Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-28
Fire Prevention Work
BY the Canadian Pacific

Forestry Commissioner Frank E.
Mace has received a report from
Charles Powers, chief fire warden of
the Canadian Pacific Railway, regard
ing the work done during the past
year as follows:
1.-THE Canadian Pacific Railway
passes through, between Mattawam-
keag and the boundary. 145 miles of
forest country. To provide adequate
forest protection for properties along
the company's lines. a broad general
campaign of education, which includes
personal instructions, issuance of cir
culars, and posting of both state and
company's bulletins and the building
up of a patrol system is carried on
each year. Fire protection appliances
are also given very thorough exami-
nation.
1.-The patrol system, which has
proved efficient, has been built up by
using 26 section men appointed by the
State, as wardens. supplemented by a
staff Of four special patrolmen. furn
ished with gas cars. These later men
are used only when the weather con-
ditions are especially dangerous.
Regular section patrolmen are furn-
tshed with hand velocipedes, shovels,
axes and buckets. The track is pa
trolled behind every train throughout
the fire season, each warden covering
about six miles. The chief fire warden.
situated at Brownville Junction, is
constantly in communication with all
parts of the company's lines, and. as
there are % company telephone sta
tons. connectd up with divisional
headquarters. the warden arrives on the
ground very soon after a fire gets
started.
Special attention is paid to having
agents and operators report fires.
Train and engine crews have been
specifically ordered to stop and put out
fires that were discovered, or remain
on the ground until help arrives. AS
all trains carry telephone equipment
headquarters is notified Immediately of
any trouble.
Locomotive front ends and ash
the danger of fire being set from these
sources is reduced to minimum; no
patched meetings are allowed to run.
"All old ties are collected and burned
for fuel in stationery boilers at di-
vtsional headquarters. This. added to
the extreme care that is taken with the
right of way cleaning, which is car
ried on in the spring, very materially
lessons the possibility of fire from the
track.
"At Brownville Junction are sta
toned two fire tank cars with capac-
ity each of $4,000 gallons; these are
equipped with a Worthington pump
10x7x1O and $500 feet of % inch hose.
Two streams can be worked at the one
time. Tanks are so arranged that, in
case of fire, steam hose on engine can
be coupled to the pump and SO-pound
water pressure can be obtained with
6O-pound pressure at engine One
hundred and sixty pounds of water
pressure is the maximum Develop
ment. These tanks can be success
fully operated by four men and a fore
man.
"All section foremen and crews are
personally instructed by the chief
warden, at least twice during the sea-
son, as to their duties in case of fire.
THE general manager at Montreal
issues a general circular each year.
which calls upon all employees and Of
duce the fire risk.
THE Slash Law which became eff
fective in 1915 has proved of great as
sistance in the reduction of fire hazard
along the railway line. The forest
commission has had all slash owners
notified and immediate steps taken to
clear up after cutting operations.
THE cooperation afforded by the
State officials has proved a great prac-
teal value. Forest Commissioner
Mace has at all times afforded the
company's officials all help in his DOW
er.
Despite the fact that the possibility
of fire was greater this year than for a
long time previous, less than 100 acres
of forest property were burned over by
the company's fires"