, 1874-01-21
PROFESSOR HOUGH's ADDRESS.
(concluded.)
WHAT STATES MAY DO COWARD FOREST
ta@ PRESERVATION.

WHAT STATES MAY DO TOWARD FOREST
r. PRESERVATION.
Let US consider some of the measures
which a State might adopt for the promo
ton of this end without interfering with
private rights. l.. By withholding from
sale lands chiefly valuable for timber, and
by establishing laws by which the State
might realize the profit from necessary
thinning out. 2. BY exempting from tax
alton for a limited time lands planted for
timber. 8. BY offering bounties to county
towns and individuals for the greatest
number Of trees planted and made to thrive.
4. By requiring rail and other roads to
plant trees by their waysides. S. BY i'm
posing q tree tax, payable in tree-planting
or money-the sum to be expended in
planting trees. This might be under local
supervision. g.. By protecting trees by
the wayside by adequate penalties. z. By
requiring the elements of science applica-
BILE to forestry to be taught in the public
schools. Special schools might ultimately
be founded.
With respect to the failure of water for
hydraulic power, for navigation or city use
until woodland shade can be restored, we
must depend upon reservations, which OBJ
ViousIy should be under the same control
as the canals, &c, themselves. But where
needed for hydraulic power only, they
should be intrusted to private interests,
and Government should only enact general
laws regarding them. There may be cases
in which a State would be justified in
making reservations for hydraulic power,
but the expense should ultimately fall
upon the interests concerned.
In the State of New York measures have
already been begun for the preservation Of
forests. In 1872, the Commission Of the
State Parks was instituted to guard the
region of the Adirondacks. Already the
first right step has been taken in the dis
continuance of sale for non-payment Of
taxes. No inclosed grounds nor keepers
nor o~rnamentation will be allowed. Means
of access from various places will be main
tanned, and in some places canals.
Important questions involving the sup
ply for State canals, the restoration of
hydraulic power, and possibly the water
supply of New-York City, are at some
future time to be discussed.
The questions are not limited to q parti-
cular State, but concern the whole Nation,
and l would suggest that this Association
might properly take measures for bringing
to the notice of the several State Govern
ments and Congress, with respect to the
Territories, the subject of protection to its
frontier, the collection of timber, &C., and
that q special committee memorialize these
several Legislative bodies on the subject.
A measure Of public utility thus commend
ed to their notice by this Association
would doubtless receive their respectful
attention. It's features would be brought
up for discussion, and the probabilities for
the future, drawn from the history of the
past, might be presented before the public
in their true light. Such a memorial
should embrace the draft of a bill as the
form of law, which should be carefully
considered in its various aspects of public
interests and private rights, and as best
adapted to secure the benefit desired.