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the part of hunters. It should be stated here that the opening of the 

 hunting season is usually marked by an increase in the number of 

 these fires. In some regions they occur most frequently on Sunday, 

 when persons who are worse than thoughtless are abroad in the woods. 

 Comment on such a condition of affairs is unnecessary. It is enough 

 to say that it was not only a disgrace to our civilization, but that it in- 

 dicated a neglect on the part of the State to accord to the owner of 

 such lands the protection for which taxes were paid. 



It is in vain to assert that to have paid for the suppression of these 

 fires would have led to their creation by evil disposed people who de- 

 sired employment. The obvious duty of a government is to ferret out 

 and punish such offenders, and to protect the law abiding citizen at all 

 hazards. It is for this that the government exists, and failing to do 

 this it neglects its first duty. 



The earliest distinct, practical step toward suppression of such 

 crimes was taken when the old act of June 2, 1870, was amended and a 

 penalty clause attached which will compel county commissioners to 

 make an effort to bring such offenders to justice, the State in consid- 

 eration of the general benefits to be derived bearing a portion of the 

 expenses. 



The next practical measure, also originated and sanctioned by the 

 Department of Agriculture, was placing the duty of suppressing 

 forest fires upon constables within whose districts they occurred. It 

 also provides a penalty for failure to perform this duty. Having the 

 right to summon a posse to their aid, there can be no excuse for failure 

 to greatly reduce the losses which the State has hitherto suffered from 

 these annual fires. It should be added and emphasized that no man 

 is required by this act to work without reasonable compensation, and 

 that the Commonwealth assumes a fair share of the pecuniary respon- 

 sibility. 



It is not supposed that there w r ill be no forest fires in the future. 

 Some will inevitably arise. We may, however, look for a decrease in 

 their number and for a more prompt suppression of them when they do 

 occur. Neither do we anticipate that the best effects of this law will fol- 

 low its earliest operation. It is true, and unfortunate that it is true, 

 that a certain number of convictions must follow before the ignorant 

 or malicious can be brought to recognize the existence of any law. 

 This law will be salutary just in proportion as it is rigidly enforced. 

 An act essentially similar has been in operation in the State of New 

 York. It is worth while to quote for a second time from the report of 

 that Commonwealth that "ten years' experience in the matter has 

 demonstrated that the present law relating to the protection of our 

 woodlands from fire is a practical one. We have reason to believe 

 that the widespread and disastrous fires which threatened the exist- 

 ence of our forests at one time will not recur." 



