Canadian Foreslry Journal, Fchruarij, 19hS 



1549 



Evergreen Snow Fences 



By J. E. Long 



Editor, Canadian Government Railways Emploijccs Mayazinc. Monclon, X.B. 



Praiseworthy Action Taken By Government Rail- 

 way In Safeguarding Tracks For Winter Traffic. 



Passengers travelling over the 

 Canadian Government Railways are 

 frequently heard commenting favor- 

 ably on the fme appearance of the 

 beautiful spruce hedges which line 

 the right-of-way between Campbell- 

 ton and Bat hurst. To the traveller 

 the appeal is purely to the esthetic 

 sense, and the dense growth and well- 

 kept appearance of these hedges rest 

 the eye and captivate the sight in 

 spite of the enchantment of the 

 many natural beauties of mountain., 

 bay and forest, with which the region 

 is so generously adorned; but to the 

 railway man they mean more than 

 a decoration, as they are utilitarian 

 as well. Here is the beautiful com- 

 bined with the useful in the highest 

 sense. 



Primarily these hedges were de- 

 signed to protect the Railways' tracks 

 from the drifting snow in winter time; 

 that they have grown beautiful is due 

 to the great care with which they 

 were planted, and tended by the 

 sectionmen, and to the mellowing 

 influence of the passing years. Now 

 the Railway has natural snow fences, 

 serviceable, efficient, beautiful, a 

 combination well planned and pa- 

 tiently perfected. 



To James Patterson, of Campbell- 

 ton, retired roadmaster, is due in no 

 small measure the credit as the 

 originator of this improvement. In 

 a recent interview, Mr. Patterson 

 gave to the writer the following in- 

 teresting information : 



"The winter of 1887 was most 

 severe, the snowfall was very heavy, 

 and the high winds almost continu- 

 ous. My men and I spent many 

 days and nights endeavoring to keep 

 the tracks clear of snow, so that the 



trains might not be delayed or the 

 cuts blocked with the heavy drifts. 

 We did the best we could with the 

 snow-fighting apparatus we had, but 

 our best efforts were but feeble ones, 

 and after some of the heaviest storms 

 our wooden snow fences were com- 

 pletely buried, and the cuts snowed 

 uj) full. 



B. C. SPRUCE PRODUCTION 



Recently the British Columbia 

 Government passed the following 

 Order-in-Council relating to greater 

 spruce production in the province: 



That the Minister of Lands be and 

 is hereby authorized and empowered 



(a) To forthwith arrange with the 

 Imperial Munitions Board for the 

 immediate logging of aeroplane spruce 

 upon all areas of vacant Crown Land 

 that may be judged suitable for the 

 purpose by the Department of Lands, 

 as well as upon Coal Leases, Coal 

 Licenses and Mineral claims to which 

 Crown Grant or Surface Rights has 

 not been issued. 



(b) To call upon all holders of 

 Crown Timber held under License or 

 Lease which is judged by the Lands 

 Department to be suitable for the 

 purpose to proceed immediately with 

 the logging of aeroplane spruce and 

 in default of compliance the Minister 

 shall instruct the Department of 

 Lands to arrange for such logging in 

 co-operation with the Imperial Muni- 

 tions Board. 



(c) To arrange with the Imperial 

 Munitions Board on equitable com- 

 pensation to be paid for timber so 

 cut from anv license or lease. 



