The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-23
VERMONT FOREST
CONSERVATION
Association Formed at Meeting In Bur
lington and An Interesting Dis
cussion Held.

Burlington, Feb. 23.-An interesting
and timely discussion of Vermont for
estry interests was held at well at
tended meeting at Morrill, hall last
evening under the direction of the Yer
mont Forestry association. The speak
ers were State Forester Halves, Prof.
II. H. Chapman Of the Yale forest school
and Mr.. Chedcl of White River June
ton.
At business meeting in the after
noon at hotel Vermont the following of
ficers were elected: President, A. M.
Fletcher of Cavendish; vice presidents,
Charles Downer of Sharon and w. j..
Van Patten of Burlington; secretary
and treasurer, Craig Burt of Stowe;
executive committee, J. A. DeBoer of
Montpelier, G. c. Fits of Brattleboro,
A. +. Halves of Burlington, o. L. Mar
tin of Plainfeld and Charles Green.
Mr.. Fletcher presided at the evening
session. Mr.. Halves discussed the pro-
posed forest taxation law of Wiscon-
sin. This is based on tax on the
land itself during the period of growth,
and an additional tax of 10 per cent.
on the gross stumpage value of the
crop at the time it is cut. In the case
of woodlands belonging to farms, the
land is to be assessed at not over $40
per acre, while on large forest tracts
is to be assessed at not over ST per
acre. Such a radical form in Vermont
would undoubtedly work a hardship to
many of our towns and would be inn
practicable. Tie system, however. might
well be applied to our forest planta-
ton and would greatly encourage plant
ing.
Mr.. Chedel gave figures showing the
tremendous amount of pulp wood con-
sumed by the paper mills, and told of
the adoption OF scientific forestry meth
obs by company bent upon obtain
ing practical results. About $1,000 cords
are devoured by the mills of this com
pany each year. Operating on this tre
mendous scale and with cold cash in
view, the company has found it worth
while to have cutting done under the
direction of a skilled marker, and TO
take steps towards scientific replac-
ing of the trees cut.
Professor Chapman said that Vermont
needs a state forest in each county,
preferably Of at least 5000 acres in
size. These forests should be located
so as to be accessible to the largest
possible number of people, for their
purpose is to show things that may
be seen. Such an investment should
be a profitable one to the state, for
well managed forest will always more
i1at he i.n cot
undertakes this policy the better and |
the sooner the results will be obtained |
The state of Vermont has recently oh |
tanned by purchase and by gift. four 1
tracts of land 10 be devoted to state for
est reserves.
These resolutions were passed;
Resolved, That the Forestry associa- /
ton of Vermont has suffered in common |
with all other forward movements of (
the state a severe loss in the death of /
Fletcher ID. Proctor. Governor Proctor
was one OF the original members of I
The association. and ii was largely |
through his activity that so much has
cen accomplished for the advancement |
IF the forest interests OF the state
At the time Of his death he was presi-
lent of this association, and had demon
,trated his faith in forestry work, not
,nly by public exertion, but by private
practice on The lands of the Vermont
Marble company.
Resolved, That this association again
declares itself in favor of the policy of
acquisition by the state of forest tracts
o be managed under the state for
'ster for demonstration and education
j purposes. This association believes
hat an annual investment by the state
# definite sum of money in the pur-
base of lands, would prove good bus
ness policy for the state. as has been
by the purchase of the
:. r.. Jones forest in Plainfield.
Resolved, That inasmuch as our state
$ in serious danger Of the inroads OF
rch injurious insects as the gypsy and
rown tail moth. that the general as
emily should make ample provision ,
gainst their arrival so that they NAV
e eXterminated at once. We believe
lat only in this way can the state |
void tremendous expense later and UNI
old damage from the insects"