26 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



undoubted scarcity of labor has made it difficult in some cases to secure 

 prompt compliance with this requirement. Excellent results have 

 also been secured through the regulation of the burning of inflam- 

 mable material along rights-of-way, tinder Regulation lo. The best 

 example of this was in connection with right-of-way burning along the 

 Grand Trunk Pacific construction in British Columbia. Much damage 

 to timber was being done by fires escaping from right-of-way 

 clearings in early July, and, upon the recommendation of the British 

 Columbia Forest Branch, the Board authorized instructions prohibiting 

 ftuther burning imtil the fall rains should render such burning safe. 

 Situation in the East 

 After the work was organized in the west, it was too late to organize 

 in the east for the small remaining portion of the fire season of 191 2. 

 The matter of co-operation has, however, been taken up by the Board 

 with the Governments of the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Bruns- 

 wick and Nova Scotia. In some cases the plan of co-operation has 

 been confirmed promptly by the provincial government, while in 

 others action has been more slow, especially with regard to the desig- 

 nation of the official to be appointed provincial fire inspector. How- 

 ever, it is believed that the organization will ultimately be completed, 

 and that the patrol provisions of the Order will be extended to cover 

 the entire Dominion during the fire season of 19 13. 



Inspection 



A co-operative arrangement was entered into with the Forest 

 Branch, Lands Department of British Columbia, and with the Domin- 

 ion Forestry and Parks Branches, Department of the Interior, in order 

 to provide a system of inspection for the enforcement of the instruc- 

 tions of the Chief Fire Inspector and of the provisions of Regulation 

 I o (concerning the burning of inflammable material along rights-of-way) , 

 P.cgulation 14, (reporting and extinguishing of fires by regular em- 

 ployees of railway companies), and of Section 297 of the Railway Act 

 (clearing of rights-of-way). Under this arrangement, a number of the 

 officials of each of these organizations were appointed officers of the 

 Board, without additional compensation. The supervision of this 

 work was handled by the superior field officers of each organization in 

 addition to their other duties; but, so far as practicable, arrangements 

 were made to have the detailed field inspections handled by men who 

 should devote their whole time to this work, thus insuring continuous 

 attention and the most efficient results. 



The inspection work handled by the British Columbia Forest 

 Branch embraces lines in British Columbia, except the Railway Belt. 

 To supervise this work, H. R. MacMillan, Chief Forester, was appoint- 



