48 WORKING PLAN, FOREST LANDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 
erse about 16 miles of the tract. They converge in such a manner 
as to be well adapted for fire lines. At present, fires are often set by 
sparks from the engines. It is proposed to convert the railroads into 
effective fire lines by burning the right of way clear of all combustible 
material. The law of the State of South Carolina renders railroads 
liable for damage to woodlands by fire, and at present they burn their 
rights of way, but this burning is incomplete and very unsatisfactory. 
The club should arrange with the railroads not only to burn the imme- 
diate right of way, but also to burn wider strips where this is neces- 
sary for protection. The railroads and swamps will then form an 
admirable basis for a network of fire lines. They should be con- 
nected by fire strips burned along roads and paths in such a manner 
as to form as complete a base as possible from which to fight fire 
and to limit the spread of fires which may get beyond control. The 
burning of such fire strips along roads can be accomplished very 
rapidly and safely by burning when the grass is dry, with the wind 
against a road which will stop the fire. 
COST OF FIRE PROTECTION. 
The western quarter of the tract, comprising the Savannah River 
Swamp, never burns over. The annual cost of thoroughly protecting 
the remaining 45,000 acres from fire is estimated at about $800. This 
estimate includes $700 to cover one-half the salaries of three fire war- 
dens (one-half of the salaries of the men in their capacity as game 
wardens being properly chargeable to the existing organization for 
the protection of game) and the wages of such extra helpers as may 
be required throughout the year, and $100 to cover the cost of burning 
100 miles of fire lines, at an estimated average cost of $1 per mile. 
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PRESENT YIELD OF MERCHANTABLE TIMBER. 
The following table shows the present yield of merchantable timber 
on the 18,123 acres included in the five blocks of forest which were 
estimated for the purposes of this working plan. (See map, Pl. XIII.) 
The present yield was calculated by combining the tables of stand, 
given on pages 15 to 19, with the volume tables for the several species, 
given on pages 20 and 21. The table gives the yield of merchantable 
heartwood and sapwood of pine and the total yield of merchantable 
timber for all species, in board feet by the Two-thirds Rule, cutting 
to the diameter limits recommended for the several species. These 
diameter limits are: 
Inches. 
Boxed pines... 22 ge'. os SE ae i 12 
Unboxed piles ea oe ee ane en oe ae 16 
Cypress-‘and hardwoodse. 2.) 2 2s ee ee eee 18 

