Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-12-05
OUR FORESTS.
NECESSITY FOR THEIR PRESERVATION

chse to the Fall Mountain Paper COM
pany to enter upon the bed and banks of
White river and its tributaries, clear the
same of Instructions and build booms
and sluices so as to float logs therein,
Mr.. Joseph Battell, in opposing the BILL
spoke in substance as follows;
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the Com
mittee-My appearance before your com
mittee is, to certain extent, unpremed-
itated. While in New Hampshire recent
ly | received letter from Mr.. kezer,
representative from Rochester, and MIR.
Durham, representative from Hancock,
requesting me to meet them at Montpel-
Ter with a view to opposing this Dill.
And l will say that my opposition is
based more on considerations of public
policy than of private or individual in
terests.
1t is legitimate and very strong OBJ
lection to this bill that it authorizes the
direct invasion of the property and rights
of many landowners along these streams,
and subjects them to constantly recur-
ring damage and annoyance. These vio-
lations of private rights may or may not
be compensated by the benefits that are
expected to accrue to those owning tim
Der accessible to these waterways. That,
gentlemen, is one of the questions for
YOU to consider; but IN deciding this
question | think it would be well for the
committee and for all parties interested,
whether present or absent, to remember
that sail that glitters is not gold" Seek
ers after great and valuable gratuties
are always profuse in promises; but
when once the grant is made they are not
apt to be over eager in performance. We
all know the glowing inducements that
have been held out to towns to bond
themselves to build railroads and the
ruinous consequences that have followed
their compliance. The debt has always
been found to be real, but the advantages
so confidently looked for, in many cases,
have proved "as unsubstantial as the
baseless fabric of dream"
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, let us
now examine the nature and extent OF
the country through which these waters
flow. The main stream of the White
river, which, with several tributaries, il
is proposed to utilize, has its source in
the town of Granville some thirty miles
above Bethel and fifty-five miles from it:
mouth at White River junction. 1t pass
es through the town of Granville in {
narrow valley of fertile meadow lands
into and through Hancock, similarly sit
valley is somewhat broader and thu
meadows more extensive; then through
the town of Stockbrdge. Here comes
in the Pittsfield branch, known as tn,
proposed to be utilized. From Stock
bridge the stream flows on southeast
erly course through Bethel, Royalton
Sharon and Hartford, skirting on its wa.
Pomfret and uniting with the Connect
cut at White River Junction.
No protest against this bill has com
from Granville; on the other hand.
number of influential citizens of tina
town, property owners as well on tn
river as off from it, have appeared her
in favor of the bill. But there is a re
monstrance against the bill from tn
town of Warren that adjoins Granvill
to the north. The sentiment of Han
cock is divided: quite number of he
citizens favor the bill, but there is
paper here before the committee wit
twenty-three signatures against it, Fror
Rochester comes the longest petitio
with one hundred and ninety names i
favor of the bill, and the most solid re
monstrance, with seventy-three sigma
lures, against il; each of these paper
having names of some of the laIges
land-holders and most influential citizen
of the town. Pittsfield is representa-
here in favor of the bill. One lumber
man from Stockbridge appears for tn
bill; and there is said TO be a petitio
from that town in its favor. | do ne
understand that the other towns, Bethe
Royalton, Sharon and Hartford, are rel
resented here at all, by petition or othe
wise. 1t would seem that these tOwr
must suffer the annoyances, losses an
damages that always attend an ente
prise of this character, and it is hard
see how they can derive much, if an,
advantage. Your committee, of cours
will consider their interests in conside
ing this bill.
1t is a matter of common notoriety TIL
farmers, mill-owners and other riparia
proprietors along the streams which ha'
heretofore been used by other compani
for floating large masses of lumber, ha'
suffered grieyous wrongs and damag
thereby without having found any ad
quate remedy therefor. Those who ha'
tried to protect their property and mai
rain their rights AGAINST these Soulla