Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-04

Forest Commissioner Ring is buSily
engaged in looking after the interests
of the forests of the State by taking
every precautiOn and urging others to
do the same, so as to prevent forest
fires from starting in the Maine woods.
A circular letter is now being forward
ed to selectmen of towns and county
commissioners giving extracts from
the law creating a forest commission
and for the protection of forests, as
amended at the recent session of the
Legislature. The letter is as follows:
The selectmen of towns shall be, ex-
officio, forest fire wardens therein and
shall divide said towns into three dis
tricts, bounded as far as may be by
roads, streams of water, or lot lines,
and assign to each of their number the
charge and oversight of one district as
district fire wardenS therein. A de-
scription of each district and the name
of the fire warden thereof shall be re-
corded with the town clerk The SER
vices of such selectmen acting as said
fire wardens, shall be paid at the same
rate as is paid for their other official
services. 1t shall be the duty of the
fire warden of the district in which
fire is discovered to take such measures
as may be necessary for it's control or
extinction. For this purpose he shall
have authority to call upon any per-
sons in which he acts for assistance,
and such persons shall receive such
compensation not exceeding Is cents
per hour as said selectmen may de-
termine the same to be paid by the
town. But no town shall be holden
to pay for eXtinguishing forest fires in
any year an amount greater than
per cent. upon it's valuation for pur-
poses of taxation. If any person so
ordered to assist, and not excused from
said service by said forest fire warden
on account of sickness. disability or
some important business or engage
ment. shall neglect to comply with any
such order he shall forfeit the sum of
So to be recovered in an action of
debt in the name and to the use of
the town, by the treasurer thereof.
ANY person who shall build a camp
or cooking fire in or adjoining any
woods in this State, shall. before leav-
ing such camp, totally eXtinguish such
fire, and upon failure to do so, such
person shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor. and upon conviction there
of shall be punished by a fine not ex-
ceeding 500, or by imprisonment in
the county Jail not exceeding one month
or by both such fine and Imprisonment,
provided. that such fires built upon the
sea beach in such situation that they
cannot spread into forest wood or cul-
tivated lands or meadows, shall not be
construed as prohibited by this act.
1T shall be the duty of selectmen in
towns within 80 days after this act
shall take effect, to cause to be erected
in a conspicuous place at the side of
every highway as they may deem
proper, and at suitable distances along
side the rivers and lakes of the State
by camping parties, tourists.
hunters and fishermen. in their re-
spective towns, notices in large letters
to be furnished by the forest commits
sioner. substantially in the following
form:
"'Camp fires must be totally ex-
tinguished before breaking camp. under
penalty of not to exceed one months
imprisonment or 500 fine, or both as
provided by law
1.-THE forest commissioner shall fur
nish owners of wood lands situated
within this State when called upon so
to do notices of similar tenor to be
posted at the expense OF SAID owners
upon their respective lands.
ut shall be the duty of municipal Of
Ificers in towns, and county commis-