, July 1, 1911. 

 Chairman Board of County Commissioners 



Dear Sirs: Since logging companies, railroads and others 

 cutting timber are required to properly dispose of the brush 

 or slash, it would seem advisable that the State and Coun- 

 ties conform to this requirement where they are constructing 

 roads. 



As we all know it has been the practice to throw the 

 tree-tops and brush into piles or wind-rows along the edge 

 of the woods on both sides of the road. This has a doubly 

 harmful effect. The brush when dry constitutes a fire-trap 

 in which a fire can quickly gain headway if any one passing 

 by carelessly drops a lighted match or cigar butt. It also 

 renders the road useless as a fire-break, since a hot fire so 

 near the road is almost sure to jump across and because 

 of the added heat from the brush piles it cannot be stopped 

 at the road. A road should constitute one of the best pos- 

 sible places to stop a fire. 



In any road work which your county has under way or 

 intends building, you should immediately provide for the 

 burning of the brush and tree-tops where the road passes 

 through wooded lands. The burning should be done by throw- 

 ing the brush into the middle of the roadway and burning it 

 in piles when conditions are such that the adjoining woods 

 can be protected. Some one should be left to see that the 

 fire does not spread, since the person or persons in charge 

 of the work are liable for all damage caused by a fire which 

 escapes. The disposal of brush is required by the forest law 

 passed during the last session of the Legislature (Sections 1 

 and 15, Chapter 125), which makes it the duty of the State 

 Forester to prescribe the manner of disposing of all brush 

 and slashings as a means of preventing forest fires. I con- 

 sider this work of special importance. It is something per- 

 fectly feasible to carry out; it costs little and should have 

 a very beneficial effect in the control of fires in your com- 

 munity. I hope that you will give this matter your personal 

 thought and attention both as a county officer and as a 



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