The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-29
Louisa, YaS March Is.
.3.Ir.rnaa \ I'd Roads.

, Editor 81 Tho Tlnics-Dlspatch:s 3.
Gtr--IsuccnL!y dr!Vtng Zip long hill ~
.hp eounty II AugnEtn, /! noticed that two
ma kn,f!ccnt tGt. trees on the public h!gh-
way that had beer, Y boon to the trave!er
! for gene.atlons had been appropriated
and ,tc.trogeA by u farmer for private
use Investigating. found that this spc-
| c.cs OF vandalism was going on all over
! tho State. 53
! Renljzlng the crying. necessity for leg
| Bislativo protection for this valuable state
I property. Z wentt 9 Richmond and con-
i sioner Of Agriculture. They both agreed
| that something should be done. I then.
! went to washington to tho Government
i Board OF Forestry and got tho best In
| formation available on the subject. and
lin conjunction with forestry xpertj
drew lip the Following and placed - in.
tho hands Of tho Senator for considcra--
tlon n AZ
with the exception OF section 4 this
Is practically the law in force In Massa-
jch,lsetts and Now Hampshire Mr.. <Oin-
or said that some such bill would be
valuable, but he thought possibly section
4 was farther than the State would want
to 70 at first. The remainder OF the bill.
could be passed to great advantage. and,
sections left until the people had grown
to see It's value. 8js /.
But little experienced In frnming bills
merely attempt to present what Is needed
and leave tho technical language or H q
Legislative enactment to the law akers.s
It Is noticed that THIS bill scouid b, en-5
forced by those who need IT, and left
unen forced II necessary. A very small APP;
preparation will cover the expenses OF pro-
curing the necessary marks for the trees.
li5 4 ~ Respectfully.
w. n. REED.
BILL.
Section l.. The supervisors o the cour, \
ties 81 the Commonwealth are hereby nu-
thorized to designate and preserve as
hereinafter provided In This act, trees
within the limits Of the public highway
for the purpose Of ornament and shade.
arid to8so designate not less than oi,o
such tree in every sthirty-three feet, where
such trees are growing and are OF q d.
ameter of one inch or more. i5li sBii
Sec. 2. Tho supervisors shall, between
the 1st day Of October and the 51st day
of December. In each year designate such
trees as are selected by them, set forth!
in this act such trees to be designat ted
by driving into8the same at a point not
less than four nor more than six feet
from the ground and on the sdc toward
the center of the i'll hway. Il nal or sptkS
driven through a. metal washers on which
is plainly impressed the letter ~ !. Such
nails and washers to be procured and
furnished by the Secretary OF Agricul-.
ture. vi l iTi{s5;s
II Sec, The .srpe1v;sors 'naS,swhen deem
ed proper, renew such of said nails ard
washers that may have become defaced
or destroyed. and shall designate In tho
same manner as hereinbefore stated such
other trees as in their Judgment should
be designated to carry out the requires
ments of this act. Nj
Sec. 84.4The Commonwealth reserves the
right OF eminent domain over all trees
do a fringe a nd
hang the public highway not further than
five feet from the landowners line, and
no such tree shall be cut down or removed
except upon the application Of the owner
to the Board Of Supervisors of the county
In which the said tree is located. ts
II The supervisors may permit the removal
OF said tree or condemn It and take pos
session OF It for public benefit. upon APP
praisemont,8th the owner to be renumerated
from moneys In the county treasury not
otherwise appropriated orgproylded FOR.
All such trees condemned shall be mark
ed rs hereinbefore provided.
AZ Sec. s. Whoever wantonly Injuries, de-.
faces. cuts down and destroys any trees
thus designated. or destroy such nails
and washers affixed to such trees, or
whoever cuts affixes advertising boards
4 or strings wires OF any description Wth-
out the written permit Of the Officers
having such trees in charge, or shall VIC.
late section84 of this act. shall be punish
ed by a fine not exceeding one hundred;
dollars and not less than twenty dollars:
one-half OF fine to go to plainantfand
one half to the use of the Road Board.
Sec. elf any person, by the use of
firearms or by any other means. cause
fire to spread and damage such trees
the property Of the State lie shall be
fined not exceedingly fifty dollars
1.-THE Road Boards shall be authorized
TO carry out the provisions OF this act,
provided, 4 that nothing in this act shall
prevent The board from removing n tree
when tho public interests so demands.
w Long Glnde. Va March Odd tlF.5 ..t.il 54i