36 METHODS OF COMMUNICATION FOR FOREST PROTECTION 



very general statements in regard to the actual degree of immunity from fire damage 

 that may be considered satisfactory in specific instances, consequently, it is possible 

 to state only in a very general way the amount of line that may be considered essential 

 in any given case: On the forest reserves, where continuous forest production must 

 be aimed at in order to justify their existence, it is obvious that if the area annually 

 mimed over averages more than about 1 per cent this aim will be rendered wholly 

 unattainable. It is doubtful, moreover, whether with an average annual fire loss 

 exceeding one-tenth of 1 per cent (1 acre per 1,000) of the area protected satisfactory 

 results are possible. Certainly an average annual loss of 2 acres per 1,000 in the 

 reserves of the P'rairie Provinces should be the outside limit. 'What expenditure may 

 justifiably be made to attain this degree of protection depends on many factors, not 

 all of which are as yet known in these forests. From a study of protective services in 

 other regions, however, it may be said that present protection standards on Dominion 

 forests demand the connection of all district ranger headquarters with the supervisor 

 by telephone, and the equipment of primary lookout stations at least. Further con- 

 struction can only be of real utility as the efficiency of the staff develops and as its 

 further specialization becomes feasible. In a general way an- internal system that will 

 connect all district headquarters with the supervisor will be found to involve about 

 200 miles of line to each million acres of forest. Since this is a greater mileage than 

 can be successfully operated on one circuit, it is necessary to divide it into two or more 

 independent circuits in preparing the telephone plan. 



Section 44 Standard Materials 



1 DESIRABILITY OF STANDARDS 



Several factors combine to render the adoption of equipment standards impera- 

 tive. 



Certain technical reasons require the use of uniform types of instruments on the 

 one circuit. 



Only by adopting a standard type for all circuits is it possible to connect up 

 adjacent ones or to transfer equipment from one to another. 



Some important special instruments are manufactured for use only with certain 

 types of equipment. Unless these types are employed it is impossible to utilize all 

 the available facilities. 



Dealers will carry in stock only materials for which there is a reasonable demand. 

 The adoption of uniform standard equipment for all the work of the Forestry Branch 

 will make it possible for dealers to carry at local distributing- centres a supply of this 

 material, and thus greatly expedite deliveries. 



For the purpose of providing uniform equipment throughout the Dominion forest 

 reserves the following standard list has been adopted and must not be deviated from 

 without the authority of the district inspector. 



2 LIST OF STANDARD EQUIPMENT 



NOTE. For specifications of those items marked with an asterisk (*) see Appendix E. 



Material and Uses Description of Equipment 



*Wire: 

 Standard 



Line (pole and tree, grounded and metallic). No. 9. B.W.G., B.B. galvanized-iron telephone 



wire. 



Specials 



Line (special long distance tree lines, 



grounded only) No. 6 B.W.G., B.B. galvanized-iron telephone 



wire. 



