6 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



"We, therefore, urge, that, as soon as the formation of the 

 Department of Forests is undertaken, the Government should 

 take the matter up with the Railway Commission, so that, even 

 for the season of 191 1, provincial fire wardens may be clothed 

 with full authority. 



"Railway construction, on a large scale, is about to take place 

 in the Province. Unless an efficient patrol system is put in force 

 by the Government, railway construction will spell forest de- 

 struction. For example, there is said to be heavy timber the whole 

 way from Tete Jaime Cache to Fort George, covering a very 

 large area. In evidence given before the Commission a witness 

 who had cruised in that belt of timber says, 'unless there are 

 regulations as to the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific that 

 country is going to be burnt up. It is virgin forest and very in- 

 flammable. There should be special legislation.' It is a matter 

 of common knowledge that the blackened record of railroad 

 construction in the past justifies to the full forebodings such as 

 these," 



As a result of the application, hearings were held by the Board at 

 various points, from the fiUng of the application by British Columbia 

 until May, 191 2. It appeared from the testimony presented at the 

 various hearings that the establishment of special patrols by railway 

 companies was the most essential measure needed, these patrols to be 

 established through forest sections whdre the fire danger was greatest. 



The matter was tal-.en up in the intermediate stage by the Com- 

 mission of Conservation, and^the enactment was secured of the 191 1 

 amendment to section 30 of the Railway Act, above quoted, providing 

 for railway patrols. In pursuance of a co-operative arrangement be- 

 tween the Chairman of the Commission of Conservation, the Hon. 

 Clifford Sifton, and the Chief Commissioner of the Board of Railway 

 Commissioners, the late Hon. J. P. Mabee, an expert, Mr. F. E. 

 Olmsted was employed by the Commission of Conservation to draft a 

 set of tentative regulations, including a revision of existing regulations, 

 so far as necessary. This tentative draft was the subject of the last 

 hearings on the application of British Columbia, which were held at 

 Toronto and Ottawa, in April and May, 19 12. 



After very careful consideration of the matter, action was taken 

 May 22 through the issuance of the following Order : — 



