STATE OF MAINE. 



CHAPTER 100. 



AN ACT to create a Forest Commission and for the Protection of 



Forests. 



Sect. 1. The state land agent is hereby made forest commis- 

 sioner of the state of Maine, and in addition to the salary now 

 received by him as land agent, he shall received as compensation 

 for his services as forest commissioner two hundred dollars per 

 annum, and his actual traveling expenses incurred in the performance 

 of his duties, an account of which shall be audited by the governor 

 and council. 



Sect. 2. It shall be the dut}' of the forest commissioner to make 

 a collection and classification of statistics relating to the forests and 

 connected interests of the state, and to institute an inquiry into the 

 extent to which the forests of Maine are being destroyed by fires 

 and b}- wasteful cutting, and to ascertain so far as he can as to the 

 diminution of the wooded surface of the land upon the water sheds 

 of the lakes, rivers and water powers of the state and the effect of 

 such diminution upon the water powers and on the natural conditions 

 of the climate. The information so gathered by him, together with 

 his suggestions relative thereto shall be included in a report to be 

 made by him annually to the governor on or before the first day of 

 December. 



Sect. 3. The selectmen of towns shall be, ex-offlcio, forest fire 

 wardens therein and shall divide said towns into tlnee districts, 

 bounded as far as may be by roads, streams of water, or lot lines, 

 and assign to each of their number the charge and oversight oi <iie 

 district as district fire wardens therein. A description of each dis- 

 trict and the name of the fire warden thereof shall be recorded with 

 the tow n clerk. The services of such selectmen acting as said fire 

 wardens, shall be paid for at the same rate as is paid for their other 



