APPENDIX, U5 



(settled or is even jit foi' iinmedialp settlement, it is clear that the State 

 has lost millions of acres of valuable forest. 



, Nor is this all. The fires have made wastes, and the enterprising, really 

 desirable settler is not fond of wastes. He prefers a good green forest 

 of the heaviest timber to a barren, fire-charred, nusightl.y, uninviting 

 waste, and thus the fires have retarded settlement; they are responsible 

 more than any other cause, for the fact that some of our counties have 

 hardly one per cent of improved land. 



To the settler the fires are a menace, they threaten his projjerty; they 

 destroy- the range ; they keep other people away ; they kill the forest, and 

 thus prevent the chance of work and chance for a market for his prod- 

 ucts. The forest fire is the enemy of everybody, and everyone interested 

 in the good of his State as a loyal citizen is interested in preventing and 

 in fighting the forest fire. 



The laws of the State of Michigan strictly forbid, not only the ma- 

 licious burning of woods, but also the careless neglect of fires set for 

 useful purposes, such as campflres, fires used in clearing lands, etc. 



More in detail : 



1. The law provides a fine of five hundred dollars and /ire years' im- 

 prisonment in t^late's prison as the maximum punishment for viUfulhj 

 or mnlicioushj burning, destroying or injuring wood, timber, or forest 

 growth. 



2. To allow by negligence a camp-fire, clearing or other fire to get 

 away and destroy other people's or the State's forest growth is punish- 

 able by a maximum fine of |1,000 ami imprisonment in the county jail for 

 one year. 



'J. The law also makes it obligatory on Supervisors, Commissioners 

 of Highways and Justices of the Peace, in cases of forest fires to order 

 all persons liable to work on the highways to report at the place of fii'e 

 and assist in fighting the same, and any person refusing to help fight 

 may be fined fSO.OO. 



4. During periods of unusual drouth the Township Board may pro- 

 hibit setting fires of any kind, and any person disobeying the order of 

 the Township Board in such a case is guilty of misdemeanor and may be 

 punished in a maximum fine of |1,000 and imprisonment for one year. 



5. Every person living north of parallel 44 (i. e., north of Town 18 N.) 

 who wishes to set fires for purposes of clearing land, etc., must give 

 notice in writing to all resident owners or occupants of territory imme- 

 diately adjoining one full day previous to setting such fires, and to neg- 

 lect this may be pimished in a sum of |1,00() and one year's imprison- 

 ment. 



In so far as the forest Reserve is occupied ground, being constantly 

 under the actual care of resident Forest Officers, it is expected that the 

 nearest Forest Ranger will be notified in writing by any one wishing to 

 set fires on land bordering Reserve lands, in keeping with this act. 



The act of 1903, applying to lands north of T. 20 N., provides for a spe- 

 cial Forest Commissioner, a Chief Fire Warden, and makes every Super- 

 visor and Mayor a Fire Warden. It increases the protective features of 

 the fire laws, adds to the penalties and appropriates money (not to ex- 

 ceed $50 per year for any surveyed township) for the purpose of protect- 

 ing the forest and wild lands against fires. 



