16 



Three additional patrolmen were employed, fire lines were burned, 

 tool stations erected, and telephone lines constructed. 



In the future, slash will be burned after logging. This removal of 

 debris makes fire lines less necessary, and their number and width 

 can be greatly reduced. Twelve miles per township on logged lands 

 should be sufficient in any case, and on most areas much less would 

 suffice. It is not advisable, however, to eliminate entirely the use of 

 fire lines, since they will be of great value in stopping the spread of a 

 dangerous fire, and even under the system of protection the possi- 

 bility of such a fire occurring can not be overlooked. 



A few additional measures for protection might be instituted, 

 such as posting notices, etc., but the protective plan as carried out 

 at McCloud is complete in itself. As experience is gained in the 

 practical execution of the work, the cost of protection can doubtless 

 be reduced. Patrolmen will become more efficient, patrol routes 

 more advantageously laid out, and slash burning will reduce the 

 number of fire lines. If adjoining timber owners also take up the 

 scheme of protection, the danger from fire from outside will be largely 

 reduced and the plan will become the more effective. 



CONCLUSION. 



Though fire protection as practiced at McCloud has met with suc- 

 cess, the plan in its present form might not apply equally well to 

 other tracts. The McCloud tract offers many features that favor 

 both conservative lumbering and fire protection. The company's 

 holdings are extensive and fairly well consolidated, and it will take 

 a considerable time to cut over the present virgin stand. More 

 important than this is the topographical character of the tract, which 

 renders logging both easy and cheap. This, perhaps more than any 

 other one thing, justifies the leaving of trees for a future cut, since 

 the comparatively level nature of the country will make it possible 

 to return again and log profitably even where the stand per acre is 

 relatively small. This is not true of many Sierra tracts, where rough 

 country makes logging exceedingly difficult and expensive. This 

 does not mean, however, that fire protection on such lands is im- 

 practicable, but simply that each tract offers local conditions of its 

 own which must largely determine the character of the plan. 



Finally, though the first and most essential step in any system of 

 forestry is protection from fire, conservative cutting of the forest is 

 equally necessary. The McCloud Lumber Company has already 

 shown its appreciation of this fact by modifying its logging opera- 

 tions. At present virgin timber is being cut to a diameter limit of 

 30 inches breasthigh, which leaves an excellent basis for a future cut, 



Approved : 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture, 

 WASHINGTON, D. C v February 16, J907. 



[dr. 79.] 



