Forest Pires. 



(HAVE already, in the preliminary report of the Commission for the year 1900, 

 submitted a detailed statement showing the number of fires, date when each 

 occurred, areas burned over, damages to standing timber, and cause of each so 

 far as could be ascertained. I append here some extracts from the reports of the 

 various firewardens, containing further information of an interesting character which 

 may be of some value to forestry students and others, as showing some of the 

 details connected with that very practical part of forestry which relates to forest 

 protection. A careful study of these paragraphs will give some idea of the perplex- 

 ing questions arising continually in connection with this department of the work, 

 which cannot be learned in forestry schools or by reading text books devoted to 

 the theory of forest management. 



The work of the firewardens is not only intensely practical but it is dangerous 

 also. In one of the reports published here mention is made of a citizen who lost 

 his life while engaged in this work. On a fire-scarred slope of the Catskill Moun- 

 tains, near Twilight Park, a monument was erected this year bearing this inscription : 



IN MEMORY OF 



FRANK D. LAYMAN, . 



OF HAINES FALLS, 



WHO LOST HIS LIFE ON THIS SPOT 



AUGUST 10, 1900, 



WHILE WITH OTHERS FIGHTING A FOREST FIRE WHICH THREATENED 



TO DESTROY THE HOMES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS 



OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS PLACE. 



BY THOSE GRATEFUL FOR HIS DEVOTED SERVICES 

 THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED. 



By reading the " Remarks," which the firewardens enter on their reports in a 

 place indicated for such purpose on the blank forms, it will be seen that many ques- 

 tions arise as to the payment of the men; as to disputes between adjoining towns; 

 the liability of offenders against the fire laws, and complaints from taxpayers over 

 unnecessary expenses, all of which require the exercise of patient inquiry and 

 judicious action on the part of the chief firewarden and superintendent. 



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