Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-03-07
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMP ORARlES.

PROBLEM OF THE VERMONT FORESTS.
The restoration of the forests Is, or
speedily will be, vital question If
the denudation of the mountain sides
by lumbermen and paper manufacturers
continues at the present rate. 1t Is not
too early for Vermonters to give thought
to this important problem. We do not
want to lay any obstacle in the way of a
great industry in Vermont, but steps
should be taken so that the state should
either require those who cut vast areas
of timber to provide for the. growth to
replace them or it should undertake this
work of restoration ITSELF
On this question the views of General
Russell A. Alger, ex-secretary of war,
are of moment, for he has been lumber
baron, has seen thousands and hundreds
of thousands of acres of Michigan timber
stripped from the land, and has studied
the problem of preservation and restora-
ton of forests. He says: IL made
special visit to the great Black Forest,
which is one of the sights of Germany
This forest, and, in fact, all the made
forests of Germany and Austria, is like a
primeval tract, with its rolling hills and
thickly growing spruce trees. The only
difference is that the trees are planted as
close together as possible aud in rows.
The sunshine only touches the tops,
which are utilized for fuel. 1t has been
found that spruce trees are the most
adaptable for the purpose of cultivation
of all known timber. That wood Is
firm, white, merchantable. 1t takes
about thirty-fve years, | believe, to
grow merchantable tree.
1.-The rule in Germany is that for every
tree that is cut a new tree must be
started This law is not obeyed literally,
but the people of Germany aud Austria
follow the spirit of the statute. In this
way timber is kept growing all the time.
| saw patches of trees that were just
sprouting. Other patches contained
spruce trees set closely together foot
high, and all the way up to fifteen and
twenty feet high to the matured tree.
The government paternally gives induce
ments to growers of trees.
81 will be one of a commission to go
back at my own expense to Germany. to
make a thorough investigation of the
system and apply it to Michigan. If il
is successful here there is no reason why
all the northern tmber-bcaring states
should not adopt it..
'Great tracts of Michigan land have
been denuded of white pine, but be
lieve that in thirty-five years, with ernest
effort, these lands could be again covered
with sturdy, mercantile growth OF
spruce trees. 1t will not be long, at the
present rate, when our forests will be-
come memories. The effect on the eli
mate, agriculture and other interests
will not be felt by US. But that is not 81
much the ,question as what will be for The
good Of the whole state" Men of wealth
who have made money in numbering in
the past, he maintains, should not be re
quired or expected to devote that wealth
to replacing forests, as has been suggest
ed. This is function of the state.
Here are some things Vermonters
should be thinking of, if great industry
of this state is to be preserved. ThC
forests of Vermont are ali invaluable
asset, not only commercially but in til,
way of making Vermont an attractiv,
state to people of wealth Rutland News
A MARVELLOUS PROBABILITY.
Second in Importance only to his won
derful achievement of signaling acros
the ocean is Mr.. Marconi's feat of re
ceiving messages when little more thai
1900 miles distant from the Cornwall
station.
The news that the letter IS" had bee
transmitted from Poldhu to Cape Breto
aroused not a little scepticism. Som
men of science as much as said that tn
Italian must have been dreaming. 1t
but fair to say, however, that, on tn
whole, the scientific world hailed the ar
nOuncement with enthusiastic tributes t
Marcon's ingenuity and perseverance.
The inventors ability and sincerity ar
unquestionable. Perhaps, therefore
there has not been, since last December
any sound reason to doubt his ability t
send IA message as a signal across the Al