In the forests of Germany, although traversed most everywhere by 

 railroads,there is no loss caused by locomotives; at least, the fires 

 from this source are so few and far between that the woodlands of 

 that country are practically exempt from this evil, a fact often al- 

 luded to in discussing the damage to woodlands caused by railroads in 

 the Adirondacks. But it must not be inferred from this that the wide- 

 spread destruction of standing timber, caused by the railroads in 

 Northern New York, is due to any inefficiency on the part of the 

 forest management. The conditions differ widely from those in the 

 European forests conditions beyond the control of the Department. 



The locomotives in Europe throw sparks the same as here. But 

 in a German forest, where timber cuttings have been made, there is 

 an entire absence of tree tops, limbs and brush. All this is removed 

 when the timber is taken out, leaving the forest floor clean and free 

 from inflammable material. Moreover, there is scarcely any under- 

 growth, aside from the seedlings which are to furnish the future 

 crop; while in some forests, even these are not found, the ground 

 being as free from litter or young growth as a city park. The right 

 of way along the railroads is cut out to a greater width than in our 

 State, and is entirely free from logs, stumps, and bushy growth. 

 Except in mountainous districts, the land between the railroad tracks 

 and the adjoining forest is ploughed, leaving a broad strip of fresh, 

 upturned earth over which a creeping fire cannot pass. Where the 

 right of way is wide enough two strips of fresh earth are thus 

 exposed, which are connected at short intervals by cross-ploughing, 

 thereby preventing a fire running lengthwise in the grass between 

 the strips. A good example of this may be seen by tourists in travel- 

 ing along the railroad from Heidelberg to Darmstadt. I mention 

 this route in particular as so many of our summer tourists travel 

 that line. For many miles this railroad is bordered on either side 



