Canadian Forestry Journal, October, igi6 



7S7 



A hundred and twenty-four years old, and still occupied, is indeed a unique record for a Canadian 

 log house. This substantial pioneer house was built at Unionville, Ontario, by Philipp Eckhardt, a pro- 

 genitor of A. J. H. Eckhardt, a well-known citizen of Toronto, and a life member of the Canadian For- 

 estry Association. It is said to be the oldest log house of similar dimensions in the Dominion. Some 

 of the logs are 30 to 36 inches in diameter, and show few signs of disintegration. The builder, Mr. 

 Philipp Eckhardt, constructed the first saw mills and grist mills in Ontario, 1792, about three miles west 

 of Unionville. It is interesting to note, as a testimony to the comfort of this log home, that its occu- 

 pants, numbering thirteen, took first prize at a 1912 political picnic as the "heaviest family attending the 

 event." 



the Nipigon office there is a Hst show- 

 ing all supplies necessary for 

 men at this work, and the amout re- 

 quired per man, so that as soon as fire 

 is reported this list is taken for a 

 guide, and the supplies ordered accord- 

 ingly. The whole aim is to be ready 

 for action as soon as the lookouts call 

 in. These lookouts have now been 

 working for the past three seasons. 



Settlers' Fires. 



In Nipigon Township, where there 

 are a lot of settlers just south of the 

 reserve line, Mr. Bliss does not per- 

 mit any burning whatever from May 1 

 to Sept. 15. This is a matter of per- 

 sonal arrangement, and not of law. 



Mr. Bliss is also in charge of fire 

 protection on the Transcontinental for 

 a distance of 250 miles. On this area 



was placed a force of eight rangers un- 

 der an Assistant Chief Ranger, and all 

 were supplied with speeders, with a 

 daily run of 30 miles. At the end of 

 each patrol are comfortable tents, so 

 that two rangers always camped to- 

 gether. 



The speeders carried more than en- 

 ough equipment for one ranger, so that 

 should a fire be discovered requiring 

 more help, the ranger would be able to 

 furnish the necessary tools. The As- 

 sistant. Chief in charge of these rang- 

 ers left with them in the spring and re- 

 turned with them in the fall, and was 

 continually going along from one gang 

 to another, and in that manner the best 

 results possible were obtained. In 

 1916, one of the driest seasons on rec- 

 ord, no fires left the right-of-way. The 

 rangers on this staff purchase their 



