102 COMMISSION OP CONSERVATION 



the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. — Our engine mileage in 1910 

 was 202,000, approximately; in 1911, 197,000. The number of gallons 

 of oil burned in 1910 was 2,460,455, that is, from the time we started in 

 April until we quit in November. In 191 1, it was 2,218,525. Of course, 

 we are not through with this year as yet and the figures which I give 

 for this year's operations are as close as may be. Our total cost of oil 

 in 1909 was $57,260.33 ; in 191 1, $49,916.81. The cost per engine mile 

 in 1910 was $0.2823 ; in 1911, a trifle less — $0.2521. As to the co'st of 

 burning coal as compared with oU, I will not go into the detail of these 

 figures, but the cost of burning coal per engine mile 'in igio was $0.1046 

 as against $0.2823 for oil ; and in 1911, $0.1174, as against $0.2521, or 

 an increase per engine mile due to the burning of oil in 19 10 of $0.1777, 

 and in 1911 an increase of $0.1347. Now, in 1912, assuming the same 

 engine mileage as 191 1, in other words, 197,952 miles, at the price we 

 have to pay for oil, the cost of operating our oil burners figures out to 

 $0.4227 as against $0.2521 for the last year. I do not know whether 

 there are any oil men here or not, but this increase was due to the fact 

 that the old Standard Oil Company is not in existence. Our oil cost us 

 in 1 9 10, 2/i cents a gallon while the last million gallons which we pur- 

 chased in the early part of this year cost us 4X cents, or an increase of 

 nearly 100 per cent. Our increased cost per engine mile for 191 2 over 

 the cost of burning coal is $0.2845, a-nd this means, where we are operat- 

 ing our oil-buming locomotives, a total added operating cost on this 

 division of 12^ per cent, so that when you are thinking of forcing 

 railroads — ^perhaps you are not — to bum oil, it is worth while considering 

 the matter pretty carefully, because there are a good many railroads, 

 particularly some of these smaller roads, that really cannot stand it. 



New York Central & Hudson River R. R. Co. — The influence of oil 

 burning upon the question of fires has no doubt resulted beneficially, as a 

 fraction of the fire losses in the forest regions were attributable to fires 

 started by locomotives. 

 ' The cost of oil for fuel is 80 per cent higher than coal. 



We have not dispensed with the other measures for fire protection. 

 District Forester, U. S. Forest Service, Missoula, Mont. — On the St. 

 Joe Forest, some little trouble has been experienced with fires along the 

 right of way of the C. M. & P. S. railroad, but it is hard to state whether 

 these fires were caused by tramps or by the locomotives. In only one 

 instance is Supervisor Spatdding reasonably sure that an oil burning 

 locomotive started a rather serious fire. This was on the Lolo National 

 Forest near Lothrop, Montana, in 1910. Eye witnesses stated that the 

 fire was directly caused by a freight engine on the railroad. A sheet of 

 flame composed of burning carbon and molten sand was ejected from 

 the smoke stack to the right of way. Mr. Spaulding advises me that. 



