6 



might be, if all persons were to insist upon their right under 

 them. Before we can hope for thoroughly effective and satisfac- 

 tory laws of any kind, we must determine by fair and full trial 

 the operation of those already in existence. 



The laws of general application and force at the present time 

 are two. 



1. An act to protect 'timber lands from fire, approved June 2, 

 1870. 



WHEREAS, It is important to the people of the state that tim- 

 ber lands should be protected from fire, which, owing to ma- 

 licious conduct and carelessness of individuals, is causing vast 

 havoc to the young growing timber, especially among our mount- 

 ains; therefore, 



SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate ana House of Repre- 

 sentatives of the (JommonweaUh of Pennsylvania in general as- 

 sembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the 

 same, That it shall be the duty of the commissioners of the sev- 

 eral counties of this commonwealth to appoint persons under 

 oath, whose duty it shall be to ferret out and bring to punish- 

 ment all persons who, either wilfully or otherwise, cause the 

 burning of timber lands, and to take measures to have such fires 

 extinguished where it can be done ; the expenses thereof to be 

 paid out of the county treasury, the unseated land tax to be the 

 first applied to such expenses. 



By act approved May 19, 1871, the county of Lycoming is ex" 

 empted from the provisions of the act of June 2, 1870. 



Few persons have taken advantage of the privileges conferred 

 by this law, partly, perhaps, from ignorance of it, and partly be- 

 cause of the trouble involved. It is obvious that the application 

 for appointments under the act must be made before a fire occurs, 

 when it is suspected only that there is danger of fire, since evi- 

 dence can be but rarely obtained afterwards. There is apparently 

 no good reason why this may not be done. Should the law then 

 prove ineffective or unwise it should be amended or repealed. 

 At present it is practically a dead letter. 



2. An act to prevent the burning of woods in any of the coun- 

 ties of this commonwealth, approved June 11, 1879. 



SECTION 1. Be it enacted, etc., That any person or persons who 

 shall wantonly and wilfully kindle any fire on the lands of an- 

 other, so as to set on fire any woodlands, barrens or moors, within 

 the limits of this commonwealth, shall be guilty of a misde- 



