96 Third Annual Keport of the 



condition of the ground cover, the fire spread rapidly. Fire lines 

 were built, but, because of the wind, had to be abandoned and 

 new ones constructed. This fire worked northerly, connecting 

 with another fire in the vicinity of Independence river, which 

 was caused by fishermen. About 5,400 acres were burned over, 

 but fully 95 per cent of this area was nearly worthless. A signi- 

 ficant fact in connection with both of these fires is that they were 

 surrounded and under control before any rain fell to subdue them. 



Weeks Law 



The allotment of money to be expended for fire protection in 

 Xew York State under the provisions of the Weeks Law was 

 increased from four to five thousand dollars for use within the 

 Adirondack and Catskill regions, together with an additional 

 three thousand for use in other parts of the State. The total sum 

 of eight thousand dollars was set aside for use in this State, pro- 

 vided certain conditions were complied with. The grant of five 

 thousand dollars, for the region embraced in the so-called " Fire 

 Towns,'' was made contingent upon the expenditure of fifty thou- 

 sand dollars by this Commission within the same region during 

 the calendar year 1913. Inasmuch as the Department spent over 

 one hundred thousand dollars there was no difficulty in securing 

 the five thousand dollars. The money was used to pay the salaries 

 of fourteen observers on mountain stations throughout the fire 

 season. 



The appropriation of three thousand dollars, for use outside 

 the forest regions, was made contingent upon the expenditure of 

 an equal amount by the State for fire protection outside the Adi- 

 rondack and Catskill forest towns. It is unfortunate that this 

 allotment had to lapse because the State made no appropriation 

 for this purpose. 



In 1912 an order sent out by the Postmaster-General directed 

 all rural mail carriers to report to the rangers any fires which 

 came to their notice. In the early spring of 1913 lists of all 

 rural mail routes and star routes were sent to the district rangers 

 in order that they might communicate with the postmasters and 

 encourage co-operation along these lines. The result has not been 



