278 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



The cost of constructing fully cleared fire-lines varies 

 enormously, just as does the construction of a road or 

 trail. The cost of clearing the line depends on the width, 

 character, and quantity of timber and brush to be cut, the 

 quantity of tops to be disposed of, and the character and 

 quantity of ground debris, as well as on the labor, the 

 difficulties of work, the efficiency of organization, etc. 

 If the ground is grubbed, the cost is affected by the char- 

 acter of the work done, the difficulties of working the 

 ground, and the topography. In general, the first con- 

 struction of an 8-foot fully cleared line costs anywhere 

 from $10 to $100 per mile. An average for a second- 

 growth woodlot would be from $30 to $50. If there is 

 a good market for cord wood and other material, the tim- 

 ber might return 50 or 60 per cent, of the whole cost. 

 The wide fire-lines in southern California cost from $100 

 to $200 per mile. They are now cleared every two years 

 at a cost of from $30 to $75 per mile. The cost of 

 maintenance will be progressively smaller from year to 

 year. 



Tree-Cleared Lines. By a tree-cleared line is meant 

 one from which the trees and brush are removed, but 

 from which no effort is made to clear the leaves or 

 other small litter. The object of such lines is not to 

 stop a fire, but to furnish a vantage ground for patrol 

 and for fighting fires. The brushing out of all wood 

 roads, already mentioned on page 270, makes the best 

 kind of tree-cleared lines. 



Very frequently special tree-cleared lines are made 



