The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-11-28
Destroying Public Properly.

The slaughter Of Christmas trees on
Vermont hillsides continues undated
as anyone MY observe by taking a ride
down the lines Of Vermont railroads
aud trying 10 keep count Of the ear.
loads aud carloads OF these beautiful
shrubs that are being sent 10 market.
And set there are those that affect TO
ridlcule any attempt the press or pub
lie men may make 10 treat this matter
seriously aud arouse something like a
definite public sentiment in regard TO
il that will find the way TO stop ii.
II is well enough 10 argue about the
rigb, 81 every individual landowner TO
dispose 81 the products Of his own soil
at such times aud on such terms as he
pleases. and 10 make great ado about
the rights u property and all that kind
of thing. But every decade Of enlight-
ening experience brings US clearer and
clearer vision Of the interdependence
Of many If these private property in
icfrsis or IN some Instances their direct
and important relation Ia public pro-
perty interests We are becoming
more nnd more persuaded Of some ~
the principles Of true socialism, in spite
Of ourselves, but we DO not like 10 call
i by that name. Aud wr are constant.
il af0using 30 keenef realization OF the
fact thai, as citizens and joint occupiers
Of the land, We are ~ partnership with
each other IN greater community OF
property interest than we ever used TO
Imagine could be possible without &C.
cumphshnR il through some positive
declaration Of law
So We know to-day aud we preach
10 day thai the forests that crown the
hills belong 10 the multitude Of people
that live al the foot Of these bills. even
II they DO not individually own
penny worth of recorded legal title TO
tbem. Waving any consideration here
of the right oi the people at large TO
demand the preservation of the forests
Cor lhe conservation 81 the lumber sup
ply. II is hardly to BE- even questioned
that they have the pre- eminent natural
right h. demand thai no man shall 70
misuse ,hc forests OF timber growth on
his private ands a. to impair the pub.
he Naicr supply.
Tie slaughter u these Christmas
trees, lnconscquentlal a. il Is said 10
b. ~ 4 phase Of the lumber question.
IN 81 something like substantial mo.
mout whep il comes 10 ~ effect upon
the wafer supply The stripping ot the
hillsides " these aud other trees, how.
ever comparatively yalueless CONNER
c,aily. means the taking away at one
of thg chief means. flnt only ~ collect
iug moisture from the atmosphere, but
~ retaining i ID the soil and permit.
iing the waters ~ collected and 10 held
a. make their way gradually down the
hillsl1es thus more or less equalizing
tie Wsier supply with the consistency %
ihr Seasons, Bat waier i not collected
ou hilis that sre barr, except by direct
precipitation, aud the water thus col. !
leeissi IS MOI stored for future use but
rashcs down The steep IN ihe swollen I
torrent II day of - and u gone Tor.
ever.
We y, by and sea- our springs and
hns,ks and creeks dry ap and even our
rivers shrink nto narrpper channels
fei themselves, deplorc The coming day
~ scarcity u vaier. and yei defend the
sAoHseh,el greed ihsi permits men 10
strip tie ggcca Aills4des q the store
hsasr 81 sapply ihAt belongs to al II
us.
~ we a. begia 10 gei radically 20,
etsihiie one - these days. and II We do
tegin nprc earnestly 10 talk u govern
tasnt oanefship ard AZ that the men
taal uaAy he ibznksd ~ i vill not BE-
~ sgssators ard iheofsis. bul The men
ihai trs non abasiue lhe rigtt II pr.
gaif property - ihe pablie njsry And
tbsy range al ths asy from eoal hArous
~ shnsimAa lrvs peddle,s N. Alhsns
Messenger.