RESTRICTION ON COMMON CARRIERS.

Such proposed legislation, in order to be most effective, should be supplemented by a corresponding restriction upon common carriers. This commission, therefore, also recommends the passage of an act making it unlawful for any railroad or other transportation company to transport or to have in its possession for the purpose of transporting, except it shall receive the same from some point outside the state, any spruce, pine, or hemlock timber in the log whose diameter at the larger end shall measure less than twelve inches; or any wood or timber of poplar or birch in the log whose diameter at the larger end shall measure less than eight inches.

Precedent for such legislation to protect our timber supply may be found in our present game laws, which were enacted to protect the food supply of the commonwealth.

GEORGE BYRON CHANDLER,

NAPOLEON B. BRYANT,

JAMES F. COLBY,

GEORGE H. MOSES,

Forestry Commissioners.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTRY LAW.

(SESSION OF 1893.)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a forestry commission, to consist of the governor, ex officio, and four other members, two Republicans and two Democrats, who shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice of the council, for their special fitness for service on this commission, and be classified in such manner that the office of one shall become

vacant each year. One of said commissioners shall be elected by his associates secretary of the commission, and receive a salary of one thousand dollars per annum. The other members shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be paid their necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, as audited and allowed by the governor and council.

SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the forestry commission to investigate the extent and character of the original and secondary forests of the state, together with the amounts and varieties of the wood and timber growing therein; to ascertain as near as the means at their command will allow, the annual removals of wood and timber therefrom, and the disposition made of the same by home consumption and manufacture, as well as by exportation in the log, the different methods of lumbering pursued, and the effects thereof upon the timber supply, water power, scenery, and climate of the state; the approximate amount of revenue annually derived from the forests of the state; the damages done to them from time to time by forest fires; and any other important facts relating to forest interests which may come to their knowledge. They shall also hold

meetings from time to time in different parts of the state for the discussion of forestry subjects and make an annual report to the governor and council, embracing such suggestions as to the commission seem important, fifteen hundred copies of which shall be printed by the state.

SEC. 3. The selectmen of towns in this state are hereby constituted fire wardens of their several towns, whose duty it shall be to watch the forests, and whenever a fire is observed therein to immediately summon such assistance as they may deem necessary, go at once to the scene of it, and, if possible, extinguish it. In regions where no town organizations exist, the county commissioners are empowered to appoint such fire wardens. Fire wardens and such persons as they may employ shall be paid for their services by the towns in which such fires occur, and in the absence of town organizations, by the county.

SEC. 4. Whenever any person or persons shall supply the necessary funds therefor, so that no cost or expense shall accrue to the state, the forestry commission is hereby authorized to buy any tract of land and devote the same to the purposes of a public park. If they cannot agree with the owners thereof as to the price, they may condemn the same under the powers of eminent domain, and the value shall be determined as in the case of lands taken for highways, with the same rights of appeal and jury trial. On the payment of the value as finally determined, the land so taken shall be vested in the state, and forever held for the purposes of a public park. The persons furnishing the money to buy such land shall be at liberty to lay out such roads and paths on the land, and otherwise improve the same under the direction of the forestry commission, and the tract shall at all times be open to the use of the public.

SEC. 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved March 29, 1893.]

(SESSION OF 1895.)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the forestry commission, upon application by the owner or owners of any tract of forest land, situated in a locality where no town organization exists, to appoint a suitable number of special fire-wardens for said tract, to define their duties, to limit their term of employment, and to fix their compensation. The expense attending the employment of said special fire-wardens shall be borne one half by the party or parties making the application for their appointment and one half by the county in which said tract of forest land is located.

[Approved March 29, 1895.]

PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC STATUTES

RELATING TO FOREST FIRES.

If any person shall kindle a fire by the use of firearms, or by any other means, on land not his own, he shall be fined not exceeding ten dollars; and if such fire spreads and does any damage to the property of others, he shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars.-Chapter 277, section 4.

If any person, for a lawful purpose, shall kindle a fire upon his own land, or upon land which he occupies, or upon which he is laboring, at an unsuitable time, or in a careless and imprudent manner, and shall thereby injure or destroy the property of others, he shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars. Chapter 277, section 5.

Whoever shall inform the prosecuting officers of the state of evidence which secures the conviction of any person who wilfully, maliciously, or through criminal carelessness has caused any damage by fire in any forest, wood lot, pasture, or field, shall receive from the state a reward of one hundred dollars. The state treasurer shall pay the same to the informer upon presentation of a certificate of the attorney-general or solicitor that he is entitled thereto.-Chapter 277, section 7.