104 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



changing the: tan bath for the exephant 



Hauling a part of the immense hide from one tan tub to another, in order to change and 

 strengthen the liquor in which it is "tanned." From four to six months are required to 

 properly tan the hide of an elephant, although they are a little more loose in fiber than the 

 hides of the rhinoceros and hippopotamus, which are about the hardest proposition which the 

 tanners have ever been called upon to tackle. One of the workmen has in his hand the 

 elephant's hoof, which is 16 to 18 inches across. Photo from Crosby Frisian Fur Co., 

 Rochester, N. Y. 



of roads and 16,000 miles of trails. Yet 

 this is only a beginning when the extent 

 of the forests is taken into consideration. 



In addition to roads and trails, it is 

 necessary to construct special fire lines. 

 These are cleared lines through the 

 woods located at critical points to sup- 

 plement the system of roads and trails 

 for fire protection. They serve both to 

 check fires and also as points from which 

 to fight them. Fire lines are being built 

 as rapidly as possible. The most exten- 



sive work has been carried on in south- 

 ern California, where the protection of 

 the chaparral forests is of great impor- 

 tance in protecting the water supply. 

 Fire lines are also extensively built along 

 railroad rights of way and around lum- 

 ber operations. The burning of broad 

 fire lines here and there at critical points 

 in open yellow - pine forests has been 

 undertaken and will be pushed with 

 vigor. 



A second necessity in the organization 



