Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-29
Governor Fletcher Is Reelected
President of the State
Association.
FIRE PREVENTION DISCUSSED
Experts Advise on Preserving
Vermont ForestS-Explain
Revised Laws and Scheme
of Protection.

state forest fire wnrdens met tuesday
morning at Morrill, hall, and IN the after
noon and evening the annual meeting on
the State Forestry association was held
there. The evening eession was public
und Governor Fletcher president OF the
association, WIS In charge.
Deputy State Eire Warden Robert NJ.
Ross discussed at the morning session the
details of the recent changes IN the sys-
tenn OF forest fire prevention in Vermont,
outlining the plan Of lookout stations and
fire patrols. and The scheme OF co-opera-
ton os State officials with town wardens
The principal changes in the state laws
regarding fire prevention ne gave as en-
bodied in the acts providing that town fire
wardens shall no longer be the first Sc
lectmen ex-ofTlCio, but shall be appointed
by the scloctmen subject to approval by
the State forester giving the town war
dens power OF arrest without warrant for
violation of forestry laws regarding fire;
and providing that if fire in town en-
dangers the forests of an adjoining town
the officers Of the latter may enter the
former and fight the fire, charging the
cost to the town entered.
In the afternoon the inclement weather
prevented the proposed field trip Of the
forestry men, ana instead an l0uObT SEQ
sion was held State Forester Halves
discussed the now taxation laws II. l..
Amcs, state fire ranger. spoke upon the
attempt Of tho Champlain Realty COM
pany to cut according to forestry princi-
piles in the winter of 1911-'12, and Assistant
Forester Chandler explained methods of
cutting used to get natural reproduction
OF spruce and pine.
1-CsrrTnN- on CL7T-TCJ7pC
At the evening session called to order
soon after eight o'clock by Governor
Fletcher, the following officers were
elected for the coming year: President
Governor A. NJ. Fletcher; vice-presi dents,
Charles Downer of Sharon and Ernest
Hitchcock of Pittsford; secretary and
treasurer. c. l.. Burt of Stowe; executive
committee, J. A. DeBoer Of Montpelier,
r. w. Putnam of Worcester, State For
ester \. +. Halves of Burlington and
Levi =. Smith of Burlington and Charles
Green of White River Junction.
Governor Fletcher spoke of the found
ing of the association and of its remark
able achievement in stirring up a whole
some interest in forestry and initiating
legislation of a beneficial character. He
expressed the belief that the State ough,
to favor forestry increasingly.
John NJ Woods of Boston spoke on the
grading of lumber. Mr.. Woods en-
phasizcd the fact that in producing lum
Der the quality Of manufacture is OF
great Importance. This is especially true
to-day since the market for culls I'm the
lumber trade has decreased and the de-
mand for good lumber is greater thar
ever. lie spoke at some length upon the
work Of the National Hardwood Lumber
association which has its headquarters
in Chicago and sends out its inspectors
to grade lumber and to instruct forest
ers in grading. This organization in the
past Is years has formulated rules fol-
the grading of lumber which have beer
adopted by the United States government
and are recognized as the STANDARD
method.
Craig L. Burt Of stowe reviewed Tho
history Of numbering in Vermont from the
times of the up-and-down saw through
the time of the circular saw to the pres
cnt.
Mr.. Calllins of the Lumber Review tolt
Of the work of the Forestry Association
of Massachusetts both in influencing leg
islation and through the local work of 1t:
branches.
EQUAL TO MARBLE INDUSTRY.
The State forester delivered an inter
cstng address which summarized an ex
tended investigation of the wood workin;
industries Of Vermont His figures show
Cd that the woor- working industries O
the State represent a capitalization al
most the same that of the stone indus
tries and have practically the same out
put n yearly product valued at 81. coo OG
rrh, ,d,tc +,ia M
ployment for 10000 men with an annua
pay roll of 100000. These Industries ar
not able to get all the wood they us
within the borders OF this State At pres
ent about rs per cent of the material use
comes from within Vermont, and to re
tain the industries It is necessary 10 pre-
vent tho percentage falling lower If W
are 10 keep these industries with
Tho following resolutions were voted!
l. We heartily commend the action G
the recent Legislature Of Vermont, |
the passage Of progressive forest ia
legislation in providing for the purehas
OF demonstration state forests. and !
improving the machinery for the pre-
vention OF forest fires.
.. We congratulate tho State on III
wide interest that is being taken h
farmers. lumbermen, and others, in r,
fOreStatcn, ana the fact that over Nv
million trees have been planted by pr
vatc owners during the past five years.
EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS PI4ANNE
g. The present tendency Of prices
hard wood lumber encourages extensfN
numbering operations. and such are no
contemplated on scale hitherto VI
known IN Vermont The perpetuation
our mountain forests Is of vital IN
portance to the existance of many
| our Industries, 20 the preservation OF o.
scenic attractions, to tho maintenance
stream flows Hence we urge the Sta
Legislature 20 adopt measures lookil
toward the perpetuation of these mou
tain forests through their Wise us
either by the purchase Of eXtens'
State forests or the creation of prtva
protective forests similar To those exis
.ng in certain parts of Europe
T. Reali2ins the grave danger to t
cause Of conservation should the
tional forests be transfer
the various States IN which they a
situated. We protest against the rece
action Of the Legislature OF Colorado
attempting 80 have this property of t
whole nation, valued at over two bill
f~aIsra 6apatad TO n fsY St2hsss.