Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-14

Report of the Forestry Commission Leg
islation Recommended.
The state Forestry Commission. Messrs.
Redfeld Proctor, Edward j. Phelps and
Frederick Billings, in their report recently
submitted to the Legislature, recommend
ed the following legislation: First. that
the statute eXcmpting manufacturing eS-
adjustments from taxation be 50 amended
as to exclude df nothing more the class
of migratory saw mills we have referred
to from its benefit. Second, that an act he
passed to punish those guilty of gross care
lessneSs in setting fires which cause dam
age to woods or forests. Our statute only
Furnishes the willful and malicious act
(Sec Abb. revised laws except in the case
of tramps (Sec. 1859 Massachusetts in
1882 passed law Furnishing whoever
"wantonly aud reCklessly' sets Il fire
which I'M lures standing woods Third, the
adoption of Il resolution similar To the tnlru
clause of that adopted in Connecticut
The commission sent circulars to repre-
sentatives selectmen, listers and others III
every town in the State asking Tor lnfor-
nation on certain points when seemed
important, and for any other information
upon the subject which the individuals
might be able to give a summary of re
plies to these circulars is given. The com
mission find, first, that from eighty to
ninety per cent of the native forests nave
been cleared off in the longer settled and
better agricultural portions OF the Statc,ln
some localities. remote from railways Nr-
gin forests are still found. Second, the
annual clearing is now comparatively
small except in the vicinity of newly con
structed railways. The annual dimnu-
ton of forest acreage Is smaller ana grow
ing less, and i'll some sections, especially
in the southern and southeastern is in
creasing from old pastures and aband-
Oned lands which have been left to grow
up to wood. This new growth is OF
different and less valuable character thah
the original Third, there is no system
attic effort toreclothc abandoned and worn
out laud with forest growth. Ma
ture, in her own way, Is labOrlnG to re
pair the waste of man. Fourth, about
twenty-five cords to the acre are cut after
II growth of 20 years, increasing about on"
and OnC-half cords per acre III the next ten
years. Fifth, the use of coal Is rapidly IN
creasing and reducing the consumption OF
wood for fuel. Sixth, the replies IN
dictate less damage from forest fires
than was expected. 1t Is, however, cunsld
cradle III the aggregate. and the INJURY
seems to he greatest to the second growth
and in places where the mill timber has
been cut and brush and tree tops lett to
feed the forest fires The disposal OF
these of course, can be regulated by law:
Fires are often started by careless and
irresponsible persons, and Il law to be OF
much effect must take notice OF TINS TACT
seventh, no disease now affecting the
spruce is reported. Injury to maple
tamaraCk and some other trees from Dor
ers, caterpillars and insects is reported,
but the damage seems not to be great
or general. Eighth, the answers to the
questions in regard to the effect of the
removal of the forests upon the springs
streams and ponds of the State, with
scarcely an exception, tell the same story;
Il, tslIl
ing, and that the smaller springs ana
streams which had never until recently
been known to fail often become totally
dry in Il dry season. The replies to tins
question are more full and specific than to
any other. \ very few say they notice no
changes. Only two OF the several express
the positive opinion that there is no
change III their vicinity, and very many
over all parts of the State give facts i'll tie
tail which are certainly of a very alarming
character. 1t iseVldent from the replies that
this phase OF the question is the one
which has engaged the attention of che
people and excited more universal Interest
than any other. 1t is generally admitted
to be the greatest of the many evil results
of the devastation of our forests. Ihc
commission finds 1t difficult to prescribe
any specific remedy. The State has no
public domain. The land and timber are
owned by individuals, and ii Is difficult TO
deal with the question by legislation; the
action taken by Othec states is reviewed
and the measure now pending for cStHu-
fishing United States experimental stat
in connection with State agricultural col
leges. The State is considering The quc7-
ton more in the direction of inquiry THAI
of specific measures
The true key to the care of the old for
ests and the rearing of new ones, the com
mission says, lies in convincing the people
of the profit of forest huSbandry. The
most important feature of the question Is
the Restocking of WORKOUT lands. The
farmer must learn to consider timber rs IA
crop and calculate as he does with other
. crops what varieties are best adapted to
different soils. The work of disseminat-
ing information upon this subject is prop
. ture.