Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-12-30
FOREST PRESERVATION.
7. N. Veil Of Lyndonvllls Tells Ho" TO
Save the Trees In Vermont

The ouestion was recently asked Thee.
N, Vail what he considered the main es-
sentiaIs in the future development Of YER
mont and, in brief, be replied as follows
The development OF the natural re-
sources, principally agriculture. thihk
the tend OF production is now returning
vi 18th the rapid development OF the west
the great increase in population ana innl-
yidual income 10 the East, the increase IN
the consumption OF those food stuns
which Vermont is especially adapted 10
raise aud with a near and convenient
market. Vermont from its situation new
er will be a large manufacturing state.
Small concerns, some speeialties, VIII de-
yelop, bat IL will never be able TO compete
in a large way with sections nearer the
eupplies or nearer the markets. Fruits,
large and small, and the higher priced
agricultural products should be very pro-
itabIe and within the scope OF anyone.
The encouragement of belt road. IN
dustrial aud agricultural education IN
lines best adapted TO Vermont should be
encouraged.
The idea OF Mr.. Wallis which he would
especially like to see developed and which
would seem TO be at the very root Of the
states future growth along the line of the
summer business so much discussed, is
state reservations embracing the head
waters OF our various river systems.
These reservations to be reforested and
the foods and streams we'll stocked with
fish and game.
The timber, after few years, would
give good returns to the state. Within
certain boundaries allow no shooting or
fishiug, but let the reservations be the
nursery, the breeding ground, for the
whole state. Soon fish and game would
be abundant enough outside the bound
aries OF the prohibited Init to make the
state attractive to the sportsman and the
fees for license would be source OF pro-
fit.
Another thing, Mr.. Vail says, ii would
open to the outsider the really wonderful
beauties OF our state. Strangers who
travel up and down our valleys on the
railroads or main highways know moth
ing OF these. While these valleys are
beautiful they are not so much superior
TO the valleys of other states to attract
particular attention, but once get the
stranger acquainted with our highland
scenery and soon our wonderful highland
situations would be taken up by those
who would contribute largely TO the
wealth and prosperity OF the state.
Vermont never will be the same as
some of9be other states, summer resort
OF the average or moderate farm boarding
house type. The Vermont farmer, IL be
wants to work, can make more by legiti-
mate farming than by keeping boarders
and be more independent.
The following editorial from a New
York paper shows wbat could be done by
the state exercising its police power as
well rs that Of eminent domain:-
"Buy those lands which could be got at
a fair price aud make state reservation,
including bought lands and privately
owned lands which would include all the
principle headwaters and watersheds and
put them under police restrictions as to
cutting, and preserving the " hole within
certain boundaries. This is work which
is for the future and may not appeal to
all, but the sooner it is begun the sooner
the benefits will come.
"Much has been heard of public forest
preserves, little OF the fact that four-fifths
Of the timber standing in this country is
privately owned. Not only do private in
terests own four times as much of the
woods as the State and Federal Govern
ments own, hut these woods are the more
valuable. They are being burned over at
an average loss OF $50, 900, 900. They are
cut wastefully, at the rate Of three and a
half times their annual growth. One
fourth of the timber is lost in logging.
In the White Mountains and on the
Southern Appalachian range the forests
that regulate the headwaters Of enormous
water powers are being stripped from the
mountains.
"These immensely valuable privately
owned forests are subject to the states
control, without purchase by the states.
son April 6, 1908, Justice Holmes of the
Federal Supreme Court handed down a
decision sustaining the state of Maine in
its contention that its police power was
adequate to restrict the cutting or de-
struction Of private forest covers in a
way to preserve or enhance the value Of
such lands and trees thereon, and protect
and promote the interests OF such owners
and the common welfare OF the people.
The principle has this broad application
in Justice Holmes opinion:
'''Tbe state as quasi sovereign and repre-
sentative Of the interests of the public has
standing in court to protect the atmos-
phere. the water, and the forests within
it's territory, irrespective OF the assent or
dissent OF the private owners Of the land
most Immediately concerned.'
"The Times advise those vast interests
that are being ruined by the denudiog Of
the White Mountains and the sontbevr
Appalschians to abandon their attemnt
futile after sixteen years OF continued
effort, to persuade Congress to buv sIin-
tied strategic areas in these regions. ana
to submit to Gov. Wilson Of Kentucky
chairman Of the committee Of the house
OF governors, plan for uniform STATE
laws to control them in private owner
ship for the common welfare of the neo-
ple.'
"such law, passed and enforced in
every state of the union, would conserve
aud increase its wealth more than anv
other single project of legislation
The Atlantic.