Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-28

he shall take such measures as the
State superintendent of schools ana
the president of the University OF
Maine MAY approve for awakening an
interest in behalf of forestry in the
public schools, academies and colleges
of the State. In the nine years much
has been accomplished, but as stated
above it certainly seems that this work
should he wholly under the direction
of The president and trustees of the
institution. as the land agent or SUI
perintendcnt cf schools has little time
10 attend to it. In fact, knows little
of The work chat has been done with
the exception Of approving the bills
and going over what reports may be
furnished from time to time.
In order to CARRY out the work it will
be necessary to make a larger appropI i'd
ton than has been the custom, and it
would now seem that it would be an OPP
perfume time to make the change sug-
gested
"Agitation was started and an attempt
was made al tue last session of the
Legislature 10 establish d State nursery,
but as it was quite late in the session
when the bill was Ii PRODUCED it failed to
pass / thoroughly believe that such Il
nursery should be established as the de-
nand is constantly growing among the
farmers and owners OF wood lots in the
State for some place in Maine where they
can obtain seeds ana seedlings. My idea
of such a nursery would be to raise seed
ings and sell the same TO the residents Of
the State of Maine at actual cost For
the first few years it would take an ap-
preparation of few thousand dollars %
start the nursery but it should eventually
become self supporting from the sale OF
seeds and seedlings ! trust that the
legislature will give this matter close
attention and that start may be mad i
another spring.
Should Look Up State Property.
"Fhe constant applications to this de-
partment from parties who wish TO buy
small islands upon the coast and the fact
that many of these islands, while ac-
tuatlS belonging to the State have been
overlooked and no record made of them
leads me to believe that there should be
a close investigation made of the same
From the growing demand there is for
these islands for fish Weir and other pul.-
botS Nouiu titdttdlt tiidl al INCOME rOi
several thousands of dollars annually
would accrue to the State if they were
properly looked after. In my estimates
for 1913 and 1914 | have recommended an
appropriation to determine the owner
ship. location and value of tine islands
along the coast of Maine. now owned by
the State and | hope that the Legislature
will see fit to grant the same.
Another appropriation which should be
made is suitable sum for retracing and
defining the lines around our school or
public lots. In many of the plantations
the old lines have become indistinct,
causing much trespassng and loss to the
plantations. In some plantations the lots
have never been set off and this should
be done
I'm closing | wish to add a word APP
pealing to the citizens of the State to CO.
operate with the efforts that are being
made to keep the fires out of the forest
lands. Eliminate the earelessness to
Which a large percentage of the fires can
be attributed and YOU have added and
guaranteed thousands of dollars worth
of property. Fire raging in heavily
timbered tract does more damage than
Years of conservation can replace The
fires not only burn the understandable
stand but ruin the Young growth. and
frequently consume the soil itself. leaving
a barren waste on which nothing will
ever grow again. If everyone travelling
through or near the woods would have
for his motto Beware of fire, there
would be few fires of any magnitude.