Report of the Forest Commission. 83 



Kilmanaoh, Mich., September 4.— -A tract of timber south of this village 

 has been burning for several days. Yesterday a strong wind began blowing 

 from the south, and the fire spread rapidly toward the town. Business was 

 suspended and everyone turned out to fight the fire. At a critical moment the 

 wind changed, and the town was saved. The timber loss in this county by 

 fire will reach $50,000. 



{From the Detroit News, September 4, 1894.) 



Marquette, Mich., September 4. — From Ironwood came the following dis- 

 patch: " This city is now in no danger from forest fires. Rain fell yesterday 

 afternoon for nearly two hours. Yesterday the fires crept up over the Gogebic 

 range around the Norris mine and were advancing on the city from that 

 direction." 



In explaining the reason for fires, one railroad official said that it was all 

 owing to the great amount of brush and rubbish left in the rapid construction 

 of railroads, and also the great amount created in logging. No precautions 

 had been taken to clear up the stuff and burn it. 



A vast amount of the territory burned over by the fires this year had not 

 been visited by fires in years before and the accumulation of dead material 

 has given a lasting existence to the flames which will take days of rain to 

 effectually extinguish. 



Every town damaged by fire has been remarkably negligent in the matter of 

 clearing up around the suburbs. Stumps and brush heaps have been left along 

 the tracks and in vacant lots. 



At Ishpeming dust and ashes fell in showers. The district between this town 

 and the Mead river was a lake of fire. The Salisbury location was in a panic, 

 and only the hardest work saved the miners' homes. 



Evidence of Incendiarism. 



Iron Mountain, Mich., September 4. — Heavy rains throughout the fire belt 

 have deadened the flames to such an extent that no more danger is appre- 

 hended. 



The whole country to the north and east of here has been a mass of flames, 

 and the damage to crops and timber will aggregate many thousands of dollars. 



The intense heat may be judged from the fact that vegetables were cooked 

 in the ground. Captain John Perkins lost 1,700 bushels of potatoes and 1,000 

 bushels of turnips in this manner. 



On the Ontonagon division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul road 

 the fire belt extends from Channing to Rockland, on both sides of the road. 

 The damage here is chiefly to standing pine, and it is not possible to estimate 

 the damage in dollars and cents until it has been thoroughly examined. It is 

 estimated that 200,000,000 feet of timber has been scorched, but if the timber 

 is lumbered at once the loss will be about 10 per cent. The railroad is badly 

 warped in many places and it is not considered safe to operate trains. 



Conductor Hilka, who came down from the fire belt last night, says the 

 flames attacked the roadbed, and the ties are burning. 



There is considerable evidence that many of the fires were of incendiary 

 origin, set by men who knew that the scorched pine would have to be cut at 



