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and with the advice of council, was authorized to appoint, jointly with the executive of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one or more agents, should the Governor of that Commonwealth think proper to act on this subject; or separately on the part of this State, should the executive of that Commonwealth decline acting in such appointment:- And the agent or agents thus appointed, were from time to time, to perform such acts and duties relating to the public roads, and the care and preservation of the timber on the public lands, as should be prescribed by the Governor of this State. Under this Resolve Agents were appointed in different parts of the State, in the vicinity of the public lands, with instructions as to conduct their business, that there should be an entire stop put to every species of depredation on the Government property generally:- and especially on the Penobscot and Schoodic rivers and all their tributary streams, as well as on the waters which empty into the St. John.
[Gov'r. Message] A correspondence was opened with the Executive of Massachusetts, requesting information as to what measures it would be agreeable to that State to pursue in conjunction with this, to preserve the joint property of both from destruction. From the answer, a copy of which will be laid before you, it appears that the State of Massachusetts relies upon the authority of Maine to preserve the common property, and that whatever expense may be thereby incurred, will be a subject of cognizance by the Commissioners, in making a division.
By information received from various sources there is good reason to believe that extensive depredations are committing upon the timber in different parts of the State. It is stated that companies are forming to take timber from the public lands on one of the principal rivers emptying into the St. John, and that the erection of a mill on the Land of the State for the cutting of lumber is contemplated the ensuing season. The depredations committed on this river are represented to be made principally by persons who are not citizens of this State. On the Penobscot & Schoodic rivers it has been found impossible wholly to prevent the cutting of timber. It has been the practice of the Commissioners of