FORESTRY QUARTERLY 



Vol. IV] MARCH, 1906 [No. 



LIBRARY 

 NEW YORK 



B0TAN5C/;'.. 



EFFICIENT FIRE PROTECTION. 



The Laquin Lumber Company, a very progressive firm 

 operating near Laquin in North-Eastern Pennsylvania, has 

 evolved a scheme of fire protection which in its efficiency leaves 

 nothing to be desired. This happy result is due to an enter- 

 prising superintendent and the willingness of the Company to 

 expend a liberal sum on the necessary " ounce of protection." 



The tract consists of 14,000 acres of first growth hemlock- 

 hardwoods type. Annually 1700 to 1800 acres are cut over clean 

 so that, it is estimated, the operation will be concluded in another 

 five years. 



The Laquin Lumber Company is merely doing the cutting, 

 the land is owned by the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Com- 

 pany. The two companies share the expense of protection. 

 Every spring as soon as the snow goes, all the slash and brush 

 around the skidways is burnt 25 to 100 feet (usually 50 ft.) 

 back from the track. This is very expensive as the work has to 

 be rushed through. Indeed it costs the Company $3000 a year, 

 but the superintendent considers this a very profitable invest- 

 ment. 



If it were not for the proximity of green timber the company 

 would burn all the slash every spring. During the dangerous 

 season, a body of men is put to patrolling the railroad tracks 

 and the boundaries of the tract. For this foreigners are em- 

 ployed — mostly Hungarians and Italians, who are paid $1.25 to 

 $1.65 a day with an average of $1.49, and find their own board. 

 These men are provided with 'axe, pail, hoe, and shovel and 

 always carry the latter three utensils. The shovel is found to 

 be the most efficient implement, except in few places. 



Twelve miles of the main railroad (Susquehanna & New York) 

 run through the Company's holdings, and from this branch 



