36 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



by the Government of Saskatchewan, and it is expected that fire-guard 

 inspection in that Province will be largely so handled during the season 

 of 19 13. The arrangement was not made in sttfficient time to be 

 effective during the season of 1912. In Manitoba, a proposition for a 

 similar plan of co-operation was made, but did not. meet with approval, 

 as the Government of that Province felt that the inspection should 

 be handled directly by the Board. Other arrangements will accordingly 

 be made as to fire-guard inspection in Manitoba. 



FiRE-GuAKD Study 



In order to make the requirements for fire-guard construction in 

 1 9 13 and thereafter correspond as closely as possible to local conditions 

 and needs, an exhaustive study of the question has been undertaken. 

 Co-operation was arranged with the representative agricultural organ- 

 izations of the Prairie Provinces, namely the United Fanners of Alberta, 

 the Saskatchewan Grain Growers' Association, and the Manitoba 

 Grain Growers' Association. Through the Secretaries of these Associa- 

 tions, circulars were sent to the secretaries and other representative 

 members of the local organizations throughout the Provinces named, 

 calling for answers to a large number of specific questions. The replies 

 to these questions, with other information available, will form the basis 

 for conferences with representative railway officials, and ultimately 

 for the issuance of instructions as to fire guard construction during 

 1 9 13 ; these instructions should be very much more satisfactory, 

 especially as to land under cultivation, than were the instructions for 

 191 2. The circular used in this connection follows : — • 



Fire-Guard Construction in Prairie Provinces 



Explanatory Note .• The -present requirements of the Railway Commission, 

 as to fire-guard construction by railway companies in the prairie provinces, 

 call for a ploughed strip not less than 16 feet in width, on each side of the track, at 

 a distance of not less than 300 feet from the track, except where unnecessary or 

 impracticable. The railway company is also required to burn over the whole 600 

 foot strip. In order that efficient protection may be secured during 1913, at a 

 medium of cost to the companies and of loss and inconvenience to the farming 

 interests, a full discussion is invited with regard to the following points, on the 

 part of everyone interested. If preferred, this outline may be considered merely 

 as a basis for discussion, and the whole subject treated in letter form on separate 

 paper. In any event, some answers may require more space than is here provided, 

 arid if so, the supplemental data should be submitted on separate sheets, using 

 corresponding figures and letters to designate questions and sections of questions 

 being answered. 



Return answers to 



1. Name of railway company or companies and portions of lines (inclusive 

 of stations), to which your answers to the following questions apply 



