500 forestry Quarterly. 



to spend at least an equal amount for fire protection purposes of 

 any character. 



One of the most progressive railways in matters of fire pro- 

 tection is the Boston & Maine, which operates in both the United 

 States and Canada. In addition to following the general practice 

 of most railways in burning off the right of way each year, to re- 

 duce grass fires, the Boston & Maine has adopted the policy of co- 

 operating with land-owners along their lines, in getting the in- 

 flammable debris disposed of on a narrow strip adjacent to the 

 right of way. It is recognized that in some cases sparks from 

 locomotives will fall outside the right of way, which usually ex- 

 tends fifty feet on each side of the center of the track. Fires are 

 likely to start in this way and cause serious damage before they 

 can be extinguished. Similarly, the danger from small grass 

 fires starting within the right of way is greatly increased by the 

 presence of inflammable debris, such as old slashings, immediately 

 adjacent to the right of way fence. So far as possible, the Boston 

 & Main Railroad secures the active co-operation of owners of 

 such lands in burning the debris at a safe time. Where this is 

 impracticable for any reason, the Company does the work at its 

 own expense, unless the land owner objects. The Company re- 

 ports that on seventy-five such places last year, the fire hazard 

 was materially reduced in this way. This is good business policy 

 from the point of view of the railway, since the elimination of 

 forest fires means in the long run not only decreased damage 

 claims, but also increased freight and passenger revenues. The 

 Company states that the adoption of the above policy means very 

 little added expense, since the section men handle the work on 

 rainy days, when there is no track work they can do. This is 

 also the safest time for burning such debris, since the fires can not 

 spread beyond control. 



The Pennsylvania Railroad has also adopted a policy closely 

 similar to the above. 



According to the Fire Inspection Department of the Board of 

 Railway Commissioners for Canada, the railways throughout the 

 Dominion are doing very much better this year in the matter of 

 fire protection than has ever been the case before. There has 



