The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-02-02
FOrestal Legislation.

I'm all the countries of the world where
civilization has reached an advanced
stage of development, the protection of
forests Is held to be Il matter of the first
Importance. The natural and CONNER
cial value to nation of its forests is
everywhere recognized. Statistics show
that very much of the productiveness of
the soil depends upon climatic conditions
produced and governed by trees. The
industries of the country, too, are largely
affected by the dearth or abundance of
its timber lands. Water privileges, the
motive power of so many manufactures,
are almost entirely dependent upon for
ests. Where these have been cut down
in the vicinity of their head waters,
rivers and streams have failed to supply
sufficient power to run the mills and fac
tories upon their banks. Then, too. the
hygienic conditions of life are known to
be very closely connected with the mat
ter of forests. Trees are aptly called
the scavengers of the air, and their re-
moval to any considerable extent must
result in the prevalence of zymotic dis
eases. One reason why our own city is
so free from diseases of this class. we
believe to. be the abundance of trees
along its streets and in the suburbs. In
view, then. of the great value of our for
ests in every branch of public welfare,
the recent action of the Legislature in ap-
pointing forestry commission should
be n matter of congratuation to the
people of the State. 1t is well known,
and has been frequently pointed out by
| the press of the State, that there Is a
great deal of wanton destruction of tim
ber land in Vermont. 1t is true that our
hills in the more unsettled portions of the
IL N
heavy growths of the most valuable
timber-secmngly an ineXhaustible sup
ply for generations to come. But this
abundance of forests in certain portions
of the State is simply due to the fact
that there has not been sufficient demand
for timber in those regions to warrant
numbering operations to any great eX-
tent. Look ct the districts penetrated
by the railroads. A few years before,
these hills were crowned with waving
forests-now they are nothing but un-
slightly mounds of bare rock and blasted
and blackened clearing. The destruc-
ton has been sudden and complete. The
lumbermen have not been content with
taking only the full-grown trees, but
they have ruthlessly cut down every
thing, even to the smallest sapling. leav-
ing nothing but the mere covering of
soil-and in many places not even that
to hide the desolate rocks. This is Just
what will happen to the remainder of
our forests unless some penalty is affixed
by law to the ruthless destruction of
whole tracts of forest land. Railro ads
are penetrating every year to some por-
tions of the State which have hitherto
been isolated from the main lines of
travel. The growing industry of Yer
/ hot l,n, tI,a
od-fashoned methods of transportation.
Very many of our towns and villages
are bonding together to support branch
lines of railway and it will not be long be-
! fore the whole State will be intersected
with network of steel. What, then, will
become of our forests. and what of our
agricultural and manufacturing interests
dependent upon them. and the health OF
our people? These are certainly ques-
tions of Importance, and we are glad
that they have been brought so forcibly
and effectively before our legislators.
But what shall be done, in the way OF
legislation. to preserve our forests? In
the first place, as we have suggested
there should be penalty for the wantor
destruction of timber lands. In France
where the matter of fOrestal Legislation
has reached a high state of perfection
there il a very severe and minute code o.
penalties for the injury aud wanton de
struction of forest trees. A gradateC
list of Imprisonment and fines for sucl
ofienses is published by the government
and strictly enforced by the officials
The forests of France are probably TIN
best preserved and most permanent,
valuable in the world. There is positive
ly no chance for their extinction. so wei
| IL. IL 1. 4 tl...,,
and so strict the surveillance of the of
ficals. In Sweden the forests of tn
domain are placed under the Surveillance
of n commission called the commission
of the administration of forests. undc
the jurisdiction of the minister of finance
and under the direct care of employee
and agents of the forest service. Ther
are between six and seven hundred fol
est guards stationed throughout the do
main to enforce the forest laws an
assist private proprietors desiring t.
submit their forests to 4 regulated econo
my. In Denmark every person purchas
ING forest is forbidden to cut it-eN
cept such wood as is necessary for hi
own consumption, for IL period of te
wears. and no coppice shall be cut unit
it has attained to mature growth.
Spain and Portugal the laws against tn
wholesale destruction of forests are yer
severe. Prussia has perfect army q
1 guards for the protection of her timbe
: land. Even the vast domain of Russi
is supplied with officials whose especif
duty it is to preserve strict economy
in every district, in the numbering opers
tions of the land holders. England, it
we'll known. is as careful of her fores
y parks as though the whole kingdol
e were one vast landscape garden. Som
!, such system of surveillance and penalt
must be established here in Vermont,
the matter of preserving our forests
ever going to amount to anything.
Another thing must be done. W
\ must have some practical system of tin
II ber-culture. Some substantial induce
ment, other than the eventual welfare
n the holders of the property, should
a extended to the landowners of the Stat
Also, at every public meeting of farme
or manufacturers something should
brought forward to foster popular sent
ment in favor of tree-planting. III
nrasc Of tha Stata ShOul1 lend itS inuuan,