Canadian Forestry Journal, July, 1919 



295 



TRIMMING AND RE-TRIMMING ROADSIDE TREES 



The Canadian Forestry Association is gath- 

 ering evidence as to the practice of pubhc 

 utilities bodies m trimming trees so as to con- 

 venience their wires. An important point is 

 brought up in a letter from Mr. Thomas Rowley, 

 Dresidert of the Erie Co-Operative Company of 

 Leamington, Ontario, who protests strongly 

 against what he claims to be the unnecessary 

 hacking of valued trees. Says Mr. Rowley: 



"These trees were trimmed by the Essex Light 

 and Power Company, and we see no reason why 

 they should again be trimmed. We may be 

 dense on this power and light question, but we 

 fail to see why it is necessary to cut ten feet 

 below the wire, which the Hydro are doing. We 

 claim that so long as there are no branches 

 touching the wires, that is all that is necessary 

 anl I don't think we would object seriously to 

 that much trimming being done. It does seem 

 strange that in some cities and towns the coun- 

 cils compel the power and light companies to 

 put their wires underground, while in the rural 

 districts they will not even put up higher poles 

 or arms on the poles to avoid cutting the shade 

 trees. 



"If the Hydro people can find any limbs on 

 these trees that are actually touching the wires 

 we would have no objections to their trimming 

 any branch or twig found in that position, but 

 we do absolutely, and I believe will strenuously 

 oppose any idea of cutting any limb or branch 

 of tree that is not actually touching the wire." 



To Mr. Rowley's complaint, Mr. W. W. Pope, 

 Secretary of the Hydro-Electric Power Com- 

 mission wrote the Forestry A::Gciation in ^^rent 

 detail giving the results of a c;:c"ri -v'/'^a- 



tion in Mr. Pjwley's v 

 Pope says: 



F».. > 



;ty. 



TJ:e Hydro-Ebctric Reply: 



"One of the most serious difficulties in an 

 electric line are the limbs overhanging the wires 

 and these limbs breaking and falling on the 

 wires, thus doing damage, not only to the ser- 

 vice but oftentimes to property and persons. 



"About a year ago, shortly before the taking 

 over of the line by the Commission, a limb broke 

 and parted a wire, the live end falling on a 

 wire fence. A cat got into trouble with this 

 and a Mrs. Mitchell went out to relieve the cat 

 and in so doing was killed. There were several 

 other accidents in this district caused by limbs 

 falling on the wires and breaking them. 



"All of this, you will readily understand, has 

 to be taken care of and the cause of the trouble 

 removed and the line made fairly safe. 



"As to the trimming of trees whose limbs do 

 not touch the wires. While the limbs might 

 clear the wires under ordinary circumstances 

 and conditions, directly there is a sleet, snow or 

 windstorm, these limbs are bent toward the 

 wires and entirely spoil the working of the line. 



"The ten-foot clearance has been maintained 

 throughout the Hydro's operations. Six feet 

 was at first tried, but this was not sufficient. 

 The clearance was then increased to eight feet 

 and the Commission still had serious trouble and 

 were compelled to make the clearance ten feet. 



"As to high poles. That again is impossible 

 as the cost of these poles would be prohibitive 

 and it would only be a matter of time until the 

 trees grew to the height of the poles and they 

 would only require to be cut later on." 



EYE PROTECTORS FOR LOOKOUTS. 



A United States Forest Service ranger has de- 

 vised an eye protector for the use of lookouts. 

 The device is simple. It is made of cardboard, 

 p:\inted black, fitting over the eyes, and has a 

 long horizontal opening lined with narrow strips 

 which prevent the entrance of light from the 

 sides, also from above and below. A test will 

 be made by several lookouts. The ranger states 

 that his device will successfully protect the eyes 

 against the bright glare in the atmosphere at 

 high elevations. 



SURVEY IN FRASER VALLEY. 



The Dominion Forestry Department will be 

 asked to make a survey of the lower Eraser 

 Valley for timber suitable for pulp and paper 

 making. This was the decision of the Greater 

 Vancouver and Lower Mainland Bureau of the 

 Board of Trade. Considerable discussion had 

 taken place at previous meetings regarding the 

 possibilities offered in the valley for a paper 

 plant, but it was thought advisable before any 

 definite action was taken toward interesting 

 capital in the matter to have authentic informa- 

 tion available regarding the supply of timber. 



