136 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



The report recommends that the Provincial Legislature of New Bruns- 

 wick enforce regulations against setting fires along the railways. In this 

 province the greater extent of railway lines belongs to the Intercolonial 

 Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway, but the Intercolonial Efailway 

 being a Government work, with regard to the operation of it, neither this 

 Government nor legislature could interfere ; and the Canadian Pacific Rail- 

 way is also a company incorporated by the Canadian Parliament, and neither 

 this legislature nor the Government could have any power to pass a law, or 

 enforce regulations which would in any way interfere with the operation of 

 that line of railway. Taking out those two great lines, all that are left*are 

 the two branch roads, including the Grand Southern, occupying a compara- 

 tively small mileage in the Province of New Brunswick. I would respect- ' 

 fully submit whether it would not be .better to add some words to the report 

 which would contain a recommendation from this large and representative 

 gathering to the Dominion Government and Parliament, that they also, in 

 connection with the roads under their control, should take effective 

 measures along the lines suggested in the report, in regard to the means to 

 be taken to keep fires from starting and spreading along the lines of those 

 railways. We know that enormous and incalculable damage has been 

 done in the past by the operations of those lines, and it seems to me now is 

 the time to make a recommendation which might be embodied in the 

 report. 



THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL I would like to say that fcr the last 

 year or two at least the Manager of the Intercolonial Railway has afforded 

 every facility to those interested in our forest fires, not only giving permits 

 to ride on their trains where necessary to put out fires, but every spring, 

 during the commencement of the dry season, instructing the section men 

 and bosses of the sections, as well as drivers and conductors on the road, to 

 be on the look-out for forest fires. I think in that respect the matter was 

 taken up between the Manager of the Intercolonial Railway and myself within 

 two years, and, since that time, I think the practice has prevailed. This is 

 also true in regard to the Canadian Pacific Railway, and in that respect the 

 resolution has been anticipated somewhat. The Canadian Pacific Railway 

 has been also somewhat careful, and afforded every facility. Mr. Berry, a 

 sealer in the southern side of the province, could testify that Mr. Downie has 

 afforded every assistance in arresting, and putting out, forest fires in exist- 

 ence, besides instructing the employees to be on the look-out for them. 



MR. GEORGE F. HILL I am somewhat responsible for that 



