The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-02
TIE I.ELLDW'S Law.
.fn .fct.

To PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE YELLows, A
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE AMONG PEACH, NECTAR
INE, AND OTHER TREES, AND TO EXIIRPATE
THE SAME AND TO REPEAL LOCAL ACT 379 OF
THE SESSION LAWS OF 1875 APPROVED MAY
1sT, 1875.
SEC. /. The people OF the State of Michigan
enact, that it shall be unlawful for any person
to keep any peach, nectarine, or other trees
infected with the contagious disease known as
the yellows or to offer for sale or shipment
or to sell or ship to others, any Of the fruit
thereof; and no damages shall be awarded In
such diseased trees and fruit, as hereinafter
provided: and it shall be the duty Of every
citizen as soon as he becomes aware Of the
existence OF such disease in any tree or fruit
owned by bin. to forthwith destroy or cause
the same to be destroyed.
SEC. 9. In any township in this State in which
such contagious disease exists, or in which
there is good reason to believe it exists, or
danger may be justly apprehended of its in
PRODUCTION and spread, it shall be lawful for
any five or more resident free-holders Of the
Same or of any adjoining township to set forth
such fact belief or apprehension in petition
addressed to the board of such township, re-
questing them to appoint three commissioners,
as hereinafter provided, to prevent the spread
or introduction of said disease, and to eradi-
cate the same, which petition shall be filed
with and become part Of the records OF the
township to which each application is made.
SEC 3. 1t shall be the duty OF the township
clerk. on receipt of the petition specified in
section two OF this act, to call meeting OF the
township board within ten days thereafter, and
upon the assembling OF said board, to lay such
petition before them; whereupon it shall be
the duty Of said board, upon the bearing Of
said petition, to appoint three competent resi-
dent free-holders OF such township as COM
missoners, who shall hold their Office during
tho pleasure OF said board; and such order of
appointment and OF revocation, when revoked
shall be entered at large upon the records OF
the township.
SEC. 4. Il shall be the duty of SAID COM
missioners, within ten days after appointment
as aforesaid, to file their acceptance OF the
same with the clerk of said township, and said
clerk shall be ex-officio clerk OF SAID board OF
commissioners and he shall keep correct
record of the proceedings OF said board in a
book 20 be provided for the purpose, AID shall
G'o Aal preserve ell papers pertaining to the
duties of said commissioners, or either OF them.
which shall be a part OF the records OF said
township.
SAC. o. Anyone or more residents Of the
same or adjoining township may make COM
plaiat in writing and an oath, addressed to said
commissioners, delivering the same to either
OF them, setting forth that said disease exists.
or that he has good reason to believe il exists.
upon lands within the township in which said
commissioners reside, designating the same
with reasonable certainty, or that trees or fruit
infected with such disease are offered for sale
or shipment, or have been introduced therein.
designating the person in whose possession
or under whose control such trees or fruit are
believed TO bs.
SIC. 6. 1t shall be the duty OF the commits
soner to whom such complaint is delivered to
proceed without unnecessary delay, to examine
the trees or fruit so dssignated and if he shall
bscoms satisfied that the contagious disease
actually intects such trees or fruit, he shall
without injurlDg the same, fix a distinguishing