The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-11-07
Forestry.

The forestry commission, created in
1882. of which eX-Gov. Proctor is the
chairman, has made its report. The sub
ject, in some of its bearings at least. is of
special interest to the people of this
county. The following is an abstract of
the document:
The commission sent circulars to repre-
sentatlves, selectmen, listers and others in
every town in the State asking for informa-
llon on certain points which seemed impOr-
tant, and for information upon the subject
which the individuals might he able to give
a summary of replies to these circulars is
gwen. The commission find, First, that
from eighty to ninety per cent of the native
forests have been cleared off in the longer
settled and better agricultural portions of
the, State in some localities, remote from
railways virgin forests are still found. Sec
ond, the annual clearing is now compara-
lively small except in the vicinity of newly
constructed railways. The annual dminrl-
ton OF forest acreage is smaller and grow
ing less, and, in some sections, especially III
the southern and southeastern,is increasing
from old pastures and abandoned lands
which have been left to grow no to wood.
This new growth is of different and less
valuable character than the original Third,
there Is no systematic effort to reclothe
abandoned and worn out lands with IA for
est growth, Nature, in her own way. is la
boring to repair the waste of man. Fourth.
about twenty-five cords to the acre is emf
after growth OF twenty years, Increasing
about one and one-half cords per year in
the next ten years. Fifth, the use Of coal
Is RAPIDLY increasing and reducing the CON
sumption of wood for fuel. Sixth, the re-
plies indicate less damage from forest fires
than was expected 1t is, however. consid-
cradle IN the aggregate, and the injury
seems to be greatest to the second growth
and in places where the mill timber has
been cut and brush and tree tops left TO
feed the forest fires. The disposal of these
OF course, can he regulated by law. Fires
are often started by careless and irrespon-
slble persons, and Il law to he of much eff
feet must take notice of this fact Seventh.
no disease now affecting the spruce is re-
ported. Injury to maple, tamarac< and
some other trees from bOrers, caterlillars
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 that the water supply is year by year
failing, and that the smaller springs and
streams which had never until recently been
known to fail often become totally dry in
dry season. The replies to this question are
more full and specific than to any other. A
lew say they notice no change. Only two of
several hundred express the positive opinion
that there is no change in their vicinityand
very many over all parts of the State give
Facts IN detail which are certainly of Il very
alarming character. 1t is evident from the
replies that this phase of the question is the
one which has engaged the attention of the
people and excited more universal interest
than any other. 1t Is generally admitted
to he the greatest of the many evil results
OF the devastation of our forests The com
mission finds it difficult to prescribe any
4 tnt l,,.,