Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-03-01
Westminster Farmers Club.

est
GEo. SABIN.-Mr. President: l fear that we
are not aware Of the magnitude of the subject
presented in this resolution and it seems 10 me the
importance of it, warrants legislatures to act We
as farmers have an interest directly involved. l
read from the Country Gentleman that in a pc. |
cuniary point, our lumber and wood costs more |
than our consumption OF corn, wheat, cotton or |
hay; and when we reflect how numerous the |
WAYS of using the timber of the forest, we might
well be surprised that tree stands We see il |
rising every year in value, hence affect, business,
the pockets Of the farmer we see this constant
and lncessant draining from the forest and no sup
plyng the loss in time children will have to
look for building Materials it not wood some, |
where else Then again. sir, | claim the destroy. |
ing of our forest effects the climate, lessons the
frequency Of rain, augments freshets, and enhanc-
es the severity Of drouths Once the forest pro
tected the snow from the rays of the sun, and the
now sweeping winds, rendering the thawing aud
melting gradual giving the earth time TO absorb
and save for summer use Now as the forests are
cleared away the sun and wind act Immediately,
snow and ice is melted at once and we are visited
with terrible freshets and we notice the other ex.
trcme springs of water less, brooks and rivers
of less magnitude Now, with these facts before
us might not legislature offer premiums TO those
who would set cut many acres to forest. or eX-
empt from taxation certain lands, some way TO
encourage the growth of new TIMBER well as
to preserve or perpetuate the present forest
w. X. KIMBALL--I am opposed TO have the
legislature interfere in this matter; shall they say
where we shall raise corn or tobacco No, sir.
Look at the John Clark farm which was purchas-
ed for its timber, the purchasers employing a
| large number Of men, poor men, giving them en-
| pioyment. Now if the legislature had passed a
| law to stop them from cutting it might have ruin.
| ed them. Again young man might purchase a
! farm and his only hope in paying for it was the
! thn nhprl mn IL he
! Legislature interfere? Now | would rather have
| Towns offer premiums TO those who would start
| the growing OF so many acres OF wood. l think
the moment we touch the legislature we touch Il
| big wheel and we are not certain how it will eff.
| feet many small ones.
o. h. FIsHER.-I don't understand this resou-
ton TO mean that legislatures are asked TO put an
| impossible barrier between the man aud the
present forest that we shall not do this or that,
| but by way OF encouragement 10 increase the
amount OF our timber, may by appropriation, pre-
miumS, eXempting from taxation or some such
| way making safe investment for the State at
large ds well as to abate a terrible evil, think it
necessary something should be done, especially
we upon the river feel it. These terrible freshets
are more frequent and destructive, and | adopt
the sentiment of the first speaker TO the cause
Of the drouths and effect upon our climate, &c !,
which is sufficient reason that immediate and am.
pie action be made TO preserve our forest.
| j. b. MORSE think some method might be
got at by the legislature to meet this necessity.
True there many localities, iii for nothing else
but TO grow timber, hence, the most profitable for
that purpose | don't suppose the Legislature is
agoing to peremptory restrict our cutting our
| timber, but 1t seems as if something might be done
TO increase our interest in the matter. One thing,
our practice is bad when we cut timber we should
cut clean, and five wish 10 have it grow up again
fence from the cattle, If we would take the same
pains with our wood lots, that we do with our
corn and tobacco fields no trouble. think a Tor
est growing one of the best investments. Now
believe the health of the people depends upon the
retaining and perpetnAtng OF our forest, and ii
the present system is pursued as TO their destruc-
lion, our young people who have been kept here
in New England on account of IT'S healthy climate
will fear, more than ever be compelled TO seek
new homes, if this destruction of our forest con-
tinues. True, the many uses TO which our timber
is put gives employment 10 vast number, and il
proper care had been taken OF our timber lands
this use and employment might have continued
Once in twenty or thirty years land may be crop
ped Of its timber, if grown TO OAK, chestnut OF
pine; and if the legislature can do something tC
perpeluate and increase the magnitude of our for
est, it would be of vital interest 10 do. Ii is o
the utmost importance TO these river farms on ac
count Of high water and high prices of lumber,
but this is not local question: it effects the gener
al interest
hENht LOtD'--l ALI Eifiu bhat ouSh a ieAfoA
able view is taken Of this resolution us there il
supposed it was intended TO ask the Legislature
| to hinder US from cutting our timber. Now, sir
. laws should be Just and equitable. We have law
for the preservation of fish, will they keep homes
people honest, and rogues, rogues and we don
want any Legislation upon this subject But lie
your forest grow; / know o! apiece OF land from
S which the timber was cut twenty-three years ago
now nice forest chest nuts large enough for rail
road ties. If every body would take care of thei
forest lands this was cared for, 10 trouble
he hills have us upon the meadows in thei
hands. Fifty years ago, we seldom had freshet
D to Iniure us, now snow all goes at once, becaus
there is less timber TO project IT.
u. q. WRIGHT,-I don't believe legislatures o
: towns better have am thing TO do with it, w
ought to be interested care for our forest. Tim
Der grows rapidly, piece sold short tim
/ since for $40 per acre, all grown since my re
membrance. 1 believe timber Land pays better Il
stand and grow usually thanan other Lands, anoth
er piece all grown since lS4s, and you would b
surprised to the growth. When we look int
our own interest it does seem as if we should at
tend to it and preserve timber.
w. L. GAGE.-I don't know whether you
e Westminster Farmers Club is great for wisdol
its reputation for wisdom that goes to the hu
and all around was not certain what the al
v gument would be, but it mas come out. Now tn
/, forest is being made havoc of, aud have partic
l. pated in it. and it is evdentwe must cultivate
r then my theory is when this race OF men is gon
another race will come forth and cultivate
forest with her rich fragrance, instead OF tobacc
~ llaughterl a race of rich, live men, every aci
then will be cultivated, corn will be raised for
z good use, not put through the DIS teakettl
re- these beautiful farms will De put to better
these hills covered with luXurlaut forest 1t is u
% bad use OF things make, not that nature is d.
linquent it is man that needs cultivating, tan
Der, then every thing will be right, until then y
. had better cultivate our forest Climate dou
at the forest effects In Assyria they had no IA
until they raised forests. No doubt floods a
ce caused by the absence OF forest, when do c
our timber. we should cut clean and then fence,
we desire it to grow again.
u .. l.. FIsHER.-The millennium the gentlemi
q talks al out, is away in the future. don't thin
we need TO wait; ii the legislature will do som
= thing TO encourage, it will awaken, and put US
~ thinking, and | eau see no valid objection to the
properly acting in this matter.
L n. u. PIERCE.-In regard TO no rain whC
ng tnere = no ees now now can you yo rse .oreso w
1t TO let our timber grow, pays best interest," not
20 figures will tell you differently. Men buy limb
~ ed land, and their better judgement tells the
Oh Immediately they must take II OF TO save the
. ,, selves. will not say much against legIslatis
. Now the forest are taxed, Is one reason they ,
ed cut. Now suppose again every body had let th
. timber grow, and lived III mud novels, what tn
the advocates of letting their timber grow as M
hin profitable some advocate. they have not cal,
. ! lated the interes that would have accrued uu
nN the sale While growing.
ed, w. z. GAGE.-I am glad there Is diversity