Pennsylvania Statutes Title 71 P.S. State Government § 1311. Duties and powers of chief forest fire warden

He shall plan and put into effect as rapidly as convenient a system of fire towers, observation stations, and a system of telephone lines which shall cover the regions subject to forest fires; and for such purposes he may purchase the necessary material and equipment to build and maintain such towers, stations, and lines, and hire the necessary labor for the installation of such systems. In maintaining systems of telephone lines he is authorized to buy or lease any existing lines. He may permit the attachment of telephones of persons, firms, and corporations on such lines, under such conditions, and for such rental, as may be agreed upon; and shall, through the Commissioner of Forestry,  1 deposit all moneys so received with the State Treasurer, which shall be placed into the fund appropriated for forest protection purposes; and such moneys shall be available upon requisition of the Commissioner of Forestry for the extension, maintenance, and upkeep of such telephone lines, and for such purposes such moneys are hereby specifically appropriated: Provided, That there shall be no competition by the Department of Forestry  1 in telephone service with any commercial telephone company.

He may enter into agreements, with the consent of the Commissioner of Forestry, with persons, firms, corporations, or associations, upon satisfactory terms, for the successful accomplishment of forest fire prevention or control. He is authorized to receive from any person, firms, corporations, or associations contributions for the prevention and control of forest fires. All such contributions shall be paid into the State Treasury, and shall be credited by the State Treasurer to the fund of the Department of Forestry for forest protection purposes; and such moneys are hereby specifically appropriated to the said Department of Forestry for the purposes for which such fund is appropriated, and for the purpose of making refunds to contributors of amounts severally paid in by them in excess of their obligations, respectively, under such agreements.