114 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



(6) The improper installation, maintenance or use of oil-burning 

 appliances may, however, result in serious fire danger. 



(7) Even with the best use of oil-burning appliances, there will 

 still be danger of fire along railway lines, due (a) to carelessness by 

 passengers or others in throwing burning cigars or cigarettes on the right- 

 of-way ; (b) to careless or malicious action by tramps, or other pedes- 

 trians, in leaving camp or other fires burning along the right of way ; 

 (c) to carelessness of section men in the use of fire, in clearing the right- 

 of-way ; (d) other miscellaneous acts of carelessness by railway em- 

 ployees or the general public ; (e) natural causes (infrequent). 



(8) In general, the establishment of a special system of fire 

 patrols may be dispensed with along railway lines where oil is used 

 exclusively as locomotive fuel. Watchfulness must still, however, be 

 exercised by train and section crews in reporting and extinguishing 

 any fires found burning along the right-of-way. In extreme cases, 

 special patrol may still be necessary. 



(9) The removal of inflammable material from the right-of-way 

 is essential, even in oil-burning sections, on account of the possibility 

 of fires from causes other than locomotive operation. The usual 

 relaxation of patrol measures renders this especially important in oil- 

 burning territory. 



(10) A reasonably efficient systeni of railway fire-protection 

 can be established in coal-buming territory by : (a) the maintenance 

 in proper condition of the best fire-protective appliances on locomotives; 

 (b) the maintenance of an efficient system of special patrols, supple- 

 mented by the issuance to all regular employees engaged in train and 

 track work of special instructions with regard to the reporting and 

 extinguishing of fires. In sections where the fire danger is incon- 

 siderable, special patrol may not be necessary, provided suitable in- 

 structions to regular employees are issued and enforced ; (c) the 

 proper clearing from the right of way, by burning at a safe time, of all 

 unnecessary combustible matter. 



(11) The great increase in oil-burning mileage on railways is 

 due primarily to the fact that a saving can thus be made in operating 

 expenses. Fire-prevention has in general been a secondary considera- 

 tion, except in case of a requirement for the use of oil being made by 

 some governmental authority. 



(12) The constantly increasing price of fuel oil is seriously re- 

 tarding the movement toward its more general use by railways. 



(13) All the measures the railway companies can be expected 

 Or reasonably required to take toward fire protection, can never be 

 wholly efficient, as long as lands adjacent to the right of way are allowed 



