Canadian Forestry Journal, March, 1919 



113 



CANADA LAGS IN TRIAL OF AIR PATROLS 



Generous Offer of Quebec Government 

 Employ Idle Machines This Summer 

 Gets No Encouragement. 



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Why should Canada wait any longer to test 

 the efficiency of the aeroplane in forest fire pro- 

 tection? The question has been threshed out 

 for nearly three years, and while responsibility 

 for the initial experiments has been passed 

 along from one authority to another, the opin- 

 ion of most of those who have made a close 

 study of the subject is that the Dommion Gov- 

 ernment, with a ready supply of idle machines, 

 and willing pilots, ought to take the first steps 

 to secure reliable data in this most important 

 enterprise. 



According to The Forestry Journal's informa- 

 tion, the Minister of Lands and Forests of Que- 

 bec recently proposed to the Dominion Minister 

 of Marine and Fisheries that two of the idle 

 hydro-aeroplanes now at Halifax or other At- 

 lantic ports should be loaned to the Quebec Gov- 

 ernment for the summer season of 1919, the 

 provincial authorities to foot the bill for up- 

 keep of machines and pay of pilots. Hon. Mr. 

 Allard, on behalf of the Quebec Government, in- 

 tended to establish an experimental patrol over 

 the St. Maurice Valley. It would appear that 

 his co-operative offer was of a most generous 

 and progressive character. It has not been 

 favorably received by the Acting Minister of 

 Marine and Fisheries, nor does there seem any 

 prospect of having a start made in aerial forest 

 patrol in Quebec even though public-owned 

 hydro-aeroplanes are lying useless in their han- 

 gars in Nova Scotia and skilled pilots are kicking 

 their heels and aching for some form of active 

 service. The Canadian Forestry Association has 

 addressed the Acting Minister of Marine and 

 Fisheries on this subject and a deputation from 

 the Association and allied bodies will bring the 

 matter to the Government's attention during the 

 present month. 



If Canada is content to wait several years 

 until the trail is cut by other more aggressive 

 nations it will offer a poor comment on the 

 ability of Canadians to initiate new lines of ef- 

 fort. The Forestry Journal is in receipt of 

 communications from many senior aviators who 

 look upon an aerial forest patrol as a simple, ef- 



fective and inexpensive proceeding. Appar- 

 ently, however, the idle machines and aviators 

 at the disposal of the Dominion Government are 

 to be denied an opportunity for splendid public 

 service. 



Not only is action called for by the imperative 

 need of timber conservation, but other fields in 

 which the Government is directly interested 

 demand a bolder policy. It is understood that 

 the Topographical Survey, the Geodetic Survey, 

 Royal North West Mounted Police, and the Post 

 Office Department are thoroughly convinced of 

 the advantage of aeroplane service in increasing 

 their efficiency and in certain instances reducing 

 their cost of operation. These departments, 

 however, are directly controlled by the Dominion 

 Government and no matter how deeply convincd 

 the executive officers may feel on the urgency 

 of aerial experimentation, a refusal on the part 

 of a Cabinet Minister to take actton gives an 

 instant quietus to the departmental agitation. 



Those bodies, however, which have taken a 

 constructive interest in Canadian forest palicy 

 are not as sensitive to this official denial and may 

 be depended upon to intensify their request until 

 proper consideration is given. 



THE ASPEN POPLAR. 



The Aspen is one of these fore-runners, which, 

 thanks to its proHfic production of light, feathery 

 seed, readily wafted by the winds over hundreds 

 of miles, readily germinating and rapidly grow- 

 ing under exposure to full sunlight, even now 

 everywhere quickly takes possession of the areas 

 on which man has ruthlessly destroyed all vege- 

 tation by fire. This humble and ubiquitous 

 tree is nature's restorative, covering the sores 

 and scalds of the burnt mountain-side. Though 

 short-lived, with its light summer foliage turning 

 into brilliant golden autumn hues, it gives grate- 

 ful shade and preserves from the thirsty sun and 

 wind some moisture for the better kinds, which 

 creep in and take its place, when it has fullilled 

 its mission. Dr. B. E. Fernow. Toronto. 



