322 REPORT OF THE FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



clear down to the schools, then we are going to accomplish something, but every 

 time it comes right straight back to the legislature and appropriation. (Applause.) 



Mr. Lovett : In connection with the discussion of the railroad fire situation, 

 I think it is pretty generally conceded that the railways are responsible where oil 

 fuel is not in use, for half or more than half of the fires, on the average. In 

 connection with the statement made by the speaker, last, before the Chairman, 

 with regard to the action of engineers in breaking a hole through the netting or 

 screen in order to get a better draft, I have heard that statement made and seen 

 it in print many times, but I think that with the class of locomotives that are in 

 use at the present time, that is an impossible thing to do. With the old-styled 

 locomotive, where the screen was placed over the top of the stack, it was possible 

 to break a hole in it, but at the present time, with the engines that are in use, it is 

 absolutely impossible to do that. The only way to get at the screen is to open 

 the door in the front end, and it cannot be done through the stack. 



There are defects in the fire-protective appliances on locomotives, the screens 

 wear out and openings are formed around them if they are not kept in proper 

 repair, but I think that Mr. Allen and Mr. Chapman both will bear out my 

 statement that it is not possible for a man, by taking a crowbar and jamming it 

 down through the stack, to make a hole in a netting or screen. 



With regard to fire protection along the railway lines, I would like to ask, 

 would it not be possible to take some action in many States similar, somewhat, to 

 the action that has been taken in Canada? In Canada the assumption is there 

 that the railways must protect the public against the fires caused by the railways, 

 and the burden of proof is placed upon the railways to extinguish every fire 

 which occurs within 300 feet of the railway track unless the railway can show 

 that it is not responsible for starting that fire. Under the regulations of the 

 Dominion Railway Commission, the railway companies are required to establish 

 special patrols in sections where fire hazard is great, and they are required to 

 instruct all their employes with regard to reporting and extinguishing fires. The 

 requirements are very strict with regard to clearing of right-of-way, so that the 

 burden of cost upon the public is very greatly reduced and, in this way, the railway 

 companies handle their own operation at their own expense, and that relieves, to 

 a certain extent, the timber owners and the government for the purpose of supple- 

 menting that fire protection instead of covering it alone. The main burden they 

 have to assume is to put on a sufficient inspection force to make sure that the 

 railway companies do the work they are supposed to do. That is the way the 

 situation is working out in Canada at the present time, and it is working out 

 .admirably, and it has occurred to me in some States where fire hazard is great 

 along railway lines that something of that kind might be done. 



The Chairman: We have had rather a long session this afternoon, and 

 we are going to have a brief session this evening to discuss the question of any 

 resolution which may be presented from this body, and the matter which came 

 up at the end of yesterday afternoon, the matter of continuance of committees, so 

 far as this body had power to make recommendations. 



There is on the program one other subject, that of Federal Forest Policy, 

 which I am taking the liberty of leaving out. of the discussion. There is going 

 to be brought up a number of discussions touching the policy of Federal admin- 

 istration of public lands in the general congress tomorrow and the following day, 

 and the report of the sub-committee on Federal Forest Policy is contained in one 

 of the pamphlets, I think, inasmuch as we have had such a long session, it will 

 be wise for us to omit that. 



