280 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



SPARK ARRESTERS 



SUFFICIENT information to intelligently discuss the merits or demerits of 

 the various spark arresters in use and to recommend any particular type 

 is not available, and should be a matter for future reports. 



In general it is safe to say that no arrester has yet been invented which 

 absolutely precludes the escape of sparks. Cases are legion where fires have 

 been started by engines equipped with the best arresters obtainable. Even oil 

 burners have been responsible for the starting of fires. 



Unquestionably the improved patent arresters are far better than the screens 

 and other contrivances so largely used a few years back. An arrester is seldom 

 equally good for donkey engines or locomotives. Master mechanics of various 

 railroads have endeavored to construct devices which combine buffers and screens 

 so as not to interfere with the draught and at the same time effectually prevent 

 the escape of sparks. There are several devices, which, if properly kept up, 

 would quite fully meet these ends. It is difficult, however, to keep the arresters 

 on operating engines in the best working condition. 



Since each year sees improvement in spark arresters it is possible that one 

 may yet be devised which will be entirely satisfactory. 



RAILROADS AND PIRE PROTECTION 



RAILROADS continue to be the greatest single cause of forest fires. For 

 many years, apparently, but little attempt was made by railroad officials to 

 prevent the destruction of timber along their rights-of-way. Being ab- 

 sorbed with operating difficulties, any suggestion which interfered with cheap 

 transportation did not meet with favorable consideration. However, as timber 

 became more valuable damage suits to recover for fire losses were frequent and 

 expensive, and the matter of preventing loss became necessary. Furthermore, 

 lumber in many sections furnishes a large percentage of the freight hauled, and it 

 is now realized that burning up timber means a direct loss to the railroads in 

 freight receipts. 



For these reasons, as well as the fact that railroad officials no more than 

 any other class of people desire to cause unnecessary waste, conditions regarding 

 railroad fires gradually began to improve. The more general use of oil-burning 

 locomotives the past few years has been a great factor in reducing railroad 

 fires. This use was not brought about primarily to prevent fires, but some roads 

 have been influenced in substituting oil for coal because of the smaller likelihood 

 of fires starting when such equipment is used. 



Better spark arresters and more systematic inspection of them, greater care 

 with ash-pans, instructions to section foremen to put out fires and to train crews 

 to report them, are among the things which have been done to prevent the starting 

 of fires. Such precautions have resulted in a marked reduction in fires along 

 most lines. 



Some lines are clearing all inflammable debris from along their rights-of- 

 way and keeping these strips clear of such material from year to year. In other 

 sections a fire line some distance back from the track on either side is made and 



