Forest Devastation 35 



If the regulation for the control of fire in the clearing of 

 the right of way by the Transcontinental Railway Com- 

 mission were generally enforced, the danger would be re- 

 duced to a minimum. The regulation is as follows : 



"The whole, or as much of the right of way as the engineer 

 may direct, shall be entirely cleared of all trees, logs, brush, 

 and other perishable matter, all of which shall be burnt or other- 

 wise disposed cf as the engineer may direct, unless specially re- 

 served to be made into timber, ties, or cordwood. Unless 

 directed in writing by the engineer, trees and brush must net 

 be thrown on adjacent lands, but must be disposed of on the 

 right cf way. Trees unavoidably falling outside the right cf 

 way must be cut up, removed to the right of way and disposed 

 of." 



The enforcement of such a regulation is difficult and re- 

 quires special patrol officers, but on the Grand Trunk 

 Pacific, through Dominion lands west of Edmonton, it was 

 enforced, and there were not forty acres burned outside 

 the right of way. 



The danger from sparks from the locomotive is also being 

 met by regulations covering the construction of the engines. 

 This is not easy, as mechanical difficulties are in the way, 

 but these are being overcome. All engines are required 

 to be equipped with spark arresters, and the regulations 

 of the Dominion Railway Commission require that the 

 locomotive shall be inspected once a month by an official 

 of the company. The Commission also employs a force of 

 inspectors for this purpose, but not enough to make in- 

 spection prompt and adequate. Authority has also been 



