The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-05-14

tGuidn VltUtifO Vli.
Il aimed at something which
thought would be OF far reaching Scr
vice, that would induce other forest
owners, after candid observation, to
adopt. was willing todonate the for
est unreservedly, but consultation
with those interested. especially the
forestry department In Washington,
Induced me to adopt the plan OF deed
Ing the soil--the land--to be under
and unreserved government
control, no timber to be cut except
under government direction.
Personally am a lover of the
woods, and although engaged in exten
sive numbering operations, II pains me
severely to see the noble trees of the
forest cut down.
Il own hundreds OF acres of young.
growing spruce, and have been ask
ed: Why are you so interested In
them? They VIII never be large
enough TO cut In your day. | reply,
II there is really heaven, a heaven
worth going to, 1t is q place from
which can look down. and have as
my chief pleasure, the growth Of those
young trees And this Is not senti.
ment. 1t Is downright business.
my main object In this matter is
to set the community and the land
owners to thinking and to see II some
amicable arrangement, mutually ad.
vantageous, cannot be entered into.
III not, let the state as our soyer-
eign mistress. exercising her right of
eminent domain, In this supreme mat
ter upon which hangs our health, hap.
piness and prosperity and the health,
happiness and prosperity OF succeed
ing generations. lay heavy hand upon
these forest areas, and snatch them
from their would-be destroyers like a
brand from the burning.
But forestry reform Is only one of
the many causes which Mr.. Hapgood
has championed with characteristic
enthusiasm. From his youth up he
has never been satisfied unless he was
doing something and that generally
for the benefit Of his fellowmen, and
In making this old planet of ours, in
some degree better place to abide in.
Born January 30, 1850, from Puritan
ancestry on both sides (Shadrach Hap
good started to come over in the
Speedwell, the consort OF the MAY.
flower. he was educated at the town
schools, In Buttons Seminary at Man
chester, VT, and at Williams College
and Harvard university.
AT Williams he was a classmato OF
Rev. DIR Charles Cuthbert Hall. edi
tor Griffin Of the Springfield Republi
can and Eugene Field, the latter sad
scapegrace In those DAYS. Il must be
confessed. At Harvard he was probai
ly the first to take an entirely indie
pendent course of studies selected By
himself. In the academical law. ant
medical departments.
Mr. Hapgood prepared himself fol
the practice of law and was admittet
TO the bar. but his chief clientage, 81
Tar, has been the wild animals OF tn,
forests. The deer, bear, trout, dogs
and trees have ever found in him al
earnest protector and advocate.
Since leaving college Mr.. Hapgoo,
has been engaged In the mercantile
The owns and for years, with his faith
er before him, ran the general stor,
In Peru lumber and hotel business II
his native town. He taught schoo
with success and was farmer an,
cattle breeder.
He is a fervid lover OF out of doc
life, and has camped and tramped 70
weeks together In the forests, no
only OF his own Green mountains bu
In the Adirondacks when that regiol
was practically an unknown wilde,
ness, and the wilds OF northern Maine
But he is not hunter and only shoot
and fishes when In the woods suffic
emily to supply his necessities.
Such a lover OF deer is he that 4
the winter he has had hay from hi
barns strewn on the mountain sid
for them to eat and nothing delight
him more than to spend a day on
trout brook on his property buildin
holes" for the speckled beauties I
live in
"One of the most fiattering tribute
that ever had paid me-" said h,
was once when l was introduced I
some ladies. %, yes, We know you
said they, you're our deer man.
Another incident which gave m
deep pleasure was when In the legi
lature after had closed q little speec
defending the dog against hostile bi
lady In the gallery sent me down
bouquet with this verse attached:
When go hence, my dog shall
The first to come and WELDON
me-
Mr.. Hapgood has filled the varior
town Offices and executed the dutit
which have been incumbent on hi
with Characteristic energy and tho
, oughness. For years he has been or
OF the centers about which the soci,
, and political life Of the little tow
/ revolved; each Is identified with III
other. Mr.. Hapgood has served thrt
, terms In the state legislature, 1873
. 1904 and 1906. He made reform
, Legislation his particular study. clair
: ing the great evil to be inconsidera
! and over-legislation.
His sObriequet was 1.-THE Great o
. iector," and useless and extravagal
D bills found him stumbling block
deed In their path. In this positiC
4 Mr.. Hapgood blocked the plan for
4 lcreasing the salaries of all the sta
e officials. This brought upon him Il
4 enemy OF ofiicialdom but. II saved u
!. state tidy sum.
!. He is the author OF what he tern
s the HapgoOd plan" In Legislation
g His contention is that numerous bill
|. by amendments become so chang
from their original intent as to
O practically new legislation. These,
o the closing rush and turmoil OF d
d session are frequently passed wit
o out the members having very Gle
# idea of what they are voting about.
e THE Hapgood plan" is that all bi
IS shall pass their successive readin
Z. until. II so fortunate, they reach I
D enacting stage. There they shall
n be halted, and the legislature take
h three months recess. In this inter,
II the pending measures may be d
II cussed at home, at the country stor