312 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



The open-air life led by the men and the season of the yeiar in which the 

 logging work in the North is carried on, has, to a large extent, been responsible 

 for the comparative freedom from camp epidemics in this region. In the South 

 and West where operations are conducted throughout the year, the danger is 

 much greater. The need for a strict enforcement of hygienic regulation and 

 sanitary measures is not always appreciated or needed. 



The best class of workmen can not be kept in an unclean camp, and further 

 there is constant danger of a serious disturbance of the work through sickness. 

 Some of the progressive loggers of the Pacific Northwest have been the leaders 

 in the construction of model camps containing baths, steam heat, individual beds, 

 private lockers for clothing, running water, and like accommodations. These 

 comforts, while more costly than the old-style method of caring for workmen, are 

 said to be well worth the money expended on them, since better workmen can 

 be secured and they stay longer, and are more contented than under the old 

 conditions. Efficiency can not be secured from dissatisfied men, neither can the 

 best work be done where the personnel of the crew is constantly changing. 



Sanitation in southern logging camps, especially in the yellow pine region, 

 is usually bad, due to the climate and the character of the workmen. The camps 

 are composed of portable houses which accommodate the loggers and their 

 families, who are usually extremely ignorant of the most elementary principles 

 of hygiene and sanitation, and who resent any attempts to enforce safe rules. 

 Loggers come largely from rural communities in which the evil effects of their 

 ignorance are not so apparent or destructive, but when several hundred are 

 grouped in a logging camp the greatest care must be exercised to keep them 

 from suffering from their own ignorance. 



There should be fly-tight latrines provided for every two dwellings and 

 these should be thoroughly cleaned weekly and the use of lime encouraged. An 

 excellent practice followed by one southern logger is the placement of heavy 

 garbage cans at frequent intervals throughout the camp and the requirement 

 made that all kitchen refuse must be placed in them. Tin cans and like rub- 

 bish are placed in special receptacles. All camp waste is removed at least 

 weekly, and, if necessary, semi-weekly. 



The camp water supply should be hauled in, or deep-driven wells dug, since 

 shallow wells are almost certain to be contaminated by camp sewage. 



Clean and sanitary camps can not be maintained, however, without the 

 cooperation of the people living in them. One southern operator has made 

 good progress in this work by means of talks illustrated with lantern slides. 

 These talks are on subjects of general interest, in order to hold the attention of 

 tlie audience, and occasional slides are shown illustrating the more common 

 principles of sanitation, and pointing out the evil effects resulting from unclean 

 surroundings; the means by which flies contaminate food supplies; the prevent- 

 ive measures practicable, etc. 



A serious drawback to the arrangement of some southern camps is the 

 location of the stables with reference to the dwellings. A stable in the vicinity 

 of a camp, especially during the summer season, is a prolific source of flies and 



