The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-26
Concerning the Forestry Bill,

40 Wc EUtJ0T OF Me 1TeSS:
Among the important bills now pending
before the Maine legislature Is the forestry
bin. which was unanimously reported to the
House by the judiciary committee, to which
had been referred an order of the House to
enquire If any additional legislation was
needed for the prevention Of forest fires in
this state and to report by bill or otherwise.
Ex-Governor Davis and Wilson Crosby. G.
E., of Bangor, Hon. George F. Talbot of
Portland, and John E. Hobbs of North Der.
| wick, were given hearing on this subject
by this committee March 9Th, and as the re-
suit of that hearing the bill now pending
was reported to the House.
Throughout the continent of Europe,
where the subject of forest protection has
engaged the attention of many of the gov
ernments for centuries, stringent regulations
with respect to the kindling and guarding Of
fires, are in force and corps Of forest war
dens appointed, whose duty 1t is to watch
aud guard the forests, detect violations Of
the law and prosecute offenders 1t was the
aim Of the trainers of this bill to attain In a
large degree the benefits arising from this
European system of forest supervision
through our town and county officers at a
| trifling expense.
To this aid selectmen are constituted ex-
oficio forest fire wardens for their respec-
| tive towns. 1t Is made their duty to use nee
| essary means and expedents to arrest the
| ravages of forest fires and they are given au-
| thority to call upon any person in the terri
| tory In which they act for assistance in sup
| pressing them.
| County commissioners are required to ap-
point a certain number of forest fire wardens
| In the unorganized districts within their sew
eral counties, who have the same powers and
duties as selectmen in towns.
1t is made the duty of municipal officers in
towns and the county commissioners, the
latter with respect TO unorganiZed places
within their respective counties, to make
strict inquiry into the cause and origin of
fires within wood lands; and in all cases
where such fires are found to have origi-
mated from the unlawful act of any person
to cause the offender to be prosecuted with
out delay.
Persons who build camp or cooking fires
In, or adjoining, any woods In this state, are
gushing such fires before breaking camp, un-
der penalty for neglecting to do so.
Provision is made against the setting of
fires in the woods by the use OF firearms
when hunting.
Railroads running through forest lands are
required to observe certain precautions to
prevent fire from sparks; and railroad COM
panies are held primarily responsible for
damage caused by fires in wood lands during
the construction of their roads.
Provision is made for awakening an inter-
est In the behalf of forestry, in the public
schools, academies and colleges of the state,
and for imparting some degree of elemental
ry instruction therein. and from furnishing,
without cost, to any citizen of the state, up
on application, tracts and circulars giving
plain and concise advice for the care of wood
lands and for the starting of new planta-
ti0ns, and that copies of this act and all other
laws of the state relating to forest fires shall
be freely distributed to the selectmen of all
the towns of the state. whose duty it shall
be to post them up in school
houses, saw mills, logging camps and other
places, and that copies of the same shall be
furnished to the owners Of any forest lands
| not within the limit Of any town, who may
| apply for them, to be posted at the expense
| OF such owner. The land agent is consti-
tuted forest commissioner, and $500 per an
mum is added to his salary.
1t Is believed by the friends of this bill.
that II 1t becomes law, IL will prove the
most important and progressive step vet
taken by any of the states of this union, in
the direction OF creating widespread and
Intelligent public sentiment in respect to the
worth Of our forests, not only as lumber
and wood, but also for their sanitary. Cit
matte, hydraulic and aesthetic influences.
When these salutary functions of forests
In the economy of nature come to be gener-
any understood all classes of our citizens,
y yoora and old, rich and poor. will have a
,;i t .eh noer care for our woods, and there
their protection. ~" "-o p0""'S LUZ
North poru,o, A. JOHN e. HOBBS.
| Nortn berwick. March "a, 1891.