With the approval of the Conservation Commission, construction was started this week on two more 50-kilometer ski trails to Whiteface and Adirondack Lodge, it was announced yesterday by Ernest Gamache, secretary of the Olympic Commission.

James H. Hopkins, district forest ranger, is representing the state, and George Martin, sports director of the Lake Placid Club, is representing the Olympic Commission in supervising work on these trails.

Ten men were put to work immediately upon the sanction of the state, and the force is now being doubled. These trails are in addition to the already existing Clifford Falls and Sentinel Range trails.

The commission will assemble here next Saturday morning, Sept. 20, and will be taken to the very top of the new bobsled run. They will meet in the afternoon at the offices in the town hall to discuss Olympic matters.

At the meeting last week of state leaders here, they found the lead-in road to the bobrun finished, 500 yards of construction completed at the base of the run, and 500 yards more at various points.

William Distin of Saranac Lake is drawing up plans for shelters and a clubhouse at the base, glassed on three sides.

—

Swimmer rescued

James Littlejohn, lifeguard at the municipal beach, saved a Mr. Thorp of Washington, D.C. from drowning Thursday morning. This brings the season’s total of rescues credited to Littlejohn and Dave Tobin, assistant lifeguard, to 22.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Thorp had stopped for a swim in passing through the village. Littlejohn turned from inspecting his thermometer to see Thorp disappear beneath the surface.

—

Paul Smith’s burns

From the ashes of the pioneer hotel of the Adirondacks, where one week ago today the wilderness resort that was Paul Smith’s burned to the ground, will rise a new enterprise, according to reports from officials in charge of the old landmark.

The old barn-like structure, of which only a chimney remains standing today, will give place to a huge rustic log cabin, with capacity for 500 guests. Without, all will be in keeping with the wilderness setting. Within will be every comfort to delight the luxury-loving city dwellers who have been coming here for years, including plans for a fireplace in every room.

Numerous Lake Placid cars joined the caravan that started out for Paul Smith’s last Friday when the news came that the hotel was burning. The local fire department joined firemen of Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake in fighting to save the boathouse, office building, company store and surrounding cottages.

Destruction of the hotel has occasioned stories full of the romance of the place, quite evidently written by men who carried with them memories of Paul Smith, who built a hunting lodge of the shores of the lower St. Regis back in the ’50s.

The venison, flapjacks and trout provided by Mrs. Smith became famous, as did the stories of the old guide who sat at the head of the candle-lit table and carved the venison steak.