New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01


apathy of section men disappeared, and a track
patrol was established.
Another prolific source of the Adirondack conha-
gratons of last found in the practice OF
following clearing land by burning the debris
left after numbering. The law prohibits "fallow-
ing in April and May, but allows it from June
to September 16 upon the written permission of
fire warden. In many instances last season the law
not complied with, and these fallow fires
getting away caused great damage. The careless
ness Of smokers and of fishermen who built camp
fires and "smudges' was responsible for many of
the fires.
On the other hand probably seventy-hve thou
sand acres were burned over by fires OF incen-
diary origin. The feeling OF some of the woods
men and residents against few Of the owners Of
large preserves undoubtedly found expression In
this way, according to Mr. Suffers report which Is
based upon common belief in the Adirondacks. II
is also strongly limited that the action of many Of
the mountain towns in paying 81 day. the full
legal rate for fire fighting, may have served as an
incentive to INSCRIPTIONS persons out Of work to
set fires.
LAS a conseqL nee" reads the report, some fires
were set to prolong the work by the very men who
were employed TO put them out"
One of the most unusual causes assigned Tor tho
starting Of the fires is given as the focusing OF
rays Of the sun through curved pieces OF broken
glass, such the side or bottom of a bottle. ms
cause is assigned in two cases. one of which was
the great fire that caused such destruction in Ne
hasane Park
Mr.. Suter insists n his report that TINS cause Is
by no means as improbable as it sounds, and calls
attention to the fact that for this the scat
tering os broken bottles in the grass is censured
by old settlers in the prairie States.
Among other causes for the conhag rations were
small fires set by hunters to promote the growth of
grass calculated to attract the deer to certain
locality in another season, those set by berry
pckers to insure the growth Of berry bushes those
started by ginseng gatherers to clear the way for
their work. and still others set by boys who craved
excitement or by incendIaries with real aim in
view.
Prosecutions under conditions existing IN the Ad-
irondacks were necessarily few. evidence was
hard TO get. There IS instance record, how
ever of one fire warden who fined his own brother
for allowing "faIlow' fire to escape control In
Thurman a warden was able TO prove that one In
cendiary had set twenty-four fires In one day and
had tried 10 shoot a boy who discovered him at his
work The sent TO Dannemora prison for
a year on a cumulative sentence ard accomplish
was sent TO the Elmira Reformatory.
Aside from the deplorable devastation caused by
the Adirondack fires another bad feature is the
financial loss such CONGREGATIONS entail upon the
small towns affected. Each town is required TO pay
onehalf its authorized fire bin. and IN the smaller
towns this proved real hardship. The bills in
some Of these towns amounted TO $1,000 $1,000,
and 20 meet one-half OF these amounts meant an
increased tax rate II not the issue OF bonds.
In last seasons battle with the flames every
known means OF forest fire fighting resorted 20.
Trenches were dug TO check fires IN the dun" and
often heaps Of sand were made along the outer
edge OF the trench 20 protect the territory beyond
Where water could be secured. the path OF the
blaze was wet down Sand was scattered over
burning wood Grass fires wero beaten out with