448 Forestry Qtutrterly. 



eral engineering work. Since, at least in the operations of a tim- 

 ber tract, this engineering work comes often into play, the com- 

 bination may prove advantageous to the employers of such a 

 finn. 



In view of the fact that annually some 50 million dollars worth 

 of wooden houses are burned up, due as a rule to the absence of 

 means of efficient fire fighting, every new device to prevent the 

 spread of an incipient fire is of interest. The Adams Fire-fighting 

 and Instrument Company of Washington, D. C, has placed an 

 equipment on the market which is said to be particularly ef- 

 fective. 



An important saving in the amount of payments for fire los- 

 ses along its right of way is reported by the Atchison, Topeka 

 & Santa Fe as the result of a special campaign for improvement 

 in this respect. In 1910, the company had claims for 1,509 fire 

 losses, amounting to $100,605. ^^ iQ^i there were 574 fires with 

 claims amounting to $51,000. In the fiscal year 1912 the number 

 of fires had been reduced to 135, and the expenditure for the pay- 

 ment of claims to only $6,000. 



In order to secure these results, the efficiency of the spark ar- 

 resters on locomotives was increased, and a more frequent in- 

 spection was provided, to ensure prompt correction of defects. 

 The necessity was also impressed upon section gangs, train men, 

 and other employees, of giving prompt attention to the suppres- 

 sion of fires in their incipiency. The co-operation of all em- 

 ployees was also secured in connection with more efficient de- 

 struction of inflammable material on the right of way and the 

 plowing of fire guards in cultivated fields. 



The experience of the Santa Fe clearly indicates that efficient 

 fire protection along railway lines is good business policy on the 

 part of such companies. 



A circular, "State vs. National Control of Public Forests," 

 has been issued by the Conservation Commission of Oregon 

 strongly opposing the movement toward the transfer of the Na- 

 tional Forests from the Federal to the State Governments. In 

 this circular, the following points are made: 



