Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-01-28

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any comprehensive plan should pro-
coed ut once. The cost of the whole
work should be met by direct appto-
priatlon II possible. but If necessary
by the issue of bonds in small denomi-
nations.
1t IL especially important that the
development Of water power should be
guarded with the utmost care both by
the national government and by the
states In order TO protect the people
against the upgrowth Of monopoly aud
to Insure to them fair share In the
benefits which will follow the develop
ment OF this great asset, which belongs
to the people and should he controlled
by them.
Forests.
urge that provision be made for
both protection aud more rapid devel-
opment Of the national forests. Other
wise, either the increasing use Of these
or their protection against fire must
be dangerously weakened. II we COM
pare the actual fire damage on similar
areas on private and national forest
lands during the past year the govern
ment fire patrol saved commercial tim
Der worth as much us the total cost Of
caring for all national forests at the
present rate for about ten years.
especially commend TO the congress
the facts presented by tho commission
as to the relation between forests and
strea IN flow In its bearing upon the I'm
portance OF the forest lands in nation
al ownership. without an understand
ing of this intimate relation the con
servation of both these natural re-
sources must largely fail.
The time has fully arrived for recog-
nlzing IN the law the responsibility to
the community, the state and the ma
ton which rests upon the private own
crs of private lands The ownership
Of forest land Is public trust The
man who would so handle his forest
as to cause erosion ard to injure
stream flow must be not only educated,
but he must be controlled.
The report of the national conserva-
tion commission says:
Forests in private ownership cannot be
conserved unless they are protected from
fire. We need good fire laws, we'll en-
/ forced Fire control is impossible with
out an adequate force Of men whose sole
duty Is fire patrol during the dangeroue
season.
| ! hold rs first among the tasks be
| fore the states and the nation in their
respective shares IN forest conserva-
ton the organization Of efficient FIRE
patrols and the enactment of good fire
laws on the part Of the states.
Tho report says further:
Present tax laws prevent reforestation
of out over land and tho perpetuation Of
existing forests by use. An annual tax
upon the land Itself, exclusive of the tim
bar, and a tax upon the timber when cut
Is well adapted to actual conditions Of
forest investment and Is practicable and
certain. II Ia far better that forest land
should pay Il moderate tax permanently
than that 1t should ray an excessive rev
enue temporarily and then cease TO Yield
at all
Second only in Importance to good
Ere laws well enforced is the enact
ment of tax laws which viii permit
the perpetuation Of existing forests by
use.
Lands.
| With our Increasing population the
time IS not far distant when the prob
lem of supplying our people with food
will become pressing. The possible
additions to our arabic area are not
great. and II will become necessary 10
obtain much larger crops from the
land, as IS now done IN more deusely
settled countries. To do this we need
better farm practice and better strains
Of wheat, corn and other crop plants.
with reduction In losses from soil
erosion and from insects animals and
other enemies Of agriculture. The
United States department OF agricu
ture Is doing excellent work in these
directions, and 1t should be literally
supported
The remaining public lands should
be classified and the arabic lands
disposed of 10 hOmeMakcrs In their
interest the timber and stone act and
the Communication clause Of the home
stead act should be repealed, and the
desert land law should be modified IL
accordance with the recommendations
Of the public lands commission.
The use OF the public grazing lands
should be regulated in such ways as
to improve and conserve their value
Rights 10 the surface Of the public
land should be separated from rights
to forests upon It and to minerals be
meath it. and these should be subjec!
to separate disposal.
The coal oil, gas and phosphate
rights still remaining with the govern
ment should be withdrawn from entry
and leased under conditions favorable
for economic development.
Minerals.
The accompanying reports show tina
the consumption of nearly all Of oul
mineral products is increasing more
rapidly than our population, Our min
eral waste Is about one-siXth of oul
product, or nearly SlOo0000 for eacl
working day IN the year. The loss OF
structural materials through fire Il
about another million a day. The los:
OF life In the mines Is appalling Th'
larger part Of these losses of life ant
property can be avoided.
Our mineral resources are limited II
quantity and cannot be Increased OF
reproduced. With the rapidly increas
ing rate OF consumption the supply vii
be exhausted while yet the nation is ii
It's infancy pnIass hettor methods are