Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-07-21
VERNONT'S MOUNTA -.
fFrom the Montpelier Journal. ,


The New York Sun gives our Vermont
mountains some excellent advertising in
recent editorial, which says:
"Pico Peak in the Green Mountains
1854 feet high. which ex-Gov. Fletcher D.
Proctor OF Vermont presented to his son,
Mortimer r. Proctor, when the young
man came Of age the other day Is one Of
group Of four mountains almost mid
way between the Connecticut river and
Lake George. the others being Mendon,
Shrewsbury and Kllington
Tho last named IS the highest eleva-
tion In the State according TO the people
of Rutland county, and In a map recently
published it is marked 1880 feet. but the
prmaCY is claimed by Mansfield on the
Lamoille-C hittenden border. which certain
~ has an altitude of 4329 feet. The differ
"nce of a few feet Is no great matter; the
View is the thing, and the panorama of
mountain range. far shimmering Cham
plain. noble forest growth. rough hill
pasture and smooth intervale behind from
the Nose or chin of Mansfield Is undeni-
ably finer than the scene the eye ragnes
over from tho crag of Killineton. BY pill
grims whose feet had often turned to the
later visited Mansfield with no conception
of It's charms the palm has been given to
the view from the great ridge that heaves
Up into the skies in northern Vermont
"Mansheld is every inch a mountain
but the Killington group is to he ad-
mired and priced for the widness of for
est that clothes the tanks of it's four
great peaks and extends among It's foot
hills almost to the city line Of Rutland.
ten miles away Great basins or CUFFS
open out below with majestic sweep as
one stands on the summit of any OF these
hills and the gorge. IN which the torrents
are heard rumhling to the bed of the OF
ter and OttaquePChie have a sublimity of
their own that no comparison impairs.
The area of savage lands in which
deer roam freely and bears are often
trapped, is the very heart of the Green
Mountains. When the people o: YER
n, ont turn to conservation Of their head
water forests. as we hope they will soon
DO. the Killington country should receive
their attention first. Two of the noun
talns, it Is gratifying to say are already
beyond the vandals' reach. Mr.. Mortimer
r. Proctor. the new possesSor Of Pico by
q superb birthday gift, intends to pre-
serve Its natural beauties. The rocky pea k
of l<ilington ard much of the forest on
its sides owned by Mr.. NJ. r. Wheeler
of Rutland. whose infatuation with Kill
ineton Is happily such that he pronounces
II the finest mountain In the world. We
! trust that the proprietors of Mendon and
Shrewsbury, whoeve. they may be, are
smtten with n passion as ardent but a,
,ofa .i,A 10 ,aly So, Il,
Legislature at an carly day to cooperate
with Mr.. Wheeler and Mr. Mortimer r.
Proctor for the conservation for ell time
of the imposing group Of neighborinG
mountains
1--WE presume that no impious hand will
ever he laid on glorious Mansfield, but
il there is any danger Of 1t the Legisla-
ture had better take time by the fore
lock"
1t Is to be feared that many impious
hands have been laid on glorious Mans
| field, but fortunately that noble noun
| tain has not been stripped Of every greer
tree Vermonters need to learn. how
ever. that the value of the forests on tho
mountain slopes are not measured entire
| ~ by the number of broad feet OF lumber
| they will produce. Their value in con
serving the water supply of the stream,
and their importance as one of the prin-
| cipal features OF a beautiful landscape are
| very great.
Money cannot buy such advertising as
| the Sun gives to Vermont mountains il
the editorial quoted. II is reproaCh tC
us that We have made such light use o.
| the great natural asset which the Greer
| Mountains affords Our own mountain.