Report of the Forest Commission. 81 



Michigan. 



{From the Detroit Free Press.) 



Saginaw, Mich. , August 28. — Fires are causing heavy damage along the line 

 of the Saginaw, Tuscola and Huron railroad, and yesterday trains were haul- 

 ing water to quench the flames. Several farm buildings have been destroyed. 

 The smoke is so dense here that objects 100 feet distant can not be distinguished. 



Much timber and farm property have been destroyed on the western division 

 of the Flint and Pere Marquette, and Toledo and Ann Arbor, and North Michi- 

 gan roads. It is estimated that over $1,000,000 damage has been done in the 

 Saginaw valley and northern Michigan. 



Ishpeming, Mich., August 30. — Bush fires are burning in every county of 

 the upper peninsula of Michigan. There is little wind, and smoke settles at 

 night in a dense cloud over the cities and villages. At times the cloud is so 

 dense that an arc light is invisible at a distance of 150 feet, and nothing can be 

 seen across the street. The season has been unusually dry, and fires have been 

 burning most of the time since May. 



Considerable damage has been done in every county, but Ontonagon has 

 suffered the heaviest loss. It is in this county that the heaviest reserves of 

 pine are growing, as it was opened to settlers and lumbermen but a few years 

 ago. 



The Diamond Match Company has been the heaviest loser by fire. Of the 

 250,000,000 to 300,000,000 feet of standing pine burned in Ontonagon county, 

 the Diamond Match Company has lost over 100,000,000 feet. The lumbermen 

 have already" put crews in the woods cutting damaged pine. The Diamond 

 Match Company will cut at least 100,000,000 feet and as much more as possible, 

 as against 55,000,000 feet last season. 



Bay City, Mich., August 30. — The forest fires northwest of this city are 

 becoming a source of alarm to the residents of this portion of the county, and 

 unless rain comes at once great suffering will be caused those who have homes 

 in the path of the fire. Dr. McTavish reports that the fire had reached the 

 Beaver road, near what is known as the Chip road, .and yesterday eight fam- 

 ilies had to take what little household and personal goods they could find and 

 move into the village of Kawkawlin. 



A resident of Bay City was informed that some timber land belonging to 

 him near Midland was being damaged by fire. He drove in that direction, 

 but, on account of fires and smoke, he could not get within two miles of his 

 property. 



Harrisville, Mich. , August 30. — Forest fires that have burned with inter- 

 mittent vigor have almost devastated the locality lying between this city and 

 West Branch, 84 miles distant, along the line of the Michigan Central railway. 

 Many families have lost everything, and are suffering from exposure and 

 hunger. 



Crops, fences, and entire sections and townships of valuable timber have 

 been destroyed, and the only salvation for the little property remaining, is 

 rain. 



Gladwin, Mich., August 30. — Stevens Station, a small mill hamlet between 

 here and Pinconning, has been practically destroyed by fires that have been 

 raging for the past 10 days. 

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