Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
Why Timber Owners should Not Cut
From Business Point Of View.

TO the Editor Of tho Free Press:
The advantage in the preservation OF
orr forests from the aesthetic and public
utility point of view is now beyond the
need OF discussion 1t remains to con-
violence ,he individual landowner Of the
direct benefit to him in allowing his
timber to stand.
The sole object now in the cutting OF
our forests is to convert thci- stumpage
value into ready cash; since Nil of the
land desired for tilage has been. prac-
tically. already cleared.
Money Is worth i've per cent. We
make the point that timber left to grow
is worth fifteen per cent and submit
the following as proof of the assertion.
Money at interest is supposed to doub-
ie itself in about nnfteen years. The
stumpage value of standing timber.
aside from It's increase in value from
growth has doubled In value during tho
last eight years, and tho prospect ahead
is fully az bright. Here. alone, ia ten
per cent No one. think, will question
but what the average annual growth Is.
at least. FIVE per cent. This gives the
desired result Of fifteen per cent. in
crease to let our timber stand.
The increase in stumpage value of
course applies to ali woodlands ma
tured or unmatured. As regards growth,
| the yearly increase applies to quite all
| OF them also; since the amount OF vir-
| gin forest rs vet untouched, Is. compare
| lively. very small. and with that. even
there is ten per cent. gain to let II
| alone Tho fact should be strongly i'm
pressed I'D the minds OF all landowners
| that the growth in all live trees is pro-
portoned according to their size. Every
live tree. suitable for lumber. forms 9
new ring OF growth. each year. upor
the outside. Now the larger the tree
the more productive the new ring o.
growth, stock, which has double stump
age value. Is confined almost entirel!
to the larger trees. Hence we should
not cut trees simply because they are
large Decaying trees. and trees o.
minor commercial value which obstruc
the growth OF those more valuable. i
may re we'll to cut.
The danger from fire to the woodlands
of Vermont Is now almost entirely elm
mated; and does not exceed the DANCE
to money at interest from default, o
payment. And even lands where Their
is only a prospective cut OF timber man.
years ahead now have n ready cash val
ne either for sale or mortgage; and Thu
value is now. in many places three times
what 1t was eight years ago.
Money at FIVE per cent interest Il
supposed to be taxed 20 It's full amount
Our standing timber. as a rule, Is no
taxed to over one-haf OF its stumpag
value: and the sentiment Is strongly de
velopin9 in fact the plan was strongl,
recommended In the report OF our las
! tax commission, to remove all take
upon standing timber until 1t was GU
rs an inducement to the owners to al
low It to remain as an asset to tn
state for watershed and scenic purposes
The indescribable charm the beaut!
the grandeur Of our forests. among whic
have spent the happiest hours OF m
, life. from carly youth up I say nothn
about This Is sentiment and I mus
hero lot it alone Rut when death visit
my bedside. IT is among my chief anb
tiors that shall feel the inward cor
sciousness that. in whatever else hay
: failed. I have done my level best t
insure to posterity the healthful and III
giving benefits of our grand old wood
} NJ. J. HAPGOOD.
Peru VT Dec. y, 1905