184 NEW BRUNSWICK FORESTRY CONVENTION 



they were to use their own teams and get to the nearest telephone office as 

 soon as they could and communicate the case to me and as soon as I arrived 

 on the ground I would fully re-imburse them for the use of their teams and 

 their trouble and would at once bring sufficient men with me to get control 

 of any fire that might take place as I said in their vicinity. 



I might say in reference to this that notwithstanding that a good many 

 men have used their own teams and spent considerable time in getting word 

 to me of fires near them, that in all "cases without any exception where I 

 have tendered these men pay for their teams, they have one and all refused 

 to accept one cent. 



This shows at once that where there is a head to an organization of 

 this kind the people one and all are only too willing to assist in any way 

 within their power. 



Now in years past when I was in control of a large tract of granted' 

 land I was forced to move men by teams and rail, and, when large fires take 

 place in the interior of the prpvince, it is impossible to obtain men to fight 

 fires in the near vicinity for the reason that before you could get them to- 

 gether the fire would have gotten beyond control, and I have always found 

 it necessary to go to the centres of population, such as the towns for a crew 

 of men. 



I have not had occasion in the past two years to take any action of this, 

 kind for the Government, but I might say that I have mentioned the fact to 

 Mr. Downie, general superintendent of the C. P. R., and explained to him 

 that the occasion might arise at any time and I thought that he should 

 assist us in transporting these men to the scene of the fire free of charge. I 

 might say that Mr. Downie met my views in every particular, and as my sec- 

 tion covers nearly the entire route of his road, he has promised to move men 

 as I suggested as soon as hearing from me. This again would show the 

 public spirit that is instilled even in our railway managers in reference to 

 fire protection. 



Again I think the Government should arrange with the telephone and 

 telegraph companies (who themselves would be benefited very materially by 

 any system of fire protection) to transmit any messages relating to fires 

 whenever the deputy fire wardens should be necessitated to use their lines, 

 and I think it would work out beneficially not only to the lumbermen, but 

 for the companies as well in a great saving of poles which are very often 



