\$ Report of the Forest Commission. 



However, I coDsider that we were very fortunate, in this immediate 

 vicinity, in not having more forest fires, as we are exposed to a great 

 many risks. It was very dry here last summer, and at other parts, 

 where there was less risk, there was more or less damage done by fire . 



P. H. McCabe, firewarden for the town of Malone, Franklin 

 county, reports : 



Notice was given on the 1 Oth day of April that a fire was running 

 on the farm of James McCormic, 3^ miles south of Malone. It 

 burned about 20 acres of brush and pasture land and about 400 rails. 

 Cause unknown. A rain put it out. 



On April 15th I was notified that a fire was running on the farms of 

 Carlin and S. A Child s. I notified help, and we put it out without 

 much trouble. It burned about 60 acres of pasture and second growth 

 timber and some rails before I got there. Damage about $100. Cause 

 of fire is supposed to be started by some men setting hop poles situated 

 four miles south of Malone. 



On April 19th I was again notified that a fire was running on the 

 farm of Patrick Lawless. It burned over 20 acres of culled timber. 

 Cause of fire unknown. Situated six miles south of Malone. 



A. N. Skiff, firewarden for the town of Franklin, Franklin 

 county, reports : 



On the morning of April 17th I was informed by certain persons 

 that as they were driving on the pike from Rainbow to Bloomingdale 

 they saw a little smoke on the east side of the road. They noticed two 

 men about 20 rods from the fire, coming towards them. They spoke 

 to them, and accused them of starting the fire. These men denied it, 

 saying that the fire had just been set in some hay that had been pulled 

 off from loads of hay that had been drawn past there, and in some 

 dead grass. My informants were of the opinion that as it was so early 

 in the morning the fire would soon die out of itself. About 9 o'clock 

 I saw a great smoke arising in that vicinity. I drove there imme- 

 diately, having left word for my boy and man to come with another 

 team as soon as they could get there. I called out 14 men and three 

 teams and finally had it subdued by four o'clock so that we could hold it. 

 It burned up Archie Swinger's fence and John Thompson's fences on 

 Lot 286. The fire was set on Lot 315 (State land) on the east side of 

 the road. It ran over Lot 314 (State land) along the south side of the 

 lot. Also on Lot 315, all in Township 10, Old Military Tract. It 

 burned over about 40 acres of second growth timber of inferior 

 quality, killing about every tree. 



