22 FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



tions by the forest commissioner. Governor Plaisted issued a 

 proclamation in keeping with the act, it being the first time 

 said act was enforced. Copies of the proclamation were sent 

 broadcast and had the effect of making all more cautious. The 

 proclamation was as follows : 



STATE OF MAINE. 



BY THE GOVERNOR. 



A PROCLAMATION. 



WHEREAS, the towns, villages and timber lands of this State are 

 in great danger from fire at the present time, owing to the almost 

 unprecedented dry weather at this season of the year, and 



WHEREAS, our statutes contain the following provisions, wisely 

 enacted for the protection of the lives and property of our people : 



"Whoever by himself, or by his servant, agent or guide, or as the) 

 servant, agent or guide of any other person, shall build a camp, cooking 

 or other fire, or use an abandoned camp, cooking or other fire in or| 

 adjacent to any woods in this state, shall, before leaving such fire, 

 totally extinguish the same, and upon failure to do so such person shall 

 be punished by a fine of fifty dollars,***************." 



"Selectmen shall erect in a conspicuous place at the side of ev^ery 

 highway as they may deem proper, and at suitable distances alongside 

 the rivers and lakes of the state frequented by camping parties, tourists, 

 hunters and fishermen, in their respective towns, notices in large letters 

 to be furnished by the forest commissioner, substantially in the follow- 

 ing form : 'Camp fires must be totally extinguished before breaking 

 camp, under penalty of not to exceed one month's imprisonment or one 



hundred dollars fine, or both as provided by law. , 



Forest Commissioner.' The forest commissioner shall furnish owners 

 of wood lands situated within this state when called upon so to do 

 notices of similar tenor to be posted at the expense of said owners 

 upon their respective lands." Sections 55 and 56, Chapter 7, R. S. 



"Whoever kindles a fire on land not his own, without consent of the 

 owner, forfeits ten dollars ; if such fire spreads and damages the prop- 

 erty of others, he forfeits not less than ten, nor more than five hun- 

 dred dollars ; and in either case, he shall stand committed until fine 

 and costs are paid, or he shall be imprisoned not more than three years." 



"Whoever with intent to injure another, causes a fire to be kindled on 

 his own or another's land, whereby the property of any other person 

 is injured or destroyed, shall be fined not less than twenty, nor morej 

 than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not less than three months, nor 

 more than three years." 



"Whoever for a lawful purpose kindles a fire on his own land, shall 

 do so at a suitable time and in a careful and prudent manner ; and is 



