206 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



to issue a i3roclainatioii for a closed season for game during 

 times of drouth. 



3. Amended law, extending the area in one tract from 40 

 to 80 acres in lands purchased by the State for reforestation. 



4. An act placing the work of suppressing the gypsy and 

 brown-tail moths under the State Forester. 



5. Appropriation for gypsy and brown-tail moth work. 



(3. An act to encourage the growth of white pine timber. 



1. An Act relative to tJte Liability of Bailroads for the Ex- 

 tinguishment of Forest Fires. 



The enactment of this bill makes the railroads liable not only 

 for the damage resulting from a fire caused by them, but for 

 the expense of extinguishment of the fire. This act at first 

 might seem to work hardship on railroads, as it was shown 

 last year that 43 per cent, of the fires set in the State were 

 railroad fires. With our new forest warden law, however, it 

 is believed by both the State Forester and the railroad officials 

 that with a perfected system of fire fighting the railroads them- 

 selves will gladly reimburse the towns and cities for the expense 

 of extinguishing fires set by them, believing that by so doing 

 the real damage to property will be thus lessened, and in the 

 outcome not only will the railroads themselves be the gainers 

 financially, but the towns and cities, in that less acreage is 

 likely to be burned. 



The act is as follows : — 



Acts of 1909, Chapter 394. 



An Act relative to the Liability for the Extinguishment of 



Forest Fires. 

 Be it enacted, etc., as follows: 



Section 1. Any railroad corporation Avliich, by its servants or 

 agents, negligently, or in violation of law, sets fire to grass lands or 

 forest lands shall be liable to any city or town in which such fire occurs, 

 for the reasonable and lawful expense incurred by such city or town 

 in the extinguishment of the fire. 



Section 2, Cities and towns may recover sums to which they are 

 entitled under the provisions of this act by an action of contract in 

 the superior court. [Approved May 14, 1909. 



