Dominion Forest Reserves 93 



In many parts of the Canadian woods the 

 ground is covered with fallen fir and spruce trees, 

 which bristle all over with dead boughs, tough to 

 the last. Young growth springs up between them, 

 the living crowns rising through the meshes of the 

 dead branches. 



Between the fallen trees are, in many places, 

 brown forest pools, and a mat of moss ankle-deep 

 hides the character of the footing beneath it. One 

 cannot travel fast across such country as this, nor 

 can one travel far without the utmost fatigue, 

 unless trails are cut. The making of roads and 

 trails through forest such as this is difficult; the 

 making of trails across muskeg is more difficult 

 still. Nevertheless, without roads and trails fire 

 can never be controlled, so the work of making 

 them is being pushed vigorously. 



The service is also cutting fire lines on the 

 reserves. Cabins for the rangers are rising, tele- 

 phone lines are being threaded through the woods, 

 and lookout stations are being established on 

 prominent points whence men can watch for fires. 



In the Rocky Mountain Reserves there are high 

 bare spots whence one can gaze over mile after 

 mile of tree tops. There lookouts can be made 

 with no expense except that of breaking the trails 

 which lead to them. 



But in level forests, especially In the prairie 

 provinces, towers must be built. Nearly all these 

 are of wood, and cost the Dominion practically 



