cultural and yet which have a valuable stand of par- 

 tially grown timber. In many instances this land if 

 protected until the timber matures will yield a greater 

 profit than it would if opened into a farm for the 

 period necessary to allow the timber to grow- to com- 

 mercial size. On privately owned land this is however 

 a matter for the owner to decide, but it is the duty 

 of the State to furnish the owner the best information 

 as to the proper care and possible yield if left to 

 timber. 



The matter of protecting the lives and homes of 

 those living in the timber is a very serious one and 

 a certain amount of risk must necessarily be assumed 

 by anyone who lives in these surroundings but the 

 danger can be made almost negligible if proper pre- 

 cautions are taken. Under the present laws it is the 

 duty of the residents to see that combustible mater- 

 ial is removed from the vicinity of any city or village. 

 Most of these settlements are pressed for funds and 

 can not see their way clear to authorize the necessary 

 expenditure. During the Session of 1919 the Harrison 

 Bill (Chapter 459 Session of 1919) was passed and 

 which makes it possible to have the property owner on 

 whose land the menace exists stand the expense of 

 the destruction of the combustible vegetation. This 

 law applies to all villages and cities of under 3,000 

 population and should be more fully applied. 



Settlements which are not organized can make them- 

 selves comparatively safe by holding annual clean-up 

 days. In most cases the owners of the adjacent land 

 will be more than willing to allcxw the destruction of 

 the dangerous growths and debris. In some cases the 



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