30 Report of the Forest Commission. 



I have to report another forest fire which has burned over thousands 

 of acres of land in this and the adjoining towns. This fire commenced 

 on Sunday morning, May 13th, and was started by some person unknown. 

 Everything being as dry as tinder, it spread with frightful rapidity. 

 I was on the spot as soon as I could get there, but about the only 

 thing that could be done was to back fire from roads and streams 

 in the immediate neighborhood of farm buildings to save that class of 

 property. In this way we worked and retreated for about five miles 

 before the flames. No buildings were burned. I should estimate that 

 from three to five thousand acres of ground was burned over in the 

 town of Bethel, and probably more than that amount in the town of 

 Highland. The land was owned by Hon. R. Morrison, who had about 

 1,000 acres burned. Mr. Chapin had a large tract burned. Mr. 

 John French, Mr. B. French and others in the town of Highland sus- 

 tained damages. Mr. Hull had about 1,000 acres burned, also Mr. 

 Willis Glass. The most of this territory was composed of barrens, 

 a little of which was scrub oaks and pitch pine, although in the swales 

 a good deal of young oak, maple, beech, poplar, etc., was destroyed, 

 causing altogether quite a loss in young timber. The fire continued to 

 burn from Sunday, May 13th, to Thursday, the 17th. I had from 12 to 

 20 men at work during this time. Finally the rain came and put it out. 



The general opinion here is that this fire was set for the purpose of 

 promoting a better growth of huckleberry bushes. A reward should 

 be offered for the detection and conviction of the incendiary. 



W. D. Spurling, firewarden for the town of Delaware, Sullivan 

 county, reports : 



A fire started on the last of March and continued to break out at 

 intervals during the month of April. It was very dry, and there was 

 no water to be had. It was impossible to keep it under control. As 

 fast as we extinguished it in one place it would break out in another. 

 It burned over about 500 acres of barrens, all small brush, and conse- 

 quently no great damage was done. It started from an engine on the 

 Erie railroad. 



William Rudick, firewarden for the town of Lumberland, 

 Sullivan county, reports : 



We had a large fire at Lebanon Lake which burned over 600 acre?. 

 The damage is estimated at $600. During the season six fallows in 

 this town were burned for clearing land, but no forest fires resulted 

 from them. 



