New York (State). Conservation Commission

Chapter 474 of the Laws of 1909 granted the Forest, Fish and Game Commission power to make rules for the prevention of forest fires. The lone commissioner who headed the agency was also empowered to divide lands in the forest preserve counties into fire districts and to appoint a superintendent of fires to oversee each district. Superintendents were in turn authorized to subdivide their districts into separate fire patrol districts and to employ fire patrolmen as the public interest demanded. The commissioner was also directed to "when necessary, provide all proper fire-prevention and fire-fighting apparatus and establish observation stations and employ men to attend them." The commissioner instructed that such observation stations, commonly known as fire towers, be equipped with good topographic maps, set in proper relation to the surrounding country. A field glass was deemed essential, as were telephone communications with the nearest fire patrolmen and subsequently ranger headquarters.

From the description of Forest fire detection map negatives, ca. 1909-1925. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122379269

A three-member Forest Commission was established in 1885 (Chapter 283) to maintain and protect land in the Catskill and Adirondack mountains to be designated as a State forest preserve and to protect public interests in the State relating to forests, tree planting, and forest fires. The Forest Ranger force, known initially as Wardens, was established in the same year to protect the newly created Forest Preserve. In 1909, forest fire control was placed under the authority of the Forest, Fish and Game Commission. In 1911, when the Conservation Commission absorbed the Forest, Fish and Game Commission, the initial title of the force was replaced with the title Forest Rangers.

From the description of Railroad fire map, 1913. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 78404113

In 1925-1926, the Conservation Commission undertook a survey of the arboreal resources of the Adirondack Park in order to secure data relating to the incremental increase in board feet per unit for various species over time, and the death rate of various species. To secure such data, sample plots of approximately one-quarter acre were established throughout the Adirondack forest and data were recorded in 1926, 1931, and 1936.

From the description of Tree survey book, 1926-1936. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 122618348