Jones, Blackstone, Nottoway County

A number of convictions have already been secured and fines imposed, under section 1702 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for criminal carelessness in burning brush without due precaution to prevent the spread of the fire. The patrolmen have investigated, as soon as they could get to the spot, the causes of all forest fires within the districts, and have wherever possible seemed evidence against the guilty parties and had them brought before a justice of the peace. The patrolmen have also visited a great many warning notices urging people to seek safety with fire, distributed copies of the forest laws, and do everything possible to put out fires after they have started, in many cases saving thousands of dollars worth of damage to woods, buildings, fences, etc., although they are not yet authorized to employ assistance in fighting.

The offer of cooperation in this way on the part of the State and U.S. 