Report of the Forest Commission. 25 



started by parties who were clearing land, and who allowed their fallow 

 fires to run beyond their premises. This fire continued to burn until 

 May 18th, burning over, I should judge, about 1,000 acres of waste land, 

 doing but little damage. 



On the same day, May 14th, another fire was set by parties who were 

 clearing land near Oswegatchie, which raged with great fury until May 

 18th, burning over about one-half of the 68 acres owned by the State, in 

 Great Lot No. 30, town of Fine. This fire was prevented from running 

 any further by the firewarden, who called out a large force of men, 

 which prevented any further damage. 



H. C. Pearson, firewarden for the town of Pitcairn, St. Law- 

 rence county, reports : 



Between August 15th and August 25th there were several forest fires 

 in this town. About 300 acres were burned over, mostly stripped land. 

 The damage was, perhaps, $300. These fires were set by the railroad, 

 and by hunters. Men were employed by the firewarden at the expense 

 of the town to prevent the fires from spreading. The expense was 

 about $30. Means should be employed to make the railroad companies 

 observe the law. 



Saratoga County. 



E. W. Eldridge, firewarden of the town of Malta, Saratoga 

 county, reports : 



On March 31st, about 4 o'clock p. m., a fire broke out in the wood- 

 lands owned by R. W. Hill, situated on the highway leading from 

 Wiggins' Corners to the south end of Saratoga Lake. I summoned the 

 necessary aid, and after two hours' hard fight, the fire was brought 

 under control. About two acres were burned over. The damages 

 were slight. Origin of the fire is unknown. The method used in extin- 

 guishing this fire was fighting it back with green boughs, and throwing 

 on fresh earth. 



Anson J. Larkin, firewarden of the town of Ballston, Saratoga 

 county, reports : 



On April 17th T was notified of a fire in the lake woods. Securing 

 help immediately I repaired to the place where I found some railroad 

 ties burning in the woods of Philip Ostrander. They were old rail- 

 road ties which had been thrown over the fence and off from the rail- 

 road lands. About one-half to three-quarters of an acre, which was 

 covered thickly with young thrifty trees, was burned over. Some 

 4 



