158 BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN AMERICA. 



construction of a new transcontinental railway and the projec- 

 tion of other lines passing largely through coniferous forests, 

 attention of the Governments of the Dominion and the 

 provinces, and also of the railway companies, be called to 

 the serious danger of loss of valuable timber consequent upon 

 the construction and operation of lines so' located, if all 

 possible precautions to prevent the starting of fires are not 

 taken ; it be urged that the question be given full and careful 

 consideration. 



That to the end sought the railway companies constructing 

 such roads should be required to furnish an efficient equip- 

 ment and control to prevent fires. 



That at such seasons as may be necessary it be required 

 that an effective patrol be established along the afforested 

 line of railway, whether under construction or in actual 

 operation. 



And further, that the officers, both of the Governments 

 and the railways, be required to use all possible diligence 

 to prevent the starting or spread of fires through defective 

 equipment or through the carelessness of the operations or 

 negligence of the employees under their control. 



7. Whereas it has been the common method in lumbering 

 over a large portion of the timber area of Canada to fell 

 trees by the use of the axe ; 



And whereas it has been found that trees sawn close to the 

 ground can be felled more cheaply than those cut down with 

 the axe, resulting in a gain of from six to ten per cent, in 

 the scale of the logs, and diminishing the risk of fire caused 

 by chips in felling ; 



And whereas the felling of logs after the season of snow 

 has resulted in a large loss to the forests of Canada ; 



Therefore resolved that this Convention recommend to 

 those who are in control of the public lands of Canada the 

 advisability of making such regulations as will carry out 

 the principles of this resolution. 



8. Kesolved that this Convention is of opinion that the 



