Report of the Forest Commission, 237 



of trees, and preserve the sources of water supply; but nothing in this 

 act shall be so construed as to permit any forest officer, hereby consti- 

 tuted, to interfere with the use of timber for domestic, mining, or agri- 

 cultural uses. On or before the fifteenth day of December, in each 

 year, he shall report to the governor his official action during the pre- 

 ceding year, and such information as may be useful in preserving the 

 forests of the JState, and maintaining the supply of water. 



§ 5. In addition to the powers and duties attaching to the offices of 

 county commissioners and road overseers in the counties of this state, 

 such commissioners and overseers shall act as conservators of wood- 

 lands in their respective localities, and shall enforce the laws and regu- 

 lations made for the protection and preservation of such woodlands. 

 Said county commissioners shall, also, to the extent of their power, 

 encourage the planting of trees along water courses and irrigating 

 ditches, and m other proper places. Except in case* of emergency, no 

 expenses under this act shall be incurred by the said county commis- 

 sioners, or road overseers, unless by direction of the state forest 

 commissioner. 



§ 6. It is made the special duty of all forest officers of the state to 

 exercise the utmost care and vigilance in the prevention and extin- 

 guishment of fires within the state likely to endanger or destroy forest 

 growth, and to apprehend any person who may be guilty of causing 

 such fire 3; and in the performance of their duties such officers may call 

 to their aid such person or persons, within the state, as they may deem 

 necessary. Any person who, without good cause, shall fail or refuse to 

 give aid as aforesaid, when requested so to do by any duly authorized 

 forest officer, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con- 

 viction thereof, shall be fined in a sum not less than twenty-five dol- 

 lars, nor more than one hundred dollars. All forest officers and all 

 peace officers within the state are empowered and required to arrest 

 any and all persons found trespassing upon the woodlands of the state, 

 or unlawfully cutting or destroying timber thereon, or setting fire in a 

 manner to endanger such woodlands, and shall cause actions to be in- 

 stituted in courts of proper jurisdiction to punish violators of the for- 

 estry laws of the state. In all matters pertaining to woodjands and 

 forests the district officers shall be subject to the county forest officers 

 of their respective counties; and all shall be subordinate to the forest 

 commissioner of the state. The county and district forest officers shall 

 make reports of their official action to the state forest commissioner, 

 and furnish that officer with such information relative to their respect- 

 ive counties and districts as he may, from time to time require. 



