292 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



engines.' And in reply to a question by Mr Munro Ferguson, as to 'whether 

 there had not been a great increase in the number of fires, and in the damage, 

 done in recent years owing to the larger number of fast trains and their 

 enhanced speed, and whether the screens or other precautions formerly taken 

 against engine sparks have not become disused,' the President of the Board 

 of Trade replied : ' I do not see where I am to get such information. I have 

 no doubt that the increased speed of trains adds to the possibility of fires 

 occurring from the sparks from railway engines, but I do not see where I am 

 to get information with regard to the increase of such accidents from that 

 cause.' 



"In the circumstances, it is very desirable that information on this 

 important subject should be supplied to the President of the Board of Agri- 

 culture and the President of the Board of Trade. The Council accordingly 

 invite members of the Society and others to prepare, and send to the 

 Secretary, full particulars regarding all fires caused by railway engines, 

 which, to their knowledge, have occurred in recent years, but for which no 

 compensation has been received. 



" A blank schedule is appended, which may be used in sending in reports. 

 Additional copies of the schedule may be obtained from the Secretary." 



Up to the present time thirty-one schedules have been returned. 

 Of these twenty-one relate to woods and plantations, and the 

 remaining ten relate to agricultural crops, grass lands, stacks, and 

 buildings. 



Damage to Woods. — The twenty-one cases of damage to woods 

 are estimated to have involved an aggregate loss of about £2300. 

 In only nine of these cases was application made to the railway 

 company for compensation ; and in one of the nine only was the 

 claim (£i) paid, the payment being then made "without pre- 

 judice." In the other eight cases the companies declined to admit 

 any liability, on the ground that their engines were fitted with 

 proper appliances, and that there had been no neglect on the part 

 of themselves or their servants. 



In twelve cases claim for compensation was not made, doubtless 

 because, as is specifically stated in three of the schedules, it was 

 considered useless to apply to the company after the judicial 

 decisions which had been given in like cases. 



Damage to Agricultural Crops, Grass Lands, Stacks, and 

 Buildings. — The damage involved is estimated at about £830. 

 In seven instances application was made for compensation, but 

 without success, the grounds of rejection being those given in the 

 case of woods. In the other three instances it was not considered 

 worth w T hile to apply. 



We have then this result, that out of thirty-one reported cases 



