No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 369 



eral of these towns have purchased equipment this year, thereby better 

 protecting themselves from the ravages of the fire evil. In 1910, when 

 the reimbursement law was enacted, there were 178 towns coming under 

 the act. During the past four years the valuation of 22 of them has in- 

 creased so that it now exceeds $1,500,000, and they are no longer entitled 

 to reimbursement. Owing to no special effort being made by this depart- 

 ment along this line until the past two years, it seems but fair that the 

 law be amended, making the valuation limit $1,750,000, thereby allowing 

 these 22 towns to take advantage of the act. The following tables on 

 pages 375 to 377, show, first, an itemized statement of the equipment pur- 

 chased since the enactment of the law and the amount received by each 

 town from the Commonwealth during that period; second, a list of the 

 towns having purchased equipment this year and the amount of reim- 

 bursement received by them. This department holds receipts from the 

 town forest wardens for all equipment purchased under the act. 



Railkoad FiRfiS. 



The railroad fire situation is gradually improving, but owing to the 

 fact that there are over 2,000 locomotives, and over 2,500 miles of right 

 of way within this State, it is very evident that a vast amount of work 

 must be done to eliminate railroad fires. In addition to the above we 

 have the many miles of slash accumulation adjoining the right of way 

 where owners seem indifferent, preferring in many instances to allow the 

 burning of it by sparks from locomotives, whereby they may get a fair 

 revenue in the form of damage claims, rather than to dispose of it them- 

 selves and thereby eliminate the danger of fires during severe drought. 



Through the courtesy of the Board of Railroad Commissioners and the 

 consent of the railroad officials this department has been able to maintain 

 a system of locomotive inspections, one inspector being detailed on this 

 line of work and vested with authority to inspect the spark arresters and 

 ash pans of locomotives in operation throughout the State. In addition 

 to this, the New York Conservation Commission has inspected all loco- 

 motives running into New York State, thus improving the condition of 

 locomotives used in the western part of Massachusetts. Our records 

 show that 1,105 locomotives were inspected, of which 26 per cent of the 

 Boston & Albany locomotives, 23 per cent of the Boston & Maine loco- 

 motives, and 49 per cent of the New York, New Haven & Hartford loco- 

 motives were defective. A large percentage of the defective locomotives 

 were found in the early part of the season. As the season advanced, and 

 extra men were assigned to repairing the defects and installing new screens 

 where necessary, inspections showed a very decided improvement, very 

 few defective locomotives being found. As this inspection work is most 

 important, it is necessary that at least one more inspector be employed 

 this coming season. 



Mr. E. A. Ryder, who has charge of the fire prevention department of 



