Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-08-31
PLEADS FOR CONSERVATION
States Lumber, Game and Beau.
ty at Stake, Says T. N. Vail.
Address AZ Recent Meeting Of Vermont
Forestry Association Put In Pamph-
let Form for General Circuia-
ton.

the Vermont Forestry association has been
issued in pamphlet form for general cir
cuiation. "Prepa richness, Conservation.
Conservatism" might be called the formal
subject OF his paper, but the bulk of II
dealt with the Importance OF preserving
and replanting the forests OF the state
As a measure OF conservation Of vermont's
lumber, fish and game. and scenic beauty.
He said in part
Conservation has been used much and
abused much In connection with our ma
tional resources. II is a big open qu-s-
ton; how best TO serve the present neces-
stiles OF man and yet have proper con-
sideration for future necessities? Conser-
walton as applied to forestry is n ques-
ton Of location or environment and local |
conditions. In Vermont IL is not waste !
to burn UP the small branches of the fall |
en- trees; fuel ID too plenty and too cheap
and labor too expensive to prepare them
for use; vet in some parts OF the world It |
| would be wanton waste not to save for |
use for domestic purposes every last
stick and tWig Much Ia talked about con- |
serva ton In connection with the freshets
OF spring and dw'indling Of our streams In
| summer. Many Of the things which sumo
| think due to lack Of conservation are the
inevitable sequence OF cultivation and set
Element Timber land cut over but not
burned over, II the new growth Is pro-
| tected, or timber land of growing trees,
will practically protect the streams as we'll
as II the old timber was left standing.
| Uniform streams throughout the year
have never existed, and TO make them
would require reservoirs to catch all above
| the average now and to hold 1t to use as
needed. The tangled, messy, fiberous
ground Of the primeval wilderness and
the valley swamps caused by fallen tim
Der and luxuriant weed growth acted as
reservoirs and did maintain more uni
form flow than We now have. but they did
not prevent freshets when the warm
spring rains came on a great depth OF
snow laying on frozen ground, or when
a big dQwnpour fell on fully saturated
ground and swanps full Of water-but VINO
wants to restore that condition? Guilt
waited fields will not absorb as much wa
tier Is forest bramble. There will be more
soil washed away from plowed field than
q meadow or forest but Of what value
would the forests be II there we're no cul-
ItivAted fields TO support the people who
create commerce, build cities. and of what
use or value would there be for forest
products? OF what advantage is IT to let
timber that is valuable stand and deterio-
rate?
II 10 useless to advocate the general re-
forestation Of our hills as a work Of the
small individual owner or farmer in any
large way for many reasons. Wherever
land is moro valuable for any other pur-
pose 1t would not be reasonable to expect
1T. Where It would be profitable few Of
the dwellers on the hills have the capital
to invest in the planting or are able to
carry the plantation for a prospective
profit 70 or 90 years ahead. and even II
they had the capital It could. as a rule.
be used to greater immediate advantage.
Reforesting and conservation on a large
scale is a State proposition. or a p-opo-
stion for large timber using corporations.
A corporation which Is a perpetual in
divtdual could we'll afford to replant where
necessary or allow ~ to reforest itself to
such an extent a. would cover deprecia-
ltion, or restore current exhaustion and in
this WAY provide for future needs. This
ia now being done by many pulp and other
like companies for the annual supply OF
ties.
The farmer. the Individual. can conserve
L in a small way on his wood lot or suga.
orchard. or can even reforest by usins
his otherwise idle moments and in this
way capitalize them. Cultivated fields and
light soied pastures should be protected
from unnecessary washing or outlying so
that as little soil as possible is carried OF
to fill brooks or make some delta thou
sands Of miles away. All that is needed
Ia b little common sense. thinking and
observing and doing what is necessary TO
he done whom the need Is first noticed
Every one Of these sand wastes we have
around here started first from break in
the soil and could have been stopped be-
fore any considerable damage was done
ITt reforestation and conservation on n
!! large scale is the work OF the State-how
= is It best to 90 about II?
Vermont with its beautiful vistas OF
hills, valleys, lakes and streams or its
broad panoramas with distant background
OF superlative landscape will alwav3 ht
sought by those in search Of vacation anc
Irecreation.
There are wilder. more majestic and sub
lime or awe inspiring sections of the coun
TRY but none more beautiful in its com
hination Of cultivated and rugged variety
I The greater the development tho create
will be the beauty and the possibility o.
4 that repoeeIul enjoyment winch so many
prefer TO imposing grandeur.
= Certain States as we'll as the United
Estates have estab lished reservations 70
. conservation and preservation purposes.
The hills and mountain valley streams
. OF Vermont we're once and should be TIT
home abiding place OF all kinds Of usefu
=, Wild life.
Burned over mountain sides and saw
duAt have dried and filled UP many o
our streams. Illegal hunting and FISHING
:, have done tho rest and have virtual,
destroyed the fishing ana shooting and Ii
retArding all attempts at restoration
FROM both the aesthetic and practica
:. standpoint all this should be remedied
- 1t can be done TO a certain extent b,
rigid enforcement OF proper laws and thu
y rspeal Of laws made for effect only. no
to be enforced.
II the state should establish seNera
reservations which should include the heat
. waters Of our rivers and re-establish ant
protect upon the hills the natural timbe
" growth. make some Improvement In tn
course OF these streams, and protect ihes
u reservations absolutely from all kinds o
depreciation and destruction, It would |,
q time restore nll that Vermont once had
with ALL tho additions which time and eX
u pericrce have proven to be useful, Thes
reservations wc,ld be tho nurseries o
game and Ash for tho lower streams an,
valleys
II would benefit the state both rs
Har hsh tt<n anA 4 4,