The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-07-28
EXTIRPATE
CANADIAN
THISTLE
Weed Is Found In Salem Near
Business District
Strict Legal Provisions for
Its determination

a large patch of Canadian thistle Is
reported to be in bloom on the VIII
lamette river bank at the ferry land
ing, and not far distant from the bust
ness district of the city. The weed
should be extermnated before the
seed has ripened.
The present law in regard to the ex
tirpation of thistles was passed at the
legislative session of 1899, and is very
stringent in its provisions and severe
in its penalties. The statute covers
Canadian, Russian and Chinese this.
ties. Section / Of the act prescribes
that II shall be the duty of the road
supervisor of each road district to as.
certain If there are any such thistles
within his district, and to notify the
county judge OF the fact, and also the
owner Of the land If the owner or
occupants Of the land upon which the
thistles are found, shall fail or refuse
to destroy the weeds after being prop
erly notified, the road supervisor is
authorized to employ all necessary
help, and proceed to the extirpation
of the thistles, and the cost Of per.
forming the work shall operate as a
lien against the property, prior TO all
other liens, except that of taxes. II
the lien is not discharged within six
months, the district attorney is d.
rected to bring suit in the name of the
county against the property and duly
foreclose the lien, and the property
shall be sold under execution for the
satisfaction of all claims resulting
from the proceeding The road com
missioner shall receive a per diem of
So per day for the work, and bills for
performing the work Of eXtirpation
shall be paid by the county court ten
days after the bill is presented. II no
valid objections are offered thereto.
Section reads as follows:
"Ir any person. persons or corpora
tion owning. possessing or having
care or charge of any land or lands
improved or unimproyed, inclosed or
unlnclosed. in the state shall know.
ingly permit or suffer any Russian
thistle, Canadian thistle or Chinese
thistle to grow up thereon, and suffer
the same To stand until It's bloom falls
or It's seeds begin to form, such per-
son. persons or corporation shall be
guilty Of a misdemeanor, and, upon
conviction thereof. shall, for the first
offense, be fined not less than $40, and
for the second and each subsequent
offense, not less than $25, and fines to
be recovered, with costs, In an action
to be brought in the name OF the coun.
ty whore the offense Is committed"
Section deals with the road super.
yisors. II is as follows; III any road
supervisor Of any road district in the
state carelcssiy or willingly neglect
any of the duties imposed by this act,
or violate any of the duties imposed by
this act, or violates any Of the pro.
visions thereof he shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor and upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined not
less than $50 nor more than $3.50"
Section s, Il shall be the duty of
all municipal corporations in this
state TO provide for the determination
of said Russian thistle, Canada thistle
or Chinese thistle, within the limits
.of such corporation, or upon the va.
cant lands of said corporation, and any
city or town incorporated within the
state neglecting. or refusing to comply
with the provisions of this act, shall
be liable to a forfeiture To the county
in which said municipal corporation Is
situated of sum not less than $50,
nor more than $500, to be recovered
against such municipal corporation in
"a suit maintained by the county in
which said municipal corporation is
situated
The law prescribes a fee OF S25 for
the district attorney for bringing suit
when judgment is rendered for the
county and when the county loses the
action fee of $40 for the same Of
hcer is allowed.