Government and Loggers Co-operate in Slash Disposal. 



121 



ho^in^ slash before burning. A most dangerous fire trap 



Showing where slash has been burned on logged over area. 

 No danger of fire now. 



ing can be done safely, or the methods by 

 which the burning can be most effectively 

 accomplished, these matters being best 



I determined by your superintendent, the 



following general rules may be of assist- 

 ance: — 



(1) Always construct a trail or a light 

 fire-break around the slashed area before 

 starting fires. This will serve to confine 

 the fire and also permit men to get around 

 the fire quickly. 



(2) Be sure and have enough men on 

 hand when you start a fire to control the 

 fire if it threatens to spread beyond the 

 slash. 



(3) Never start a fire in the morning 

 unless you feel certain a strong win<l will 

 not arise. The best time to start a fire 

 is after 4 o'clock in the afternoon on a 

 calm day; if the weather is warm and the 

 slash dry all the better. 



(4) If the slash area is surrounded by 

 timber start fires first on the leeward side 

 if there is a breeze, or on the uphill side 



if on a slope. When the danger of fire 

 spreading beyond the area to be burned 

 is past, set fire on the windward side or 

 at the base of the slope; also whenever 

 possible take advantage of a breeze blow- 

 ing away from green timber. 



(5) Burn over the area as quickly as 

 possible. This can be done by starting 

 fires in a large number of places. 



(6) Keep a watchman on the area 

 burned until all fires are out. Cut down 

 any snags which may be burning. All 

 fires should be completely out before June 

 15. 



Experience has shown that slash can 

 be burned safelv at the cost of 5 to 20 

 cents an acre, and that this expense is 

 fully repaid by the resulting added safety 

 of the camps, equipment and surrounding 

 timber. The cost can be materially re- 

 duced if the policy of annual burning is 

 definitely adopted, since by a little fore- 

 thought the superintendent and foreman 

 can arrange to have drag and skid roads 

 serve as fire-breaks. When it is known 

 where the boundary of an area to be burn- 

 ed will lay, it is also a material help to 

 have the trees felled away from the 

 green timber. 



I would appreciate it very much if you 

 would report what action you take, if any, 

 with respect to burning your slash this 

 Sluing, giving the area burned, the weath- 

 er conditions, methods of controlling the 

 fire, and the cost. At the end of the sea- 

 son this information will be collected in 

 the form of a bulletin and mailed to all 

 the lumbermen. 



It is also desired that the owners of 

 timber be prepared to discuss the subject 

 thoroughly at the International Fire Pro- 

 tection Convention which will be held in 

 Vancouver next December. 



NEW LEASES TAKEN UP. 



Premier Flemming of New Brunswick re- 

 cently stated in connection with the new 

 Forest Legislation that of the 10,000 square 

 miles of Crown timber lands 7,000 have al- 

 ready been applied for under the terms and 

 conditions of the new leases. 



As our readers are aware the new laws 

 recently passed provide for two forms of 

 license, — a saw mill license of twenty years 

 renewable for a further period of ten years, 

 and a pulp and paper license of thirty years 

 renewable for two perio<lH of ten years each 

 at the option of the Government. 



It is expected that less than five hun<lred 

 will remain out, and not elect to come in 

 under the provisions of the new law as the 

 law provides in this case the limits will be 

 [)ut up at auction in 1918 as the former 

 leases provide. 



