The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-06-08


however, on making arrest to take him
from his train, but he should have a week
or ten days notice in which to appear and
answer before the court. Such offenses
are likewise indictable by the grand jury.
Fire Wardens owe it to themselves to see
that there is in their districts a marked
decrease of fires caused by railroad loco
motives.
" Complaint has been publicly made
within the last few months that fires have
been set by people to obtain pay for put
ting them out. Such criminal and dis
graceful proceedings may have occurred
in a few instances, but they certainly
cannot be common. Fire Wardens who
have reason to suspect any offense of
this sort should, for the honor of their
community, have it stopped, and it is
hoped they will use a wise course and
accomplish such object
VI. Several complaints have been re-
ceved from fire wardens that the county
commissioners have refused to audit their
accounts. Under Section s. of the Forest
Preservation Act of April IS, 1895, county
commissioners have authority and it is
their duty, to reject any item or account
if they are not satisfied of it's justice.
They cannot, however, arbitrarily refuse
to audit (eXamine and Settle) an ac-
count. If they were to so do, or unjuStly
disallow accounts they would practically
nullify the law. It is their duty to
audit the accounts of fire wardens and
their helpers and allow what, as fair
minded men, they are satisfied is just.
Section s, of Chapter 81, of the General
Laws of Minnesota applies to all public
officers
VII. The diffusion of knowledge in re-
spect to forestry will promote observance
of the Forest Preservation Act. When
people understand how much the wealth
of our state could be increased by a
proper management of it's forest resources
they will be much more careful about
causing forest fires. Forestry means the
raising of timber on land not suitable for
agriculture. In Saxony and Wurtemberg
(amOng other cOuntrieS) which have long
had superior forestry management, con-
tinuous annual net profit of from SD to 81
per acre is derived from the forests. If
Minnesota will lay the foundations of
good forestry system (and the prevention
of forest fires is the first important step
in such SYSTEM it will build up a con-
tinuous, increasing and grand labOr-fur-
niShing resource and those who are doing
ever so humble part in the feeble begin
ming of this work may feel that they are
rendering honorable service to their COM
munity and state
Thousands of new settlers and farmers
in the older states made the great mis-
take of clearing up land that was only
suitable for forest. From such tracts they
obtained very few crops and then the
land rapidly degenerated till now it is,
in many places, but little else than naked
sand. Whereas, if they had left such
tracts in forest it would have been
source of continuous profit to them. Many
settlers in Northern Minnesota are, re-
peating the same mistake. 1t. would be
more profitable for them if they would
look further into the future and retain
in forest every acre that is really insult
able for agriculture.
The more you can interest people in the
important SUBJECT of forestry the lighter
will be your work of enforcing the law.
Very respectfully, C G. Andrews,
Chief Fire Warden.