and 

 they are the hardest to prevent, because, instead of fires which 

 originate through their carelessness starting at any particular 

 place, they appear nearly everywhere. 



The neglected camp fire in an ever present source of danger. 

 In one instance such a fire escaped and was burning rapidly 

 through the woods when it was promptly detected by an observer 

 on the mountain station, who immediately notified a ranger. The 

 latter reached the place in time to arrest the parties who were 

 responsible, and they later refunded to the State the entire ex- 

 pense of extinguishing this fire. 



Co-operation has been secured from the railroads in properly 

 equipping locomotives which operate over the various lines, by 

 repairing defects and maintaining such engines in a fairly safe 

 condition. 



The duty of inspecting the rights of way and the fire protective 

 appliances on locomotives of all railroads in the State was con- 

 ferred upon the Conservation Commission by the Legislature of 

 1912. A tremendous impetus was given to the work of inspection 

 in that year and there has been no relaxation in 1913. There are 

 over sixty railroads in the State with 8,361 miles of rights of 

 way, over which are operated 6,886 locomotives. During the 

 year, 4,538 locomotives, 66 per cent, of the total number in opera- 



