The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-05-22
FOREST FIRES.


ed on water proof material are being
posted all over Lawrence county by
the Forest Warden, Lewis Spencer.
The State OF Kentucky has awakened
TO the fact that fire has caused enor+
nous damage to our forests, and the
Legislature seeks to prevent AZ far as
possible the great loss annually re-
sultlng from carelessness and worse,
The forests of Kentucky represent a
great source OF wealth to the people
Of the State, not only because OF the
timber which they furnish but also be-
cause Of the wages which are paid
each year In cutting the timber in the
woods and IN manufacturing IL. for
est also affords the most effective
means OF preventing floods and main
tanning the regular flow OF streams.
The great annual destruction of for
ests by fire, therefore, is an injury to
all citizens OF the Commonwealth and
greatly hampers our industrial prog
ress.
In order to prevent forest fires the
General Assembly OF Kentucky passed
n law, approved March 10, 1912, which
forbids setting fire to forests and pro-
vides penalties az follows:
ANY persons who shall kindle fires
upon any of the forestry reservations
OF this Commonwealth, except I'm ac-
cordance with such rules and regula
ttons as may be prescribed by the said
Board OF Forestry, or who shall cut
and remove any timber whatever. or
who shall do or cause to be done any
act that win damage forest lands or
timber belonging 10 the Common
wealth. shall be guilty Of a INSIDE
mcanor and upon conviction thereof
be subject to penalty not exceeding
five hundred dollars for each offense
committed with cost OF suit. II the
defendant or defendants neglect OF re-
fuse TO pay the penalty and cost i'm
posed. he or they shall be committed
10 Jail OF the county there to remain
until such penalty and costs are paid
but no longer than one day for each
and every two dollars of the fine and
costs imposed.
II shall be unlawful for any persons
or corporation, as land owner. 10 SGT
woods. brush, logs. leaves. grass, OF
clearing upon their own land, unless
they shall 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 same, or carefully
cleaned around the land which liz to
be burned, so as to prevent the spread
OF such fire. The setting OF fire con-
trary to the provisions OF this section.
or allowing IL to escape to the injury
OF adjoining lands. shall be prima
facie proof of wilfulness or neglect,
and the land owner from whose land
the fire originated shall be liable in a
civil action for damages for the injury
resulting from such fire, and also for
the cost of lighting and extinguishing
the same
Logging and railroad locomotives,
donkey or threshing engines, and 9TH
er 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 as
far as may be possible the escape of
fire and sparks from the smokestacks
thereof and with devices to prevent
as far as may be possible the escape
of fire from ash pans and fire boxes
Failure to comply with these require
ments shall be a misdemeanor, pun
ishable upon conviction, by fine of not
less than $40 nor more than 500 for
each and every offense committed.
All individuals and coroprations
causing fires by violation OF any OF
the provisions of this act shall be LA
BILE to the State or the county In which
the fire occurred for all damages the
State or the county may sustain by
such fire or fires and in addition there
TO to the full amount of all expenses
incurred by the State or county In
fighting or extinguishing said fire.
Justice OF tho Peace for this State,
In the county wherein the offense shall
have been committed, shall have the
Jurisdiction TO hear and determine all
prosecutions for the purpose of enforc-
lines and penalties, collectabls under
the provisions OF this act, not exceed
ing the amount OF 500 and OF holding
the offender. under proper bail II nee
essary. for hearing before the Circuit
Court and committing him TO the
county jail until such hearing II the
required bail Ia not furnished. II shall
be the duty OF the Commonwealth and
County Attorneys OF the several conn
ties and Circuit Court Districts to