The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-20

member of the State Tax Commits
 sion, the State Game and Fish Commfs-
 sioner the Commissioner of Agricul-
 ture and Industries, \ member of the
 United State Forest Service, the Fro
 Polytechnic Institute and one prac-
 ticed lumberman. to declare the
 county Game and Fish Wardens. For
 est wardens: to declare Constables,
 Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs and 3 Deputy Sheriffs, ex-officio Deputy
 Forest wardens and to provide for
 the appointment of Deputy Forest
 Wardens by the Governor; to exempt
 from taxation for a period of ten
 years land which shall be planted in
 trees; to appropriate the sum or
 Five Hundred Dollars annually for
 the purpose of carrying out the pro-
 visions of this act; to create a For
 est Reserve Fund, and to provide for
 the payment of all fines. forfeitures
 and penalties arising under the pro-
 visions of this act into the said
 Fund.
 Section l. Be it enacted by the Leg fslature of Alabama: That there is hereby created and established State Commission of Forestry to consist of the Governor, memter of the State Tax Commission. the State Game and Fish Commissioner, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. one pratical lumberman engaged in the manufacture of lumber in this State who shall be appointed by the Gov- ernor to serve for term of five years. member of the United States Forest Service, to be recommended by the Forester of said Forest Service, and the Professor of Forestry in the Ala bama Polytechnic Institute. The mem- bers of said Commission shall serve without compensation or expense to the State.
 Sec. 3. That the Governor as ex-of- ficio chairman of the Commission Of Forestry, shall call a meeting of said. Commission within thirty days after the approval of this act at which meeting there shall be elected from their number secretary. who shall perform the duties usually imposed up. on such officer. The Commission shall meet at least twice in each year in the City of Montgomery. and at such other times and places as the Governor may designate.
 Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty ot the Commission provided for in Section l of this act to inquire into. and pub fish annually report upon the forest conditions in Alabama. with reference to tho preservation of forests, the ef- fects of the destruction of forests up- on the welfare of the State. and all other matters pertaining to the sub- ject of forestry, and to promote. so far as they may be able, a proper apprecia- tion in this State of the benefits to be- derived from forest preservation. It shall further be their duty to report to each session of the Legislature the results of their investigations and to recommend desirable legislation with reference to forestry, and to perform such other duties as may be imposed upon them by this or other acts relat- ing to forest preservation.
 Sec. 1. And the Governor is author said Commission of Forestry to &C., cept gifts of land to the State, the same to be held and administered by the Commission of Forestry as State Forest reserves and to be used as to demonstrate the practical utility of timber culture. Such gifts must be ab- solute. except for the reservation of all mineral and mining rights over and under said land. and a stipulation that they shall be administered as State Forest Reserves; and the Attorney General is hereby directed to see that all deeds of gifts or other grants to the State of lands mentioned above are properly executed before the gift is accepted.
 Sec. 5. That in order to encourage the practice of forest culture in this State. when the owner or owners ot any land which has been denuded of trees. or any other land the assessed value of which shall not at the time of application exceed the sum of five dollars per acre, shall contract in writ ing with the Commission of Forestry to plant and grow upon the said land suitable and useful timber trees in such manner as they shall prescribe to pro- tect the said land from fire and to maintain the trees so planted or grown upon It in live and thrifty condition for period of ten years and to cut or remove from the said land within that time no tree or trees except as permitted in the said contract: ii sbaII De lawful for the State Tax Commits sion and they are hereby authorized upon tne recommendation of the Com mission Of Forestry, to exempt such land from taxation for the period of ten years next thereafter in which the said land is to be so maintained. At the end of said ten years or at any time within that period that the own CT or owners of said land shall fail 10 maintain it in all respects accord ing to the written agreement entered into by him and upon which the saIc land is exempted from taxation, the said land shall be restored to the tax roll and shall be taxed the same as other similar lands.
 Sec. 6. That the County Game and Fish Wardens already provided for by existing laws, be and the same are hereby declared and designated, Forest Wardens, whose duty 1t shall be to en- Nforce the forest laws of this State and to carry out the provisions of this and other acts relating to forest preserva- ton. They shall, while holding said office, possess and exercise all the au- thority held and exercised by consta- bIes under the statutes of this State, so far as arresting and prose- cutting persons for all violations of any of the laws, rules and regulations en- this State, or for the protection of the Game and Fish contained therein.
 Sec. 2. That all sherlffs. deputy sher- ihfs. constables. marshals,, justices of the peace and other peace officers of the State are hereby declared ex-of- ficio Deputy Forest Wardens. who shall enforce all forest laws in this State, and shall have the same powers vest ed in the Forest Warden by the pro- visions of this act. And the Govern or may, on the recommendation of the Commission of Forestry, appoint as Deputy Forest Wardens any persons who may so desire to act without com pensation.
 Sec 6. That it shall be the duty of the Forest Wardens to enforce all forest laws of this State, to protect the State Forest Reserves. and to see that all forest laws rules and regula- fions are enforced; to report any vio- iations to the Secretary of the Com ---