ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 1437

to the owner, any fence, building, or merchantable timber or
such living trees as the owner may designate.

25. It shall be the duty of the State Department of For-
estry to secure from the actual owner of each property involved,
either by registered letter deposited in the United States mail
directed to the last known address of such owner or by personal
service, written permission for the annual clearing of such
safety strips as prescribed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 23 of this Article. In the event such owner cannot be
so found it shall be the duty of the State Department of For-
estry to publish a notice not later than the first day of Septem-
ber of each year at least once in two papers of general circula-
tion in the county wherein such property or the major portion
thereof lies, such notice to quote the provisions of this section.
If such owner shall not file an objection to such clearing with
the State Department of Forestry within fifteen days from the
date of such publication, such owner shall be deemed to have
given consent to such clearing and to such entry for the pur-
pose of such clearing.

In the event permission for the annual clearing of such safe-
ty strips is refused or withheld, or if an objection to such clear-
ing is filed with the State Department of Forestry within fif-
teen days after the mailing of such notice by registered letter
or after the personal serving of such notice or after the publica-
tion of such notice in at least two papers of general circulation
in the county wherein such property lies, the State Department
of Forestry may, through any of its employees, serve upon such
owner, in person or by registered letter a written order to clear
such safety strip, within the time prescribed by Section 23 of
this article, in such manner as shall be directed by the State
Department of Forestry. Any such owner who shall fail to
comply with such order within such time, shall be liable to the
fine provided in Section 27 of this Article.

26. The State Department of Forestry and its authorized
agents shall have the right to enter at their risk, and without
liability for trespass, upon any railroad land or other lands for
the purpose of ascertaining conditions relative to the enforce-
ment of any of the provisions of Sections 23 to 30 of this Arti-
cle, inclusive.

27. Any person, firm or corporation that shall fail to clear
safety strips as prescribed in accordance with the terms of Sec-
tion 23 of this Article and any land owner who shall fail to