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PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE. 95 



PUNITIVE DAMAGES. 



* When trespass can be shown to be malicious or due 

 to such negligence as implies malice "or a reckless 

 indifference to the rights of the Government," espe- 

 cially when a person trespasses after notice, punitive 

 damages maybe recovered " notwithstanding the act 

 constitutes an offense punishable under the criminal 

 statutes. " 



STRUCTURES WRONGFULLY PLACED ON FOREST RESERVES. 



When any structure is erected upon forest reserve 

 land without a permit it becomes the property of the 

 United States immediately upon its construction. 



PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE. 



Probably the greatest single benefit derived by the 

 community and the nation from forest reserves is 

 through the protection of property, timber resources, 

 and water supply against fire. The direct annual loss 

 from this source on unprotected lands reaches many 

 millions of dollars; the indirect loss is beyond all esti- 

 mate. 



During 1904:, six-tenths of 1 per cent of a total re- 

 serve area of 58,052,054 acres, was burned out. In 

 1905 this was reduced to one-tenth of 1 per cent of a 

 total reserve area of 92,741,030 acres. 



The burden of adequate protection against fire can not 

 well be borne by the State or by its citizens, much as 

 they have to gain, for it requires great outlay of money 

 to support a trained and equipped force, as well as to 

 provide a fund to meet emergencies. Only the Gov- 

 ernment can do it, and, since the law does not provide 



