Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-17
Names Forestry Preserve Laws.

the destruction forest fires can cause
which they will not care to have re-
peated soon. The dry weather, care
less fire lighters and the heedlcssncss
of~years have all combined during the
past few weeks to make this lesson i'm
prcssive. Many square miles of virgin
forests have been burned over, millions
of feet of valuable timber destroyed
and damage done to the protection of
water sources which it will need gem
GRAFTON to repair. And only timely
rains and not human foresight pre-
vented greater destruction
The only benefit which can come
from this condition of things is the les
con it VIII teach the states in guard
ing against repetition of these fires
The worst damage done has occurred
in Maine and New York The former
state has no forestry preserve laws,
while the latter has, but the harm done
in New York will probably be as great
as in Maine, and it would have been
greater had it not been for the efforts
Of private persons.-Philadelp Press.
Tine Press is usually accurate in its
editorial utterances; but it is in error
in stating that Maine "has no forestry
preserve laws" although it is true that
our state did not move as carly in this
direction as some others. In 1891 our
Legislature passed "An act to create
forest commission. and for the protec-
ton of forests" This act created a
forest commissioner, and prescribed his
duties. 1t also provided for fire
warden service covering the entire
State. Subsequent amendments ia
this law have only increased its
efficiency. Section 4, as amended by
the Legislature of 1903, reads as fol-
lows:
Section l. 1t shall be the duty Of the
forest commissioner to take meas
ureS for the prevention, control and eN-
tinguishment of forest fires in all
plantations and unorganized town
ships. ana. to this end, he shall appoint
such number of forest fire Wardcns to
patrol the forests as may be necessary
t. carry out the provisions Of this act.
assigning to each warden the territory
over ana -Hilfltfl WHICH it SHtIll iotNN
jurisdiction. Fire wardens, so APP
pointed, shall hold office during the
pleasure of said commissioner, be
sworn to the faithful discharge Of their
duties by any officer authorized to adj
minister oathS, and Il certificate there
Of shall be returned to the office of
said commissioner. Said WardcnS shall
perform such duties. at such times, and
under such rules and regulations, ae
the commissioner may prescribe. ard
they shall receive as compensation two
dollars for each day Of actual service.
MhCUcV q fire occurs on, or is likely
to do damage to. forest lands within
thC jurisdiction of any such fire warden
he shall take immediate action to con-
troll and cXtinGuiSh the same, and for
| this purpose forest fire WardenS are
| hereby authorized to summon to their
assistance citizens of any county in
which said fire may be, and every per-
son SO summoned and assisting shall
| be paid fifteen cents for each hour Of
! service rendered by him. Immediately
after the cXtinguishment of q fire the
warden in charge shall make return.
under oath, to the commissioners, of the
of tho persons 50 summoned and assist
ing. With their poStolIice addresses, ana
the hours of labor actually performc I
by each. All expense incurred unI ~
tn provisions of this section shall ~"
paid from the funds appropriated to
and for the use of the forest com
mission
Since the csta blishn1er. Of our forest
commission it's work has been charac-
| tcri2cd by gratifying thogoughness "ad
success. 1t is in fact remarkable how
much has been accomplished with The
funds 9vailabic for the purpose. Last
Wpltcr the LEGISLATURE appropriated
10000 for each year to carry on the
provisions of tho above law. The
! wardcns did splendid service in tho -
cont crisis caused by tho long Grouth.
Tho reports OF the commissioner. and
those associated with linn in the work.
notably Austin Cary OF Brunswick.
have been coHspicuously able, and
have been in great demand all over The
country. The last report by Com
missioner Edgar L. Ring, with its half
tome Illustrations from photographs
made by workers in the field is u Very
interesting work, and It most valuable
contribution to the general subject of