Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-20
STATE HOUSE.
Forest Commissioner Oak Speaks OF
Danger From Fires.
interesting Exchanges Received by Secretary
OF Board Of health-Other News.

Hon. Charles f. Oak land agent and
forest commissioner, says that people
are not careful enough about building
fires in the spring, their carelessness
often being the cause of great destruc-
ton IN the forests. In recent con-
versation with a Journal reporter he
set this point out with much emphasis.
This is a very important matter" he
said. and one which demands the at
tention of everyone, especially of those
who build fires near the wooded lands.
We were very fortunate in regard to
losses, last year. but nothing short of
the greatest care, should be used by all
and especially now when the grass,
dried by the warm sun makes the very
best kind of tinder.'
Work on the office of the board o:
State assessors at the Capitol in al
tering it over, has been commenced.
The room will be relieved of the closet
which was located in the northeast
corner, and in place of the shelves on
the east side there will be placed some
elegant book cases of oak. A closet is
room, and for storage purposes.
The railroad commissioners have re-
ceived a petition for approval of a
branch track on the Bangor & Aroos-
took. at Oakfield. to run into a lumber
mill which is doing thriving business
at that place. The hearing will be an
nounced later. but will probably be
held about the first of May
Or. A. G. Young. secretary of the
beard of health, is sending out blanks
of instruction to city and town clerks,
regarding making the returns of births.
deaths and marriages for the year 1895.
Special attention is called in the cir
cular not to send any returns of deaths.
etc, which have taken place since De-
cember 81, 1895. If. however, the report
of death. birth or marriage should
come in after the returns are made, for
1895, they should be sent to the secre-
tary Clerks are advised to have their
returns supplemented with the aid of
the returns from the assessors, blanks
for this purpose having been sent the
assessors, as soon as the elections were
announced. The order also includes
the following: In the record of "a
death, if the exact place cannot be Civ
en-, state whether the decedent was. or
was not born in the United States. Let
this request also apply to birthplace of
parents in the record of birth, and
birthplace of groom and bride, in the
record of a marriage"
DR.. Young says that there has been
fully as little diphtheria scarlet fever
and typhoid fever in the State during
the last year, as in those previous He
says that the general sanitary condi-
tons are continually improving, which
may largely account for this.
1t is interesting to note how extensive
are the exchanges of the statistics and
other reports made by the board In
return for the last annual report made
OF vital statistics, there has been re-
ceived report of the central sanitary
bureau of Japan, from Y Okade, the
secretary Of the home department
There has also been received reports of
the board Of health of Honolulu, and
from South American countries, and
from all over Europe. Among the va
riouS literature on medical subjects.
which the secretary receives, are works
in German, including all kinds of sub
jects treated in a most exhaustive
fashion. The health literature re-
ceived is not confined to German, by
any means, as they come along in
French. Spanish, italian and Portu
gueSe.