Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-16
The Renewal of Our Woodland.

The Renewal of Our Woodland.
In view of the extent to which many
of the most valuable tracts Of timber
land in the country were denuded by
connagration during the recent drought,
the work of forestry has taken on a new
and important significance. This subject
is of moment to all classes of people in
view of the influence which woodland is
recognized as having upon atmospheric
and climatic conditions, but II is of spe-
cial Importance to those cities whose wa
ter supplies are fed by streams having
their sources and part of their courses In
tho regions devastated.
This is true Of the Adirondack region,
which helps to supply not a few Of the
important cities of the Empire State with
navigable waters as we'll as with water
for consumption, and which also sends
part of its sparkling product into Cham
plain. While Vermont forests suffered to
a lesser degree than did those of the
Adrondacks, 1t is still true that there
are sections which have been almost
completely denuded. Inasmuch as it will
require many years to repair the injury
wrought by the forest fires, and there
was already serious need Of the renewal
of our timberland before that fiery vista
ton the attention of the public can not
be too speedily or too thoroughly devoted
to this matter.
In this connection 1t is encouraging to
note that some Of the great railroad
systems of the United States are be-
ginning to realize that their interests are
largely involved in the countrys timber
land and that they are accordingly TAX
ing measures to protect existing forests
as we'll as to promote the growth of new
timber. This project on the part of the
railroads is by no means a charitable or
public work, but its results can not fail
to be beneficial to the public in general
as we'll as to its promoters in particular.
In the first place the railroads are be-
ing moved to grow trees upon land in
their control in order to produce railroad
ties, which are becoming more and more
scarce and consequently more expensive
Not only is timber fit for ties becoming
scarcer, but lumber dealers naturally
hesitate to let timber go for railroad
luf0Dcr
and thus made to command a much
larger price. When one stops to consider
that the railroads of this country require
more than 10000 600 ties every year. the
vast Importance of this single feature
, Of the forestry question becomes evident
Again the unseasoned longleaf pine ties
used by some of the railroads are said
| To toll
their usefulness being about five years
and attention is accordingly being de.
voted to the plan now in use on the
Great Eastern railway of France, which
is reported to have succeeded in making
beech ties last thirtyfive years by i'm
l originating them with tar oils. Our rail
roads are evidently not inclined to rely
entirely upon any system of this charac
I ter. however, for they are now consider
ing the project of buying and developing
timber tracts on which they can grow
C their own trees and produce their owl
: ties.
y In tho second place the railroads realiZ
n that the work of forestry is to be on
couragod for the sake of the effect which
|
There is a constantly increasing deman,
|. for timber for the various interests scat
e tered along the lines Of the railroads
= and inasmuch as these industries de
l. mand transportation for their manufac
l. tured products. their continued opera
S ton means increased traffic for tn
J. railroads Then too there is a CROWN
rrit pf g,, t1,a g.
# tnre all Of this product must come fror
t. Canada, unless our forests are rapid
ID renewed
l. The multiplication Of telegraph an
d telephone lines is another influence tina
10 will inevitably help to encourage tn
le development Of forestry 1t is state
r. that the American Telegraph & Telc
t. phone company alone used no less tina
/ 10000 telephone poles and 1900, 900 fec
* Of timber in its construction work la.
lie year. This company, realizing the eme
gency which confronts 1t in connecto
e. with the securing of poles for its line
rs is trying experiments with the seasonr
IN Of chestnut and cedar poles. and it vi
IL evidently he driven TO "A consideration
IN forestry as VIII all lelepnOHe ana TEL
Id graph companies. These are some of Il
NJ interests that are Immediately concern'
n over the renewal of our forests, and
IT. view Of the resources at their commar
Is and the thOroughness with which co
as porations of that character do thing
x; much is to be expected from their ate
d; ton to this great problem.
nd
AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN