Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-04-06
FORESTRY IN VERMONT.

Probably no subject of such vital
Importance to the people of Vermont
Is so little understood, so seldom dis
cussed, and in general receives so
little attention from the average cit
izen as forestry. For some reason
the word forestry" has no attraction
to the average reader. Especially
does this seem co be true of the Yer
monter, and the explanation of it per-
haps lies in the fact that until recent
ly the crying need of fol estry work
has not been felt in this state. But
conditions have rapidly changed in
the last 10 years and almost as wax
ing from a sleep we find ourselves
confronted with a problem that now
needs immediate attention.
One reason for our apathy in the
matter may have been the almost uni
versal belief that forestry related
only to the planting of trees. the ben
iefts from which were not to be
reaped for generation or two. This
idea is now found to be erroneous.
Forestry brings immediate returns.
State Forester Halves has just is
sued pamphlet which tells of the
needs of Vermont, what he has done
and hopes to do. The first work is
the prevention of forest fires. which
some years do so much damage. In
1908 between 20, 900 and 25, 900 acres
of Vermont forest land was burned
over with total money loss of some
$50,000. These fires are mostly
started by carelessness, neglect OF
brush burners, thoughtless smokers
and occasionally by locomotives. For
ester Halves is creating some inter
est in this work and as interest in
creases carelessness will decrease.
After creating an interest in the pre-
ventlon of fires then comes the work
of fighting fires after they have start
ed. A forest fire law was passed by
the legislature of 1904 and amended
In 1908 to read as follows:
1.-THE first selectman in each tow
shall be the forest fire warden there
n, and he shall be paid for such ser
vices at the same rate as for othe
official services. Said warden shall
when a forest fire or fire Threatening
forest is discovered in his town
enter upon any premises and tax
measures for its prompt control an
extinguishment and he may call upo
any person in the town for assist
ance; and said person shall be pal
by the town at the rate of fiftee
cents per hour; and a person VIII
fails or refuses to assist when 8
called. and not excused, shall b
hned not more than ten dollars. N
town shall be held liable in any yea
for an amount greater than five De
cent of its grand list, for the pul
pose of extinguishing forest fire:
The auditor of accounts shall dra
an order for any such excess, whe
the same is duly approved by til
state forester"
The state is divided into five fir
districts, Lamoille and Orleans coui
ties forming the fourth district. Tt
estimate of the damage done in tn
district since 1903 is S6,855. In clio
ing his reports regarding district N
a, Mr.. Halves says:
Throughout this district publ
opinion toward forest fires is at
lower ebb than in any other sectit
of the state. The warden of Lowe
IN 1908 was threatened with LAVISH
for not doing his duty. 1t was ne
essary to point out the section in t.
statutes before he could even belle
that action in preventing and guar
ing against forest fires was one
his duties. The people at large W
not pay any attention to forest fires
1t is time we awakened to the nj
esslty of preventing forest fires, a
after they are started of putt
them out as soon as possible.
Further work of the forester is
conserve the forests, advise abe
forest planting, thinning and prl
ing. The annual timber cut is ne
ly three times the annual grow
and not only does a timber fam
stare US in the face but the eff
of forests upon the stream flow is
vital Importance to this state.
News reports state that the la
men of the state are for Mead
governor. This will add to
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