The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-08

land everyone connected with his oilict
should devote their entire time TO the
work, With the necessary increase In
the states business aud the attendant
increase in the number OF departments
in our state government. the auditor OF
accounts il most important official. In
my opinion good business requires that
he should devote mis- entire eime TO this
work, and, that the salary should be
sufficient TO retain the services OF a
thoroughly qualified man.
Board Of Agriculture.
The state board of agriculture now
consists OF the governor, the president
OF the university OF Vermont and state
agricultural college, ex.otticio, and three
members appointed hiennally by the
governor. Their principal duty consists
in holding public agricultural meetings
throughout the state, though consider
able cltrical and general Office work de-
wolves upon the secretary. One compe.
tent man can do all the work now per-
formed by the board better than live.
There should be a commissioner OF agri.
culture appointed by the governor. He
should be a man OF executive ability,
tNbHlptlflN w w Nufll OIiitf NOIk NH ~
required and 10 arrange for the public
meetings, securing such local or outside
speakers as might be most efficient TO
make them a source Of real practical
help TO the farmers OF the state. The
tendency in other states has been TO
reduce the number on boards of agricul.
ture, and wherever that has been done
IL seems TO have resulted in greater
efficiency and better service. While the
saving in expense may not be large,
believe the results would be better and
the administration OF this department
more business.like.
Cattle Commission.
During the biennial term ending June
80, zoos, the state expended on account
OF tuberculosis in cattle S9S.S25.74. OF
this the amount Of $40 ,62635 was paid 10
the owners Of cattle slaughtered by order
OF the cattle commissioner As far as
| have been able to ascertain no other
state eXpends as large an amount for
this purpose. Many states limit the ap.
preparation and in the case of most
states the amount has been very much
less than that expended by Vermont.
Our statute does not limit the amount
that may be expended and the cattle
commission has no discretion in the
matter. IL is his duty TO respond 10 all
calls that may be made to test cattle
within the state.
This work should be continued, but
the state is not at present receiving ben
eft commensurate with the large expen
diture she is making for this purpose.
Under the law the state pays rs per
cent of the appraised value of cattle |
condemned, $4,000 being the limit at |
which any animal condemned to be |
slaughtered can be appraised. The owner |
of condemned cattle should bear a larger |
proportion OF the loss, and greater care
should be taken to safeguard the inter
ests of the state in the appraisal Of
cattle. Then, too. the present system
of testing cattle only when requested 10
do so by the owner is not the right one. |
II may reduce the number of tuberculo-
sis cattle in Vermont, but the disease
can never be eliminated until testing is
The untested herds are
continuing source OF contamination and
to a great extent nullify the large ex-
penditure made by the state. The cattle
should, at least. be given
discretion to require suspected herds TO
be tested.
Forestry.
Approximately 60 per cent of the area
of our state is forest or wild land. and
this vast area ought TO be made more
productive and of greater value to its
owners and the people. Large tracts of
former pastures or even titled fields are
now gradually bling reclaimed by nature
and are growing up to young trees.
While this has been a source Of regret
and apprehension in the past and mas
led 10 much discussion as to what should
be done with our so.called abandoned
farms, we are beginning TO realize that
It may all be turned to a source of profit
10 the owners and to the state. Ii this
land were reclaimed and brought back
20 state of cultivation it could not com.
pete agriculturalIy with the vast areas
Of more productive agricultural land.
With the increasing demand for timber,
with our greater knowledge of forest
planting cultivation and management,
.hese vast but natural forest lands wise !
y managed will become a source OF con
.inuing profit TO the owners and sub
itantial assets and great source of pros !
)erity TO the state. Under present in.
lustrisl and agricultural conditions, it
S an inevitable law of nature that the |
erritory in Vermont devoted to forest
growth should increase.
Besides the question Of making the /,
and of greater value TO the owners, ;
here is also involved the preservation ;
# our water supplies. If we neglect :
,ur forests and cut them without judg !
nent, our water powers will be seriously !
impaired, not only the larger ones so !
necessary at manufacturing centers, but 4
ilso the great number Of small powers !
catered throughout the state, which :
re or ought to be OF great value to !,
heir respective communities, II we :
trip our hills and mountain sides and J,
10 not take proper care to replace their :
crest growth, the danger of floods in =
he springtime will be greatly increased, :
ausing damage to small mill properties !
nd seriously destroying bridges and in. =
uring highways. In the end the domes-
ic water supplies of our villages and q
tiles will also be seriously affected. !
Thus both directly and indirectly
roper forest encouragement and man Il
cement is necessary 60 the best inter
SITS OF all the people of the state. 1t l
5 no longer theory or simply an aes- 4
hetie question. but a very practical one. 4
'ermont has already begun to recognize =
er duty in this regard. In 1904 the
legislature provided that the governor y
hould designate one of the members of y
he board of agriculture to act as :
Zee 81.