212 Report of the Forest Commission. 



interests of the state, and to institute an inquiry into the extent to 

 which the forests of Maine are being destroyed by fires and by wasteful 

 cutting, and to ascertain, so far as he can, as to the diminution of the 

 wooded surface of the land upon the watersheds of the lakes, rivers 

 and water powers of the state and the effect of such diminution upon 

 the water powers and on the natural conditions of the climate . The 

 information so gathered by him, together with his suggestions relative 

 thereto shall be included in a report to be made by him annually to the 

 governor on or before the first day of December . 



§ 3. The selectmen of towns shall be, ex-officio, forest firewardens 

 therein and shall divide said towns into three districts, bounded as far 

 as may be by roads, streams of water, or lot lines, and assign to each of 

 their number the charge and oversight of one district as district fire- 

 wardens therein. A description of each district and the name of the 

 firewarden thereof shall be recorded with the town clerk. The 

 services of such selectmen acting as said firewardens, shall be paid for 

 at the same rate as is paid for their other official services . It shall be 

 the duty of the firewarden of the district in which a fire is discovered 

 to take such measures as may be necessary for its control or extinction. 

 For this purpose he shall have authority to call upon any persons in the 

 territory in which he acts for assistance, and such persons shall receive 

 such compensation not exceeding fifteen cents per hour as said select- 

 men may determine, the same to be paid by the town . But no town 

 shall be holden to pay for extinguishing forest fires in any year an 

 amount greater than two per centum upon its valuation for purposes of 

 taxation . If any person so ordered to assist, and not excused from 

 said service by said forest firewarden on account of sickness, disability 

 or some important business or engagement, shall neglect to comply with 

 any such order, he shall forfeit the sum of ten dollars, to be recovered 

 in an action of debt in the name and to the use of the town, by the 

 treasurer thereof. 



§ 4. County commissioners of each county in which there are unor- 

 ganized places shall annually appoint, when they deem it necessary, 

 such number of firewardens as they deem necessary not exceeding ten, 

 for all such unorganized places in any county, whose duties and powers 

 shall be the same with respect to such unorganized places as those of 

 the firewardens of towns, and they shall also have the same authority 

 to call out citizens of the county to aid them in extinguishing fires, that 

 town firewardens have to call out citizens of the town. The com- 

 pensation of such firewardens shall be paid by the county, and the com- 

 pensation of persons called upon by them as aforesaid to render aid 



