The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1903-05-02
vention and suppression Of forest and
prairie fires.'
Be it enacted by the legislature Of the

State Of Minnesota:
Section /. The state auditor shall be
forest commissioner Of this state and his
orders shall be supreme in all matters re-
lating to the preservation of the forests
of this state to the prevention and sup
preston of forest and prairie fires as
towns, mayors Of cities and presidents
of village councils are hereby constituted
fire wardens of their respective towns
cities and villages in the state. and the
Wardens such other persons as he may
Geem necessary living in or near to- I'M
organized territory in this state. whose
districts, to be known as fire districts.
he may determine.
Sec. 2: The aforesaid forest commits
sioner shall appoint a competent deputy
from personal experience: is familiar
with the conditions OF the forest and
methods by which fires may be controlled.
Said chief fire warden shall receive SAL
Fer year, to be paid out Of the amount
and shall hold his office during the pleas
ure of the forest commissioners: He shall
missioner and 1t shall be his duty to en-
out the state.
Of the state and shall have authority to
may be available at any special
9 en w to foee fires ef 5n In
is deemed by said chief fire warden
inadequate to prevent or suppress forest
or prairie fires, he may. appoint, tenn
ties and authority shall be the same as
herein given to town supervisors acting
as fire wardens. He shall properly divide
into fire districts all unorganized terri
fire wardens therein; he shall cooperate
with any police or military force of the
United States government which may pc
detailed to guard the national domain
from fire; he shall investigate the extent
Of the forests in the state, together with
the amounts and varieties of the wood
and timber growing therein, the damages
done to them from time to time by forest
fires and the causes of such fires, the
method used, If any, to promote the re-
growth of timber, and any other inpor-
tant facts relating to forest interests,
which may be REQUIRED by the forest eS
commissioner. The information so gath
cred, will his suggestions relative there
to, shall be included in a report to he
made by him annually to the forest COM
missioner. ,
Sec. 4. The forest commissioner shall
provide and officially sign an abstract
of the penal laws of this act, with such
rules and regulations in accordance mere.
with as he may deem necessary, ana on
or before the first day Of April Of each
year he shall forward as many copies as
he considers needful to the chairman OF
each town board Of supervisors ana pres
idents of villages, to the forest fre war,
dens that he has appointed; and to al
railroad companies and to the chairman
of each board Of county commissioners
in this state. and it shall be the DUTY OF
said fire warden to post up such aostract
as warning placards in conspicuous places
in their Respective districts, and it shall
be the duty of the county commissioners
of each county to cause the said abb
stract to be published in at least three
issues Of the official paper in their respec-
tive counties during the f1re-dangerous
season Of each year, which shall be reck.
oned from the 10Th day of April to the ISL
of November.
Sec. S. During a dry and dangerous
season. when forest and prairie t1res ar are
the chief fire warden shall use such means
under his command as he may deem nee
essary to prevent or suppress sucn Ires.
and his expenses shall be pa1d oy ene .
shall not exceed five thousand dollars,
to be paid for out Of the general reve.
nue. fund, upon the order OF the forest
commissioner.
Sec. 6. 1t shall be the duty Of each fire
the setting Of forest or prairie fires, to
patrol his district in a dry season, or I'M
der the direction of the chief fire warden,
to employ one or more patrols, to warn
he thinks is likely to he negligent therein.
and when his district is suffering or
threatened with fire, to go to the place
Of danger to control such fires, and each
to call to his assistance in emergencies
any ableLbodied male person! over eight
cen years Of age, and If such person re-
fuses, without reasonable justification or
excuse, to assist, or if any fire warden
refuses or neglects to perform the du-
ties assigned him in this act, such OH.
Ger or person shall be deemed guilty OF
a misdemeanor, and shall. upon oonvic-
not more than one hundred ($1OO dollars,
or imprisonment in the county jail not to
exceed three 60 months.
Sec T. The chief fire warden and the
several fire wardens created or appointed
under this act shall have authority to en-
force the provisions of this act. and 1t
shall be their duty to cooperate with the
fire warden Of any adjoining district, and
in the absence Of such fire wardens to d.
rect the work of control and extinguish-
ment Of forest or prairie fires in such
district, and to arrest, without warrant
ions Of this act, and to forthwith take
make complaint against such person.
Any fire warden VINO KNOWS or mas
W 1Th he believes can be established, and
which if so proven. would show beyond
ere dG n tha5 a on this ac
Immediately go before a justice Of the
peace and make complaint thereof. The
chairman Of boards of toGWnship super @re
wardens appointed by the chief fire war
den shall without delay inquire into the
cause Of each forest or prairie ire VIII
in their Districts, and snail lmmeolat5ely
report the same to the chief fire warden
and the methods used to control or extln,,
guish such fires and the amount and
Value of property destroyed and the num-
other facts in regard to said fires as said g!
chief fire warden may require. during
the more dangerous season of the year
the chief fire warden may require ~ f ire
from fire wardens appointed by the said sal
chief fire warden as to condition or lot
est and prairie fires and as to t what IL IS 8
same. Fire wardens shall promptly com
DIV with the instructions OF the chlef nre
Where local ona Of this act
the chief fire warden shall be authorized
to ferret out and prosecute such v1ola-
tens and his dos lar
any one year, shall be paid out OF the
general revenue on approval OF the state
auditor and attorney general.
Sec 8. Each IRE warden r Slaam iG Tnder
er with payment for use Of team when re- re-.
ouired in making a break to conIroi or
eStinguish fire. one-third Of which snail ma.
be paid by the county where 81 ,ds ser hv
VIC fhee state e. and any employe engaged in
Ike Service shall receive at the rate OF
one and fifty one-hundredths cleo aSs s dei3
lars per day. and said expense na,7 Sna h hSe
s pe Pa service is rendered, and thirds
bW the state. as hereinafter provided, but
shall be mf i'd s to ap Rgv ea nre
ean+ed an itemized account and made
oath or affirmation before any officer
Qualified to administer oaths; or b net ore
any fire warden or town CLERK: VINO s are
naths that said account is just and cor or:
O1ttAo, ~ aooo,1nt shall be apprQVed by