Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-02-03
TO PRESERVE THE FORESTS.
State Forester, Ex-Gov. Guild and
Others Plead for Conserva-
ton.

Preservation of forests on the eastern
Atlantic slope, and the reforestation of
Massachusetts were urged by ex-Gov
Guild, president of the American For
estry Association and State Forester F.
| w. Rane, at the Boston Chamber of
Commerce assembly at the American
House yesterday. A large number of
Boston business men heard these speak
ers. Charles S. Hamlin presided at the
meeting.
State Forester Rane told of the
forestry condition in Massachusetts
when he came here about four years
ago. First, found that fires were
running rampant over this good old
state, and we have made excellent
progress toward overcoming that evil, -
he said. Then he described the details
of the present fire warden laws. "In
the last two years we have secured ex-
cellent results from our efforts" he
said. 1--WE have secured the co-opera-
ton of the officials of the railroads
within the state, for these men have
come to feel that the work the state is
doing to prevent forest fires is giving
them relief from claims for heavy
damages that they have had to meet in
former years.
Mr.. Rane declared that hunters, fish
ermen and automobile parties were re-
sponsible for much of the first damage
done to the woodlands of Massa-
chusetts, though the railroads, he as
serted, have done their part of it.
"Of the.5, 900, 900 or 5000, 900 acres of
land in Massachusetts, asserted the
state forester, "three-fifths of it is
adapted to little besides forests. This
area is, in fact, ideally fitted to support
large growth of woodland. Before our
ancestors came to Massachusetts these
lands were covered by a luxuriant
forest growth"
Mr.. Rane said that the denuded land
of Massachusetts that is now prac-
tically useless is capable of growing
every.year white pine lumber worth
SIS, 900, 600. Massachusetts last year
used 1896, 900. 900 feet of this lumber, "
he said, "and we cut but 131 ZOO, 900.
White pine is a veritable weed, and
would flourish on the Massachusetts
!ands!that are now practically useless.
Massachusetts is now spending
$40, 900 year in this work of reforest-
alton. This year:I have asked for 500,
600. ask your support in my work.
This matter of reforestation of the
state is one of the fundamental things
that will.make for the prosperity of
Massachusetts in the future"
j. M. M. Hall, formerly mayor of
Cambridge and chairman of the Boston
Chamber of commerce committee of
forestry, spoke briefly on forestry con-
ditions lin. Massachusetts and in other
states. Mr.. Hall has interests in tim
Der lands in widely separated sections
of the North American continent, and
is regarded as New England's highest
| oue vi .liiS oubJCNl VI lOTeSIrdIlOQ.
IN. Rane has done splendid work
since he came to Massachusetts and the
men of the chamber of commerce should
support him." said Mr.. Hail.
"Fires have destroyed more timber in
Maine and New Hampshire than ever
fell before the woodmen's axes" he
asserted.
Mr.. Hall was applauded when he an
nounced that Senator Page of Vermont.
had promised him that he would vote for
the WeeksiAppalachian forest bill, and
that Senator Crane has promised TO
canvas the senators in behalf of the
measure.
EX-Gov. GUILDS REMARKS.
Ex-Gov. Guild then spoke in behalf