Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-07

planned the intention Of the act to
amend section of the Revised sta
tutes providing for the appointment
Of forest fire wardens in towns.
The new act provides that outside
the Maine forestry district the sell
ectmen Of towns, the assessors OF
plantations and the mayors of cities,
shall subject to the approval OF the
forest commissioner, appoint annual
ly one chief forest fire warden and
as many deputy forest fire wardens
as in their Judgment may be neces-
sary to prevent, control and extin-
guish forest fires. Under the pres
ent system Of protection outside the
forestry district the selectmen OF
towns and plantations act as fire
wardens ex- officiO.
Mr.. Dana stated the opinion that
the law as relating to outside the dis
trict is not now nearly as effective as
that relating to within the district
and that the new act would take care
of the situation.
A. M. G. Soule OF Augusta, a tim
berland owner outside the forestry
district, stated that he was heartily
in sympathy with the provisions OF
the new act and he cited an instance
where timberland in town was
wiped out largely as he thought due
to the negligence of the town off,
Gals in the matter of fire protection.
Representative William A. Head
of Weston, and Arthur l.. Roberts or
Lyman also spoke upon the matter.
the former expressing the opinion
that the selectmen might be better
located to do the work themselves
than those who might be appointed.
The opinion that one man chaser for
C -Ar1y tuh
interest than the board of selectmen
was expressed by Mr.. Roberts.
Commissioner Dana explained that
the act introduced to amend Section
SO of CHAPTER of the Revised sta
tutes relating to forest fire notices
simply avoids duplication for the
matter is covered by another sec
ton. He also pointed out that the
act to amend Section AZ OF Chapter
8 of the Revised Statutes relative 10
forest fires in woodlands and that
act to amend Section S. of the Re-
vised Statutes as amended by Chap
ter of the Public Laws of 1919 re-
lating to forest fire signs. were sim
ply changes necessitated by the first
bill under consideration.
Commissioner Dana stated in con-
nection with the act to provide for
registration of land surveyors and
their marks. that the word wild
should be placed before the words
land surveyors as the act was not
intended to include surveyors who DO
not survey wild lands. He stated
that i is often desirable to tell VINO
ran a certain line in surveying wild
lands, and this would be provided for
by the act. Then again, it is often
desired to secure Wild land sur
yevor on short notice and If such
surveyors were registered in a ros-
ter at the office of the forest COM
missioner, this would be taken care
Of
There was not opposition.
The last act upon which hearing
was held was that concerning the
improvement. protection or pres
ervation of fruit. shade or ornamen-
tai trees. Mr. Dana stated that this
is intended for the protection OF the
public. In some cases, especially
certain ones that he knew of in other
states, men who were not compe-
tant have posed as tree surgeons. by
the new act, all who are in that bust
ness must submit themselves to eX-
animation, which should prove
fair system for all.
No opposition was voiced on this
act