Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-26

lieve that it will in most cases, be
desirable for you to take advantage
Of this authority to appoint depu-
ties" continues the communication.
please impress upon the deputies
the importance of being within tel
ephonic communication during the
dry season, giving the local operator
the number where they can be found,
and also of the Importance of taking
prompt action to extinguish such
fires as may occur Please note also
that the law provides and the courts
have held that the towns are liza BILE
for the payment of fire damages re-
sulting from negligence on the part
of the selectmen to perform their
| duties.
Brush Burning
1.-THE law provides that the con-
sent in writing of the forestry de-
partment is required for the burning
! of any brush or slash or for the burn
/ ing of burberry land when such land
! is adjacent to any forest growth, eX-
cept when the ground is covered with
snow In accordance with the usual
procedure, I am enclosing blank
permits signed by me and authoriz-
ing the burning of brush, slash or
BURBERRY land when countersigned
by you. Strict supervision in issu
| ing permits and the prosecution of
those burning without permission
will do much to reduce the fire dan
ger.
Slash Disposal
Responsibility for the enforce
ment of the provisions of the slash
law rests primarily upon the select
men of the various towns.
This Office is, however, glad to CO.
| operate in their enforcement so far
as possible and will endeavor to
check up on the way in which the
| slash disposal work is being handled
| through personal visits by inspectors.
In case of failure to comply with the
slash law, the forest commissioner is
! authorized to notify the owners of
the requirements, and if such owner
within a reasonable time shall fail to
| dispose of the slash, the forest COM
missioner may cause it to be dis
posed of at the expense of the own
or. I shall be glad if you will inform
me of any cases where this authority
should be exercised, and shall appre-
| ciate your assistance in other ways
! in making the slash laws really eff
| fective as a fire protective measure.
Lookout Towers
|
! to handle any fighting fire work out
| side of the Maine Forestry District
or to cooperate with the towns in
| the purchase of fire fighting equip
ment or in sharing the expense Of fire
protection, it is nevertheless trying,
with the very limited funds available,
to assist the towns through the cree
| ton of fire lookout towers. Four
such towers were in operation last
season, and two more will be con-
! structed this spring.
"While State funds for the erection
Of such towers are extremely limited,
some slight expansion may be pos
sible. particularly if local cooperation
in the purchase and erection of
| tower can be secured.
| Portable Saw Mills
"Since July 9, 1921, it has been I'M
! lawful for any one to erect or move
a portable saw-mill without a license
therefor approved by the forest COM
missioner. A portable saw-mill has
| been defined as one SO constructed as
! to be readily movable from place to
| place, irrespective of how often it is
so moved. In other words, ii is the
character of construction of the mill
that determines whether or not it is
portable rather than the frequency
with which it Is actually moved.
Please notify me Of any cases that
may come to your attention where
mill should be classed as portable
under this definition has been erect
ed or moved without license.
"Please note that the law further
provides that the forest commission
er, or forest fire wardens in organ
lied towns, may at any time sus-
pend or revoke the licenses of port
able saw-mills for violation of the
slash laws and may further suspend
such licenses in times of drouth.'