Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-04-27
Fair Warning to Timber Thieves.

Many q man who would never think
of stealing his neighbours pocketbook or
watch, will deliberately steal all the
timber he can find. The practice has been
so general and of such long standing
that those engaged in it have considered
themselves justified by custom, like one
who apprOpriateS a stray umbrella Ill
q storm. Accuse them of theft, and they
will express Indignation and surprise.
But theft it is, and it will have to stop.
The state Of Wisconsin has entered
upon broad forest policy and at the
last regular session of the Legislature
all state lands north of town 80 were
withdrawn from sale and set apart to
constitute the state forest reserves. All
lands which are found to be suitable
for agriculture will be sold and the pro-
ceeds used to- buy other lands adjacent
to the forest reserves and only suitab BILE
for growing timber. The state is thus
acquiring forest reserves on the head
waters of it's most important rivers,
which will protect and maintain the
stream-how and in time furnish q much
needed supply of timber for the indus
tries which are dependent upon the for
ests fpr their raw material. The inter
ests Of the whole state will be very Sc
riously affected if the rivers, including
the valuable water powers, are not pro-
tected, and the state cannot allow tim
Der thieves to destroy the forests which
it takes pains and expense to save.
During the past winter there has been
much trespassing ON state as well as on
private lands. e. M. Griffith, superin-
tendent of forests, thinks the increa sed
value of all kinds of timber has stimu-
lated this contraband activity. and must
be offset by decisive action on behalf of
the state.
The State Board of Forestry, at a
meeting held April 9th, passed the fol-
lowing resolution:
.'That in view of the statement by the
state forester that during the past win
ter there has been considerable timber
trespass on state forest reserve lands,
and that as in the past it has been the
custom throughout the state to settle
with trespassers on payment of the ac-
tual stumpage value, and as such pro-
cedure has tended to encourage trespass,
therefore, it is resolved by the State
Board of Forestry that hereafter the
board will ask the district attorney of
the county in which the trespass is com
mitted to bring criminal action against
the trespasser in addition to such dam
| ages as may be collected under the civil
liability for forest trespass."
This is warning which all who feel
! tempted to commit trespass on state for
est reserve lands will do well to heed.
! 1t is high time that timber trespassers
were treated exactly like other classes of
| thieves, and few convictions will make
this road to quick riches not quite SO
| pleasant to travel as it has been in the
! past.
! For the information of those who may
| be interested, the laws dealing with tim
! Der trespass are here given III full:
Criminal action; forest trespass. Sec
| ton 49, Every person who, unlawfully
| and willfully cuts. Injuries or destroys any
| kind of wood or timber standing, lying
| or growing upon the lands of another, or
! Of the state, or Of the United States, or
| upon any public highway. or unlawfully
and willfully Injuries or destroys or car
ries away any of the products of such
| wood or timber lands is guilty of a mis-
| demeanor, and upon conviction shall be
| fined not less than $50 nor more than
! $1,000 or be imprisoned not less than ff-
! teen days nor more than three years,
| or by both such fine and Imprisonment.
| Civil liability fof forest trespess. Sec
| ton 20. In addition to the penalties pro-
| vided in section 10 for wilIful trespass on
! forest lands, the state, the county, or the
! private owners, upon whose lands the
| willful trespass was committed, may re-
cover in a civil action double the amount
! of damages suffered. This section shall
not apply to the cutting Of wood or tim
| Der from uncultivated woodland for the
repair OF a public highway or bridge
upon or adjacent to the land. Evening
! Wisconsin.