AN ACT 



For the better protection of timber lands against fire, and provid- 

 ing for the expenses of the same, and directing what shall be done 

 with the fines collected and costs paid. 



Section 1. Be it enacted, &c., That when the commissioners of 

 any county or counties fail to "appoint persons under oath, whose 

 duty it shall be to ferret out and bring to punishment all persons 

 or corporations who either wilfully or otherwise cause the burning 

 of timber lands," within their respective counties, as is provided for 

 by the act of July 15th,1897, or when they have appointed inefficient 

 persons to do the work aforesaid; the Commissioner of Forestry may, 

 on the request of residents of a county in which such fires have been 

 created, or on the request of the owner or owners of land which has 

 been injured by the fires so created, appoint a detective or detec- 

 tives, and employ an attorney or attorneys, to ferret out and bring 

 to punishment, as aforesaid, those who cause the burning of timber 

 lands; and all expenses incurred by the Commissioner of Forestry 

 under the operation of this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer, 

 on warrant drawn by the Auditor General, if the said bills shall be 

 approved by the Governor and the Commissioner of Forestry ; and 

 all the fines collected shall be paid by the magistrate or by order 

 of the court to the Commissioner of Forestry, and be paid by him to 

 the Treasurer of the Commonwealth. 



'Section 2. When conviction is obtained, under the provisions of 

 this act, of persons or corporations causing the burning of timber 

 lands, then the Auditor General, on the request of the Commissioner 

 of Forestry, may refuse to pay the State's share of the money due 

 to the county for the services of the person or persons, appointed by 

 the county commissioners, to ferret out and bring to punishment 

 those who caused forest fires in the districts where such persons 

 served as fire detectives, to make arrests and secure convictions, and 

 for which conviction was obtained by the detectives appointed by 

 the Commissioner of Forestry. 



Approved The 2d day of May, A. D. 1901. 



WILLIAM A. STONE. 



