File:Annual report (1906) (14562334907).jpg

Identifier: annualreport131415190newy (find matches)
Title: Annual report
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: New York (State). Forest, Fish and Game Commission
Subjects: Forests and forestry Fisheries Game and game-birds
Publisher: (Albany, N.Y. : The Commission)
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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The cause of railroadfires,— dropping hot coals and sparks along the lines of the railroad,—being always present, only enough favorable weather to dry the grass isneeded to start the flames. The dryer the weather the greater the increasein danger and damage. The railroads set more fires than any other agencyin 1903, and did it again in 1908; but the chart does not show such to bethe case in the past year. The less number of fires in 1907 and 1908 forrailroads is a direct result of a patrol inaugurated by this Commission.These patrolmen extinguished hundreds of fires in their incipiency, andthese are not included in this diagram, because it was made from the reportsof the town firewardens which do not include fires of less than one acre inextent. All told about 2,500 fires were set by railroad engines as shown byevidence taken before the Public Service Commission. Those of importanceonlv are considered here as above stated, because most of them wereextinguished as soon as started.
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FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 117 Causes of Forest Fires — 1908 Fishermen 19 Hunters 100 Railroads 89 Clearing land 21 Berry pickers 14 Incendiary 48 Bee hunters 9 Smokers 34 Burning buildings 1 Carelessness 13 Campers 27 Sparks from sawmill 1 Children 6 Blasting 2 Lightning 9 Burning wasp nests 1 Surveyors 1 Unknown 210 605 The evidence before the Public Service Commission shows that 40 percent, of the entire area burned over in 1908 was burned over by fires startedby the railroads. A careful analysis of the tabulated causes shows that therailroads, with all the extra care of efficient patrols, fire trains and equip-ment, are causing 15 per cent, of our serious fires. Considering all the fires set, the railroads start 83 per cent.; from allother causes 17 per cent. The reason why a much smaller number inproportion to all the fires started on the railroad rights of way do damagethan is done by fires started back in the forest, is very plain. The railroadsare in the open, can b

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