THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 99 



timber and by the location of skidroads. So far as prac- 

 ticable fire lines should be on the tops of ridges, for, being 

 slower to go downhill than up, fire is more easily discouraged 

 just as it reaches a crest. Bottoms of gulches are next in 

 strategic value, and midslopes least. 



Safeguarding Equipment 



The most fruitful source of fires is spark-emitting locomo- 

 tives and logging engines. Much data has been collected 

 showing that with oil at a reasonable price its use is econom- 

 ical from a labor-saving point of view as well as from that 

 of safety. It reduces expense for watchmen, patrol, fuel cut- 

 ting, firebox cleaning and firing. And since it is an absolute 

 prevention, while all other measures merely seek to minimize 

 the risk, it is probable that even where the cost of the oil 

 more than balances these savings it will save in the long run 

 by averting a costly fire. 



Where the use of oil cannot be considered, spark arresters 

 are essential. The argument that they prevent draft is not 

 - worth attention. It is greatly exaggerated by engineers and 

 firemen prejudiced against innovation or too inattentive to 

 keep their fires up properly and consequently unnecessarily 

 dependent on occasional forced draft. The slight disadvan- 

 tage involved by the modern improved arrester is not to be 

 compared with the importance of the safety acquired. 



In addition to spark arresters, which may fail or be out of 

 order, logging engines using fuel other than oil should be pro- 

 vided with a constant tank or barrel supply of six to twelve 

 barrels of water and 100 feet of hose with proper pumping 

 attachment. With this a spark fire can be promptly soaked 

 out beyond danger of invisible smouldering in rotten wood or 

 duff. When conditions are dangerous, careful loggers send 

 a man back to each donkey-setting between supper and bed- 

 time to look for possible fires that were not seen when the 

 crew left. Many keep a watchman on the rounds all night. 



Railroad rights of way can usually be kept cleaned and 



