The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-08-04
TO PROTECT PUBLIC LAND.

trouble to many Montana citizens, is
not the only offense against the feder.
al land laws that may be followed by
heavy penalties. The revised penal
code of laws enacted at the last session
of congress for the protection OF the
public lands and forests, will become
operative the first day of next year.
Among its penalties are the following:
For wilfully destroying or defacing
or removing any section corner, quar-
ter section or meander post or any
government line of survey, or cut any
witness tree or any tree blazed to
mark the line of a survey, or remove,
deface or change, any monument or
bench mark or any survey, shall be
punished by a fine of two hundred and
fifty dollars OF Imprisonment for six
months, or both.
Whoever by threats or force inter-
rupts, binders or prevents the survey
ing of any public lands or priv ate
land claims shall be fined three thous.
and dollars and imprisoned three
years.
Whoever shall bargain not to bid
upon or purchase land sold by the
government or intimidate at sales,
shall be fined one thousand dollars
and imprisoned two years, or both.
Whoever shall %wantonly cut or de-
stroy any timber on the public lands
OF the United States, or remove any
timber from said public lands, with
intent to export or to dispose of the
same, or whoever being the owner,
master, or c%onsignee Of any vessel,
or the owner, director, or agent of
any railroad, shall knowingly trans
port any timber SO cut or removed
from said lands, or lumber manufac-
tured therefrom, shall be fined one
thousand dollars, or imprisoned one
year, or both. Nothing shall prevent
any miner or agriculturist from clear.
ing his land in the ordinary working
of his mining claim, or in the prepa.
ration Of his farm for tilage, or from
taking the timber necessary to sup
port his improvements, or for taking
timber for the use of the United States.
And nothing shall interfere with or
take away any right or privilege an
der any existing law Of the United
States to cut or remove timber from
any public lands.
Whoever shall unlawfully cut, or
aid in unlawfully cutting, OF shall
wantonly ~injure, or procure to be
w%antonly injured or destroyed, any
tree, growing, standing, OR being up
on any land of the United States
which. in pursuance of law, has been
reserved or purchased by the United
States for any public use, or upon
any Indian r~eserv alton, or lands be-
longing to or occupied by any tribe
Of Indians under the authority of the
United States, shall be fined five hun
dred dollars or imprisoned one year,
or both.
Whoever shall wilfully set on fire,
or cause to be set on fire, any timber,
underbrush, or grass upon the public
domain, OF shall leave or suffer fir
to burn unattended near any timber o.
other infammable material, shall b.
fined FIVE thousand dollars, or impris
oned two years, or both.
Whoever shall build Q fire in Of
near any forest, timber, or other in
= fsmmable material upon the public
. domain shall, before leaving said fire
. totally %extinguish the same, and who
ever shall fail to do 90 shall be fnet
one thousand dollars, or imprisoned
one year, or both.
In all cases arising under the tw'
E preceding sections the fines collecte,
' shall be paid into the public schoo
fund OF the county in which the land
where the Otfense was committed ar
: situated.
:. a. prlnta All thu Naval