SO Third Annual Report of the 



tion, have been examined by the inspectors of the Department. 

 Of the 8,361 miles of rights of way 97 per cent, has also been 

 inspected. 



The clearing of rights of way of all inflammable material is 

 one of the most important features of preventing railroad fires. 

 If a spark or hot cinder falls upon a right of way grown high with 

 weeds and brush and encumbered with fallen logs and branches, 

 a most favorable opportunity is offered for the spreading of fire 

 off the right of way into adjoining forest land. On the other 

 hand, if a sufficient space on each side of the track has been 

 mowed and cleared up, in nine cases out of ten the spark or 

 cinder will not start a fire; if a fire springs up, it can usually be 

 readily controlled and extinguished on the clean open ground. 



For this reason, a great deal of attention has been devoted to 

 this branch of the work. Oases of unsatisfactory conditions on 

 rights of way have been brought to the attention of the proper 

 railroad officials. Where the debris is to be burned, if it lies 

 within the area of the " Fire Towns," a permit must be granted 

 before such burning can be done. District rangers have done all 

 in their power to facilitate permit burning of this character. 



The result has been that in nearly all instances rights of way 

 have been cleared up in accordance with the law and inflammable 

 material has been burned or otherwise disposed of. 



The requirements of the Public Service Commission for spark- 

 arresters and ash pans were modified in December. 10 12, to per- 

 mit the use in locomotive front ends, and at openings around ash 

 pans, of netting of oblong mesh. Tests conducted before 

 the Public Service Commission and representatives of this De- 

 partment showed that the oblong mesh netting was as effective as 

 the square mesh in preventing the escape of sparks and coals, 

 while the claim has been made that a better draft can be secured 

 with the former. 



Generally speaking, the officials of the railroads have co- 

 operated with our inspectors in putting locomotives into satisfac- 

 tory condition. They are showing appreciation of the fact that 

 fire protective appliances on locomotives mean decreased fire 

 claims. 



First inspections of locomotives in 1013 showed, generally, 



