126 



Canadian Forestry Journal, March, 1919 



PAY NO DIVIDENDS OUT OF CAPITAL 



"After the survey of our lands has been completed by the 

 foresters, if it is shown we are lumbering to a greater extent than 

 our annual increment, the Government will consider the cur- 

 tailment of the present annual cut of lumber to correspond with 

 the natural growth." — A statement by Hon. E. A. Smith, 

 Minister of Lands of New Brunswick. 



THE PROBABLE COST OF AEROPLANE PATROL 



The Forestry Journal prints the folloming as a purely military estimate of the cost of an 

 aerial patrol in Ontario. The initial programme calls for an elaborate organization. Whatever 

 is done in air patrol of forests rvill likely commenc rvith one plane, sufficient to demonstrate a 

 few facts before any Government is committed to huge expenditures. 



Some time ago the Ontario Government asked 

 the Canadian Air Force Headquarters at Argyle 

 House, London, to outline a plan of aerial patrol 

 for the forest regions of Ontario. A cabled ac- 

 count of the estimate claims that three times the 

 area would be covered as under the present sys- 

 tem. The cost is given as $375,000 a year in 

 addition to a large initial expenditure. This, it 

 may be emphasized, takes no account of the 

 maintenance of a very large "land force" of 

 rangers, such as will always be necessary. The 

 Ontario Forest Service has now over 1 ,000 men 

 on duty and is costing the province about 

 ^500,000 a year, including expenditure on per- 

 manent improvements. 



The London despatch states: 

 The cost of such an air patrol would be abou^ 

 $375,000 a year, and an initial expenditure of 

 $351,000. 



The detailed estimates supplied by Argyle 

 House are as follows: 



Estimated cost aerial equipment — $351,312.00 

 Estimated annual cost of replace- 

 ment and upkeep of equip- 

 ment due to bad crashes, 

 forced landings, etc., will not 



exceed 155,361.16 



Annual charge for pay and allow- 

 ances, estimating that the ser- 

 vice will be maintained for a 

 period of six months in the 

 year 



220,000.00 



Total annual charge for upkeep, 



pay and allowances 375,361.16 



It is estimated that this service will be able 

 to patrol an area of 150 to 200 miles in 

 width, and 300 to 400 miles in length, or a 

 total area of 30,000 square miles, with an 

 annual charge of patrolling this area of 30,000 

 square miles of approximately $12.50 per square 

 mile. 



Fight Flames From Air. 



Not only can the fires be located by the 

 aviator, but they can be fought as well. From 

 dawn to dusk every day for the six months 

 in the year when fires rage in the valuable Nor- 

 thern forests, a ceaseless watch could be kept 

 by air. 



Here is how it would work: 



At two o'clock in the afternoon a patrolling 

 seaplane, manned by a pilot and observer dis- 

 covers a new fire commencing. After a quick, 

 thorough reference to maps, the observer sends 

 by wireless the map location of the fire, its mag- 

 nitude and the necessary method of fighting it. 



This message is picked up at once back at 

 the aerodrome or base of the aeroplane or sea- 

 plane — whichever is in use. At this base Is 

 standing-by a crew of trained forest-fire fighters. 

 Here takes place a rapid reference to maps, and 

 in a few minutes the machine is off In the air 

 with its pilot and six men to fight the fire. 



