The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-05-18
PUBLIC GENERAL LAWS.

De payable In 1ull Dy the county COM
missioners of such county upon the
receipt of an itemiZed account with
vouchers approved by the State Fores-
ter
the Board Of County Commissioners OF
the several counties of this State are
hereby authorized to levy and appro-
pirate money for purposes of forest
protection, improvement and manage
ment; and said boards shall have re-
course under an action at law, for debt
against any land owner, individual or
corporation on whose account they
shall have been obliged to pay out mon
ey for fighting fire for the amount
which they have expended for such
purpose.
Section 9. And be it enacted, That
the State Forester shall furnish notices
printed in large letters upon cloth call
ing attention to the dangers of forest
fires and to forest fires and trespass
laws and their penalties; such notices
shall be distributed by the State Fores
ter or Forest Wardens and posted by
them in CONSPICUOUS places upon State
Forest Reserves, and along the high
ways in forest-covered country.
Section 10 Be it enacted, That every
individual or corporation that care
lessly, negligently or wilfully, mali
ciously, or with intent, sets on fire or
causes, or procures to be set on fire.
any woods, brush, grass, grain or stub
BILE on lands not their own, shall be
guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction be punishable by fine of not
less than S25 or more than $1,000, or
imprisonment for not less than thirty
days or more than one year, or both
such fine and Imprisonment.
Section IL. And be it enacted, That
it shall be unlawful for any person or
corporation as land owner to set. or
procure another to set fire to any
woods. brush, logs, leaves, grass or
they have previously taken all possible
care and precaution against the spread
of such fire to other lands not their
own, by previously having cut and piled
the land which is to be burned, so
as to prevent the spread of such fire.
The setting of fire contrary to the pro-
visions OF this section. or allowing it
lands, shall be prima facie proof Of
wilfulness or neglect, and the land
owner from whose land the fire origi-
mated shall be liable in a civil action
from such fire, and also for the cost
of fighting and exinguishing the same.
Section IL. And be it enacted, That
logging and railroad locomotives
donkey or threshing engines, and other
engines and boilers. operated in,
through or near forest or brush, which
do not burn oil as fuel, shall be pro-
vided with appliances to. prevent the
smoke stack thereof, and with devices
to prevent the escape Of fire from ash
pans and fire boxes. Failure to COM
ply with these requirements shall be
misdemeanor punishable upon convio-
ton by fine of not less than $40 nor
more than SIQQ for such and every
offense thus committed.
Section ID. And be it enacted, That
all individuals or corporations causing
fires by violations of Sections 10, IL and
IL Of this Act shall be liable to tho
State, and to the county in which the
fire occurred in an action for debt to
a NJ a
by the State or county in lighting and
eXtinguishing such fire.
Section IA. And be 1t enacted That
Justices of the Peace of this State,
in the county wherein the offence shall
have been committed shall have juris-
diction to hear and determine all pro-
secutions for the purpose of enforcing
fines and penalties, collectible under
the provision of this Act, not exceeding
the amount of 500. and of holding the
offender, under proper bail if necessary
for hearing before the, Circuit Court,
committing them to the county jail
until such hearing, If the required bail
Is not furnished. It shall be the duty
of the States Attorney of the several
counties. to prosecute all violators Of
Section 10 of this Act.
Section Is. And be 1t enacted. That
all money received as penalties for
violations of the provisions of this Act.
less the cost of collection and not
any amount obtained from the State
Forest Reserves. shall be paid into the
state Treasury to the credit of the
Forest Reserve Fund, which fund Is
hereby created; and the monies in said
fund are hereby appropriated for pur-
poses Of forest protection. manage
ment, replacement. and extension under
the direction Of the State Board of
Forestry.
Section 16. And be it enacted. That
there is hereby appropriated the s M
of thirty-f1ve hundred dollars (S35o0)
annually for the fiscal years 1907 and
1908 for carrying out the provisions
of this Act. and for the payment of
salaries and expenses herein provided
for.
Section IT. And be it enacted, That
all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed.
Section IS And be it enacted, That
this Act shall take effect from the date
of its passage.
Approved April 5, 1906.
EDWIN WAKEFIELD.
Governor,
JOSEPH B. SETH.
President of Senate
CARVILLE D. BENSON
Speaker of House of Delegates.