Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-08-24
DEVELOPING vERMONT's FOREs-

Many parts Of tho country are feeling
seriously the effects Of tho denudng NJ
the nils OF their forest growth THIS is
particularly true Of Vermont. Older resi-
dents can easily recall the time when
some or our streams. now dry pirt Of
the year, afforded uninterrupted power
for mills on their banks.
The Vermont Forestry association has
set out with the laudable purnose ~
restoring our timber growth and In
cidentally regulating the flow of the
waters from melting snow in our hills.
ana thus equalizing our water power.
It's purposes are set forth in detail as
follows:
The association seeks to mid in the
enforcement of the present foros.rv In ~,
ana to uphold the work of the state
forester. including the development Of
the State forests and of the State
nursery for forest seedlings.
1T hopes by further arousinr and
educating public sentiment to prepare
the way for further legislation. aiming
primarily at these objects, improve
ment Of protection against forest fires
the securing of more exact data "a to
the actual forest conditions Of the
State; the increase Of State holdings of
forest lands In the several counties,
especially where necessary to protect
! watersheds; the development CT a
rational method of taxation Of forest
lands.
1T strives to inform the public Of the
present value to the State Of it's wood
and lumber interests and to show that
without change in methods these will
be materially lessened in the near future,
and further to demonstrate the incacul-
| able Importance to the State tina. its
scenic, natural and artistic values he not
diminished by failure to preserve its
forests streams and lakes.
1T aims to secure and disseminate in
formation among lumbermen and Farm
ers as to the best ways Of handling tim.
her and wood lands, having in view both
their present and future productiveness,
and to convince them that they can con-
tribute to the solution of forestry prob
lens and add to their own profits by q
more conservative and scientific cutting
and planting OF their own wood lots.
1T further aims to develop an ap-
probation of the value Of growing Young
timber, and to point out the folly OF
sacrificing the valuable future crop for
| slight present gain, as may be done in
destroying or neglecting to care for the
young trees
The association expects to stimulate
both the planting and the preserve ton
OF the forests in this State in behalf Of
its agriculture. The widespread rapid
and wasteful exhaustion of our forests
destroys the prosperity of many rural
towns. leads to a large increase in their
tax rate and, in some sections, is produc-
ing frequent freshets. washouts, anL loss
The officers of the association are as
follows: President. Ernest Hitchcock;
vice-presidents, Theodore Vail and Red
field Proctor; secretary-treasurer. Rod
eric NJ Olzendam; executive committee.
Allen NJ Fletcher, A. j. Eaton, lanes
4lartness \. F. Halves Frank Plumley.
and the officers of the association named.
1t Is to be hoped this association may
nave the hearty cooperation OF the peo-
pie or every town in Vermont lt the
town already has timber. il needs to
conserve the same, II 1t has not timber.
II needs forestry. In either event all
towns In Vermont should take steps to
aid IN the work of putting Vermont
I again on the map as regards both timber
growth and scientific numbering.