RULES OF MANAGEMENT. 47 



and patrol the cut-over land. By such a system the area under fire 

 protection would increase from year to year, until finally protection 

 would be extended to the whole tract. As soon as the lumbered area 

 becomes too large for one guard to control, another man should be 

 added. In ca.se a fire breaks out which the guard can not control by 

 himself, he should have authority to hire what help may be necessary, 

 and, if such a fire occurs in the vicinity of lumbering operations, the 

 Wo-ino- force should be turned out to fight it. 



Roads are excellent fire lines, and form very good bases from which 

 to work against fire, as well as checking any light ground fire in 

 whose course they lie. The abandoned railroad spurs are valuable for 

 the same purpose, and should be kept clear of all litter. If this is 

 done the damage from fire will be very materiallv decreased. 



Great care should be taken to keep in good order the spark arresters 

 of the locomotives and skidder. 



The main point to be urged is a thorough system of fire protection 

 for the cut-over lands. At the present rate of cutting some 6.500 

 acres will be lumbered annually. If a start is now made by protect- 

 ing the area cut over during the past year, the initial expense will be 

 small, and, if the attempt proves successful, another 6,500 acres can be 

 added the next year, and the protected area thus gradually increased. 

 It is reasonable to expect that as time goes on experience will tend 

 toward a reduction in expenses, and also that as the sentiment of the 

 inhabitants improves, forest fires will become less numerous. 



CAKE IN FELLING. 



It is fully realized that it is almost impossible to secure care in fell- 

 ing the trees, owing to the character of the labor force employed. 

 Moreover, the small amount of young growth already present fortu- 

 nately makes regulations regarding this of little importance. If the 

 ground were covered by a valuable reproduction of pine and the labor 

 force were of a different type, rules would be required. 



■ 



INSPECTION. 



An agent of the Bureau of Forestry should inspect each year the 

 area lumbered during the preceding year, and at the same time mark 

 the seed trees to be left standing in the next cutting area, lie should 

 report fully as to the manner in which the rules for lumbering have 

 been carried out and describe in detail any damage caused by fire in 

 the preceding year. This will involve an expense to the company of 

 about £l ; oo a year. 



SUMMARY OF RILES FOR LUMBERING. 



(1) The cutting limit for pine to be 14 inches on the stump, and for 

 hardwoods 20 inches. 



