Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-02-20
SOME VERMONT FORESTS.

] Inc numerous StumpS OF large pine
trees and long stretches of stump fences
still remaining in many portions of YER
mont testify to an original supply of fine
timber, such as exists now, if at all, in
very small patches. The coniferous trees
which are used for lumbcr-spruce. pine
and hemlock-are fast disappearing. In
deed, the fine first growth of pine lum-
her is already a thing of the past here.
Among the mountains remote from the
railroads some fine spruce lumber is still
standing, but even in these retreats
great inroads are being made. One needs
only to compare the condition of few
such localities in their present condition
with what they were ten or twelve years
ago to comprehend what is going on.
Twelve years ago the spruce timber in
the immediate vicinity of Mount Mans
field had not been touched, or at least on
ly on its outskirts. On both sides of
this grand mountain forests were stand
ing. On the Stowe side, between the
north end of Mansfield and Mount Stel-
ling, which lies to the east, is what is
called Smuggler's Notch-a wild cut be-
tween the two mountains, on both sides
of which are high Jagged cliffs. Under
and among these may be found flourish
ing in their season such boreal and al
pine plants as haye tempted many botan-
lists to make long journeys to this spot
for the purpose of seeing and collecting
them in their natural home. AT that
time the road to this notch from the
south led through nearly four miles of
unbroken woods. The mountain slopes
on both sides were covered with timber.
large part of which was fine first
growth spruce. The carriage road lead
ing to the summit of Mount Mansfield
from the Stowe side also passed through
much good timber. Several miles south
of Manifold is what is called Nebraska
Notch, another wild pass through the
mountain chain, with bare cliffs on the
north and sloping forest south. For
miles east of this stretched a dark spruce
forest, perhaps as fine as the Green
Mountains could afford.
Ten years have destroyed much of the
beauty of these locations. A steam mill
located near the south end of Smuggler's
Notch, has wrought much of this des-
truction but on both sides of the noun
tain well up towards the summit, or as
far as the timber of marketable size ex-
tends, and eastward of the Nebraska
Notch, the spruce timber large enough
for use has been cut. and much of it at a
very small profit, | am told. This seems
probable, for it is fifteen miles to the
nearest railroad station from most of it.
Another interesting locality was at
WiIloughby Lake. Here was beauti-
full sheet Of water, pure and cool, be-
tween two mountains with its shores,
especially on the west, embraced by
fine first growth timber. There was a
remoteness and seclusion about this
place that seemed to defy intrusion.
This was the condition of Willoughby
in 1873. Since that time the woods have
been invaded. and the little lake turned
into mill pond, and the stamp of gen.
eral desolation which lumbermen usual
ly leave behind them is written on every
feature of this once beautiful spot.
The same thing is going on in other
portions of the State. The large steam
mill at North Stratford, New Hamp-
shire, is fed, believe, from the forests
of the northeastern part of Vermont. The
large quantities of saw-logs, which in
their season cover the Connecticut
above Wells River do not all come from
New Hampshire.
The time is not far distant when Yer
mont will hardly be able to show within
her borders fair sample of her once
abundant mountain forests IF. II.
HOsford, in Garden and Forest.