Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-14

rem against the wasteful development of
our natural resources, whether that
waste Is caused by the actual destruc-
ton of such resources or by making
them impossible Of development hereaf-
ter
AN IMPORTANT DECISION.
On March TO- 1905, the supreme court Of
Maine rendered an exceedingly imnor-
tant judicial decision. This opinion was
rendered in response TO question as TO
the right OF the legislature TO restrict
the cutting of trees on private land for
the prevention of drourhts and foods.
the preservation of the natural water
supply, and the prevention Of the ero-
sion of such lands, and tho consequent
flling up Of rivers, ponds and lakes
The forests and water power of Maine
constitute tho larger part OF her wealth
and form tho basis of her Industrial life.
and the question submitted by the Maine
senate to the supreme court and the an
swcr of the supreme court alike hoay
testimony to the wisdom of the people
of Maine, and clearly define a policy Of
conservation of natural resources. the
| adoption of which is Of vital importance
not merely to Maine but to the whole
country.
such - ro,ic,. ,.t,, o-oso-,.e., at, o..-
,a,or nou,or y, a hori.o,,, Co.. 49, ~,
drcn and ,bo cbildro,,s ,tiIdr,,, ot ,,a
mon and wo,no, of ,bie coror.,i,o g..
any onoctuc,, ,b,, rro,.idoy ,o,.. ,ba .,i.a
utilization of tho forests uho,bo, 4, ,rh-
lie or nriva,o owncrsbi, and Cor ,hs
conservation Of tbc w,,o- roe,,,r,.,,. -,
tbo countrv ,,,,et pro,ro,o ho.i, n,.i,.,.o
and nt,l,Iic welfare. for eooa ,,ro,.a,,io,,
! water nouer dovo,o,non, nr,,.or,...tto,
| NJ tho coil ,,d i,,,,,ro,.o,,,l, 1 -.
! blo rivor. oro 81, ,,ro,r,,.oL H.. .,.i
nolic, of forest ronscr,.,,ior
Tho oninton of tho uairo .,,,,.,,,,.
bencb core forth ,,,,,o,,i,.,.,,,t.. ,,a .,i.,
Clinic th.t tbo nronort, ri,b,s -, ,ta -,
| di,idp,l ,ro s,,hordir,to .o ,ho rioh. -,
thc couuunit, and oerccj,llv ,h.. ,,o
/ waste of wild ti,nhor l,,,d do-i,.ci or..
/ riuallv from tho st.to i,vol,i,, nc I,
would tbc irnnrovo-iebr,c,. or tbo ct,+o
and it's noonro and ,bcroby doro.,ire o,e
rro,. nurnoso of ,n,o-,r,o.,, ,,.,. rro
ne-,v no nr,vontod hv s,,.o rc.,rio,io,s
| Tho court saws that thoro arc tvo roo.
sons why tho right of tho rub,ic to com
troll and limit tho uso Of nri,ate mo-
nerty in land. ..[.irst s,cb ,ro,o-,. +.
NOT tho rcsult of nroductiva labor I'M.
| is do-i.od eolel,. fro,, ,b c,.o i..o;r
,b, or;,ri,,, ,r.,o-. se,,ra ,to a,,,,,,,,
| tIIc otlSii'aI owner St'olu' tIle amount
VI ia''d o'inS ihcapap'e ol lncr'aS'' II
! 'ne owners OF large tracts can waste
'"'H' at VIII WITHOUT Hlatc reStriCu"n'
,"7 sun u'd us pe"iie ma! oe helP-
''SS'S I'"poN'rls"eu ana one great Pur-
pV'e VI SoNt'h'h'"I "sl'a"u' we
Wv n"' 'n''N 'ie ptopoS'u 'eslS'a'lon
"""'u i'''"'' 10 ''Me PiiN"'c pIoP''ty
"t.!.' ,"o H'''"''''" ol inc CONSTITUTION.
"".'e II "iB", r'Strlc. the owner OF
"i'i anu u'cu'uNd'eu ldnus III MS use
the product. might delay his antic,pstcd
proh'S ana even thereoN might cause
NM Sonie ioSS VI p'ot''' II "ou'u never
'heiess ieaNe hlh MS iands' their product
ana increase untouched' ana without
dlminutlon OF ntie estate or quantity.
he Wouid sun nave large measure OF con-
'rol ana large opportunity TO reahze
values he might suHer uo'aF put not
oep3lNatlon' Inc proposed ieSlsIa-
t'oh "ouiu Dc "lthlh the leslSia-
i've power ana Would not operate as
taxing OF private property Tor whlch
compensation must n" maze.
Inc court OF errors and appeals OF
New Jersey has adopted similar view,
winch mas recently oeen sustained by the
supreme court OIL INC 'niled STATES III
uenNeFl"S tle OPINION Vi 'ile court or
Np'ii o. l'> Nh '"s'''e 1o'''ieS s''''