Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-15

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even to the extent of ordering and entorc-
| ing quarantine, | declined to organize n
! Board of Cattle Commissioners but as an
equally hopeful and less expensive pre-
caution | requested the secretary of the
! board of agriculture, DIR. Cutting to go to
Cambridge and make careful eXamina-
ton of the nature and habits of the dis
ease and recommend or take such meas
ures AS the public safety might demand
to prevent its spreading, which he did
| There seemed to be no such exigency as
would call for a commission under the
law and none was appointed. Dr. Cut
| ting's report Is one of so general interest
! to dairymen and stock raisers that have
directed it to be printed and 1t will be
| duly transmitted to you, in the report or
the board of agriculture. Reports OF 9TH
er cattle diseases have come to hand but,
upon reference to the existing law, the
local boards have proved equal to their
suppression.
FORESTRY.
| A Joint resolution Of the general assem-
bly, of 1882 directed the appointment of a
commission Ito inquire into the subject
of the forests of Vermont, AS to their ex-
tent and condition, and what il any,
measures should be taken in respect to
their protection" The commission, con
sistng of Redfield Proctor, Frederick Bill
lings and Edward j. Phelps, reported at
/
action i'll several important particulars.
An act was passed at that session to en-
courage the planting OF shade trees upon
public squares and highways, authorizing
one per cent of the grand list of towns TO
| be voted for premiums to the owners of
lands whS should plant their public mar
gins with trees. ! am not aware that this
statute has been awaited of by any town.
| This is the extent of direct legislation in
the history of our state upon this import
ant subject. Noting as | have for several
| years past the progressive trendinG of the
! most enterprlsng states of our country III
the East and West, in their economic and
! systematic encouragement of tree plant
| ing as an important branch OF aCricul-
| ture, to enhance the value and beauty of
the farm the village and the town, in
vited the general observance of an Arbor
day on May list, 1885, recommending the
same, not as a legal holiday, but ~ a day
for the general spontaneous and volun-
tary contributions of the people, munich
pal and religious corporations, societies
for town and village Improvement, agrl-
cultural associations and schools towards
the adOrnnent of the streets, the road
sides parks, public buildings, homes and
waste places. The systematic observance
Of the day was gratifying beyond eXpecta-
ton. Thousands of shade trees were set
in many towns while few, if an respond
ed with regrets. The proclamation was
| ItllSNCN liis wear anu luc RESULTS, III III
| other states, indicate tnat the sentiment
OF the people calls for the establishment
| of another legal holiday III our calendar,
discretionary with the executive " d5su-
| Iutely by law.
HIGHWAY LAW.
The law of the last session placing the
repairing of highways and bridges under
| the direction of the selectmen, or street
commissioners, or such officers or agents
"a the towns respectively may direct, has
| proved Almost satisfactory law in its opera
| ton The last clause of the first section,
| however, has been the cause of much con
fusion in many towns, the same present
| ing an apparent inconsistency with the
| spnlt and purpose of the entire act which
evidently was intended to do away the
highway district system, abolish the labor
tax practice and place the highways under
town control with money tax only to
maintain them. Not few towns have
eected highway surveyors with a view to
proceed under the old law, while this act
expressly repeats the sections directing
the duties and methods of such officials.
The law seems right and polite in princi-
| pie and most Salutary in its operation.
| have received so many communications
| from Town officials and others asking tue
meaning of the clause referred to, that
deem it my duty to invite your attention
| to it.
ELL lion LAWS, ETC.
Under the act Of the last session for the
compilation of the election and naturali-
cation laws, | appointed George w. Wales,
Esq, commissioner in November. 1854,
and in january, 1885, his report and work
were completed and the compilation duly
distributed. | commend it to your con
sideraton and to the use of the boards of
selectmen, civil authority, and to the pub
nc as compilation of painstaking com
lpf ill1 Ln
check list laws, as invaluable.
THE NEW ORLEANS EXPOSITION.
The report of the commissioner is not
yet published
"Forthwith upon the passage of the act'
approprlatlng $4,000 for the purpose of de-
fraying the expense of exhibiting the re-
sources Of the State, etc, at this eXposi
ton, | appointed John b. Mead OF Ran
dolph, commissioner, and William T.
Fairbanks of st. Johnsbury and Alvin b.
Franklin of Newfane rs my associates of
the executive committee in accordance
with the act This committee allotted and
directed the proportionatc part of the ap-
preparation under the act, less the eX-
penses and services of the commissioner
which should be devoted to properly eX-
hitting the resources of the State between
the various mineral, agricultural and
manufacturing interests, directing also,
served in the application Of such funds AS
might be passed to the commissioner from
the management at New Orleans for the
benefit of the State. The general sum
mary of the commissioners report mot
yet publishedD with statement OF receipts
and disbursements will be found in ap-
pendiX. | have in common with the other
members of the executive committee
watched the operations of this Worlds
Exposition at New Orleans through its
financial difficulties and its Inadequate
management, until the final transfer of its
property and good will to new corpora
ton. And while, in financial sense it
has proved failure, yet as an interstate
and international exhibition of the agri-
cultural, manufacturing and mining pro-
ductions of the day it has been productive
of much substantial bene fit to these in
terests throughout our country. The tact
and energy OF Commissioner Mead,
through the financial crisis of the manage
ment of the exposition, in protecting the
interests OF the State and in securing in
large degree the performance of the OBJ
legations in its favor, have satisfied the
committee that the trust of such unex-
al HaIi MIA in, no a..