No. 4.] 



REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 



283 



Owing to the above facts, it seems very necessary that the present 

 railroad fire laws be more rigidly enforced. Section 1 of chapter 431, 

 Acts of 1907, says: "Every corporation operating a steam railroad within 

 the commonwealth shall, between the first day of April and the first day 

 of December of each year, keep its right of way clear of dead leaves, dry 

 grass," etc. I have made a personal inspection of several of the different 

 branches of roads throughout the State, and find that this portion of the 

 law has not been complied with. I find in many instances the grass and 

 brush along the right of way has been cut but not burned or removed, 

 which is very essential in order to prevent fires. The outcome is that we 



KETCH. 



have miles of railroad within the State with the' right of way covered with 

 dry grass and leaves, thereby causing immediate danger the first dry 

 days in the spring. 



It also seems to me that owners of timber lands adjoining the right of 

 way are not using proper precaution to protect their property. It is a very 

 easy matter, and one which entails very little expense, to clean out from 

 the timber the underbrush and debris on a strip 75 feet in width next to 

 the railroad right of way, thus mitigating the danger of fire very materially. 

 Beyond this cleaned strip a regular fire line 10 feet wide should then be 

 made by cutting the wood or timber, burning the brush, and keeping it 

 as free as possible from grass and leaves. The cut on this page is an illus- 

 tration of a modern fire line which will save property owners in this State 

 many thousands of dollars if they will adopt it. 



It is the contention among railroad officials that many railroad fires 

 originate from cigar or cigarette stubs thrown from smoking-car win- 

 dows. This is undoubtedly true in a great many instances, and there is 

 no doubt that railroad fire claims have been paid that originated from this 

 cause. The percentage of such fires we do not know. Allowing that 5 



