296 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



which will start fires in very dry weather. It is, there- 

 fore, necessary to supplement the use of spark-arresters 

 by patrolling the right of way. 



The most effective method of patrol is to follow 

 every train with a speeder equipped with mattocks, 

 shovels, pails, and other necessary equipment for fight- 

 ing fires. A fire started by a spark from a locomotive 

 may then be put out before it has an opportunity to gain 

 any considerable headway or to do much damage. 



It is not always practicable to follow every train over 

 a long distance, and it may happen that there is danger 

 from the sparks only at steep grades. In that event the 

 patrol is concentrated at the dangerous points. 



The plan of following every train by patrolmen may 

 be practicable where the distance traversed by the road is 

 not great, but it would not be feasible for a great mileage. 

 Thus, for example, the problem of patrol is being con- 

 sidered by certain large railroads with the view of apply- 

 ing it over the entire system, wherever there is danger 

 from fires. The purpose is to save the annual expense 

 of fire damages. One system in the Northeast, cov- 

 ering not over 2,000 miles, is said to have an annual 

 expense of over $50,000 for forest-fire claims. It is 

 probable that the most practical method of supervision of 

 the right of way would be through the organization of 

 the section men, with a special patrol at certain grades 

 where the danger from fires is particularly great. There 

 is no reason why the section men, if provided with proper 

 speeders and other equipment, should not be trained to 



