Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-25

executors and trustees named in the will
are Robert G. Geer of the city of New
York. Thomas f.. Boyce and Walter L.
Howard of Middlebury. A codicil after
the death of Professor Howard substt,
tutes John II. Thomas. Robert c. Geer.
named executor, declines to serve, there
fore by virtue of the will probate court
will make an appointment The execu-
tors are instructed to complete the publ
cation of certain books which Mr. Battett
had nearly ready for the press.
The will ia remarkable for the FAR"
reaching benefcence of Its provisions. 1t
Is not so much a bcstoWal of property as
II Is communication of public trusts and
and obligations to postcrity Town, state
and national government are called in to
cooperate with an educational instltu-
ton In maintaining forever the natural
beauties and resources of the region in
which the testator had spent his life. 1t
is an elaborate document. with over S.cNH
words in the will and three codicis. when
date from January S. 1901. to March !. 1919,
but through 1t all runs a constant and In
creasing purpose to benefit the state OF
Vermont and to upbulld Middlebury Col
lege by Officiating the institution to un-
dertal<e large enterprises for tho publlc
good.
The passages in which tho tcstatOr
, speaks of his forest holdings are eloquent
in the extreme, with something OF the
wide sweep and grandeur of the hills
themselves Being Impressed with the
evils attending the extensive destruction
of the original mountain forests OF our
country. and being mindful of the benefits
that will accrue to. and the pleasures
that will be enjoyed by, the citizens of
the State OF Vermont and the visitors
within her borders, from the preserva-
tion of a considerable tract of mountain
forest in it's virgin and primeval state,
and believing that the popularity of
Middlebury College will be thereby
..reatly enhanced, | therefore further
give and devise to the president and
' fellows of Middlebury College in trust
forever. all those portions of my wild
lands in Hancock that lie within the fol-
! lowing bounds, that is to say line
| running due east and west one hundred
| rods north of silent Cliff and here
! follows a description of territory as
| far as the eye can reach from one OF
| the widest, most majestic heights on
! the very crest of the Green Mountains
80 have and to hold all said lands, with
| their appurtcnanCes to said president
and fellows of ALddlcbury College and
| their successors forever I'm trust as
mark for the benefit of said Middlebury
| College and the students thereof, subject
| to such reasonable rules ana regulations
| as the trustees for the time being of
| said Middebury College may make" 1t
! Is doubtful whether any American col
| lege ever received SO unique and inspiring
| q bequest, or one involving greater re-
sponsibilities in the way of constructive
public service.
President Thomas said to-day that he
was of course greatly pleased with the
magnificent bequcst Of Colonel Battell,
although he felt that 1t was a great
trust and responsibility, rather than an
estate to he exploited He said that so
far as he had any influence the forests
would be protected and preserved as Mr..
Battell wished them to be, securing to
Vermont for all time this portion of her
natural beauty. They Will be worth more
to Mlddlebury College, he added a
permanent memorial to the public spirit
of a noble Vermont patriot than any
immediate profit which could be had by
despoillng them. He believes that the
towns in which the property is located
will not suffer in the matter of taxation,
If no unjust appraisals are attempted
1t would be the aim of the college, he
said, to encourage permanent industries
in the mountain towns and to use this
vast estate to promote the welfare Of the
| communities in which it is located The
| financial return to the college will be
| quite uncertain, since Mr. Battel was
| accustomed to spend money upon his
estate rather than to derive a profit from