The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-22

/ AAUAH tAHAA ARb'ANAf t%ANtNRth1 N+'ff So
lion, the development Of power, the ex-
tension OF irrigation. The drainage Of
swamp and overflow lands. the pre-.
vention OF soil wash and the purinca-
lion Of streams for water supply. IL
proposes to carry out the work by CO.
Drdinatine agencies IN the federal de-
oartments through the medium Of an
administrative commission or board,
acting IN cooperation with the states
and other organizations and individual
citizens
The work of waterway development
should be undertaken without delay.
Merltorious projects in known con-
formlty with the general outlines OF
any comprehensive plan should pro-
coed at once. The cost of the whole
work should be met by direct appro-
priation If possible, but II necessary
by the issue OF bonds In small denomi-
nations.
II Is 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 and
to insure to them a fair share In the
benefits which win follow the develop
ment OF this great asset. which belongs
to the people and should be controlled
by them.
Forests.
urge that provision be made for
both protection and more rapid devel-
opment Of the national forests. Other
wise, either the increasing use OF these
forests by the people must be checked
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 as the total cost Of
caring for all national forests at the
present rate for about ten years.
l especially commend to the congress
the facts presented by the commission
as to the relation between forests and
stream fow in It's bearing upon the inn
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-
mixing In the law the responsibility TO
the community, the state and the ma
ton which rests upon the private own
ers Of private lands. The ownership
Of forest land is a public trust. The
man who wRuld so handle his forest
as to cause erosion and to inJure
stream dow must be not only educated,
but be must be controlled.
The report OF the national conserva
ton commission says:
Forests in private ownership cannot be
conserved unless they are protected from
irc. We need good fire laws. well en-
forced Fire control Is impossible with
out an adequate force or men whose sole
suty IL FIRE patrol during the dangerous
season.
j hold as first among the tasks be-
fore the states and the nation In their
respective shares In forest conserya-
ton the organization Of efficient FIRE
patrols and the enactment Of good Ere
laws on the part Of the states.
The report says further:
Present tar laws prevent reforeststion
Of cut over land and the peFpetuation or
existing forests by use. An annual tax Il
upon the land itself exclusive Of the tim
Der. and tax upon the timber when cut
Is well adapted 10 actual conditions Of
forest investment and 10 practicable and
certain. II is far better that forest land
should pay > moderate tax permanently
han that It should pay an excessive rev.
snus temporarily and then cease to yield
Vt all.
Second only In Importance to good
Gre laws well enforced is the enact
ment Of tar laws which VIII permit
he perpetuation Of existing forests by
ise
81 Lands.
With our increasing population the
lime is not far distant when the prob
em Of supplying our people with food
VIII become pressing The possible
additions to our arabic area are not
treat, and 1t win become necessary to
,btsin much larger crops from the
and. as IL now done IN more densely
settled countries. To do this we need
better farm practice and better strains
II wheat. corn and other crop plants,
With reduction In losses from son
,rosion and from insects, animals and
,ther enemies OF agrlcul ture. The
United States department OF agricul-
ure is doing excellent work in these
directions. and II should be literally
The remaining public lands should
De classified and the arabic lands
disposed Of to homemakers. til their
interest the timber and stone act and
be communication clause Of the home
tead act should be repealed. and the
Iesert land law should be modified In
ccordance with the recommendation
t the public lands commission.
The use OF the public grazing lands
hould be regulated In such ways as
0 improve and conserve their vaIue,
Rights to the surface of the public
and should be separated from rights
o forests upon 1t and to minerals be-
ieath It, and these should be subject
o separate disposal.
The coal. oil, gas and phosphate &
lights still remaining with the govern.
aent should be withdrawn from entry 9
nd leased under conditions favorable
or economic development
Minerals.