CojSSEKVATION COMMISSION 163 



PROGRESS IN LEGISLATION 



This report deals primarily with forest fires and fire fighting 

 in New York State. It would not be complete without a brief 

 review of legislation which has affected the fire situation. It is 

 only possible in these pages to touch upon the most salient features 

 of legislation along these lines. 



In the year 1885 the Forest Commission was created and was 

 charged with the " care, custody, control and superintendence of 

 the forest preserve." The forest preserve included certain desig- 

 nated areas in the Adirondack and Catskill regions. The Com- 

 mission was granted the power to employ " a forest warden, forest 

 inspectors," and other assistants. It was charged with the duty of 

 protecting the public interests of the State with regard to forests 

 and tree planting, and especially with reference to forest fires in 

 every part of the State. The Commission and all of its employees 

 were authorized to order out persons to assist in extinguishing 

 forest fires and also to take such measures as might be necessary 

 to fight fires. Keports were required of all fires of over an acre 

 in extent. 



The supervisor of every town of the State was made ex-officio 

 fire warden. " In towns particularly exposed to damages from 

 forest fires " the supervisor was authorized to divide the town into 

 districts and to appoint a district fire warden for each. The Com- 

 mission was thus given the power to appoint one or more fire 

 wardens in each of the 234 towns in the Forest Preserve. This 

 system of fire wardens, paid only for the time they actually spent 

 in the performance of their duties, remained substantially the 

 same until the present system of a paid fire patrol force was 

 inaugurated in 1909. In all cases the fire wardens were paid two 

 dollars per day for their services during the time they were 

 actually employed ; and bills for their services had to be approved 

 by their respective town boards of audit. 



It is interesting to note the provisions of the law of 1885 

 regarding railroads which passed through forest land within the 

 State. The law provided that all inflammable material should be 

 cut and removed from the right of way twice a year ; that locomo- 

 tives should be equipped with spark arresters; that ashes or fire- 



