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Railroad Forest glre Protection 



The protection of oiir forests from fires caused by 

 railroads forms one of the most difficult problems In for- 

 estry. This article will deal first with the state laws 

 relative to railroad fires and secondly with the prevention 

 and control of railroad forest fires. 



Part I. 



Laws Relative to Railroad Forest Fires . 



Twenty-slx states besides the Dominion of Canada 

 have laws In relation to railroad forest fire protection, 

 and other states are trying to pass similar laws. A 

 great deal of educational work must yet be done not only 

 In those states which do not have railroad forest fire laws 

 but also In those states which do have such laws. These 

 laws are of little or no value unless there Is some power 

 which Is strong enough to enforce them. 



Damages 



Railroad fires are usually a result of sparks or 

 *lve coals escaping from locomotives. At least twelve 

 states have statutory laws whereby a person can recover 

 damages for forest property which has been Injured or de-- 

 stroyed by a fire which was caused by a railroad. How- 

 ever. In other states, damages can be obtained by common 

 law even though there are no statutory laws. The common 



