1436 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 573

CHAPTER 573.

AN ACT to add eight new sections to Article 3 9-A of the Anno-
tated Code of Maryland, title "'Forestry, " to follow imme-
diately after Section 22 of said Article, to be designated as
Sections 23, 24, 25, 26. 27, 28, 29 and 30 of said Article,
so as to provide for the abatement of fire hazards along and
adjacent to railroad rights of way.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That eight new sections be and the same are hereby added
to Article 39-A of the Annotated Code of Maryland, title "For-
estry, " to follow immediately after Section 22 of said Article,
to be designated as Sections'23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30
of said Article and to read as follows:

23. Every person, firm or corporation, operating a steam
railroad within this State, using wood, coke or coal as fuel
shall, between the first day of October of each year and the
fifteenth day of April of the succeeding year, after the notice
hereinafter provided shall have been given establish means for
the prevention of forest fires along those parts of its tracks
adjacent to which the State Department of Forestry shall have
found that a fire hazard exists or will probably be caused by
failure to take precautions. Where the State Department of
Forestry deems other means insufficient there shall be cleared
a safety strip of a width not to exceed one hundred (100) feet,
as determined by the State Department of Forestry, measured
horizontally from the outer rail. Notice of the necessity for a
safety strip shall be sent by the State Department of Forestry
to such person, firm or corporation not later than the first day
of September of each year following the date upon which this
act takes effect, such safety strip to be cleared by removing all
dead wood, fallen leaves, withered grass and other inflammable
material except fences and buildings, and manufactured prod-
ucts from the ground embraced within the width above pre-
scribed. Provided that nothing in this section shall prevent
such person, firm or corporation from piling and storing along
its right of way any materials necessary for the construction,
maintenance or operation of its railroad.

24. Every such person, firm or corporation shall have the
power, subject to the provisions of Section 25 hereof, to clear
such safety strips of inflammable material without liability for
trespass, but shall not remove or damage, without compensation