Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-01-18

| successors forever, I'm trust as park
for the benefit at Middlebury College and
the students thereof"
Mr.. Battels will makes it a condition
or this devise that the trustees Of Mid.
| dlebury College shall at reasonable times
and under reasonable regulations fixed
by said trustees, allow citizens Of Ver-
mont and visitors within her limits
access to the park and enjoyment Of It's
privileges.
Mr.. Battells ideas are also set forth
in the provision that ut shall be the
duties OF said trustees to preserve as far
as reasonably may be the forests on said
park and neither to cut nor permit to
be cut thereon any trees whatsoever,
except such as are dead or down, and
| such as it may be necessary to cut in
making and repairing needful roads, It
being the object to preserve intact said
wild lands especially the Hancock part
| thereof, rs specimen OF the original
| Vermont forests
Another significant and characteristic
provision is that If Middlebury College is
ever divided into separate institutions for
men and women. that portion thus set
apart snail be for the use o: the mems
college and the income of the other
portions shall be for the wo,nen's col
| lege.
The Presidents report urges that the
! management of these productive forests
should be twofold, first the preservation
OF the beauty OF the forests in accord
ahce w''h the desire Of the donor. and
second the production of the grca;est
possible amount of timber Of che most
valuable kinds which will yield the grea, =
est permanent benefit Both objects
should be secured through the best
scientific forestry.
| one Of the most striking provisions OF
Mr.. Battell's will is that contemplating
a national park in Vermont The report
OF President Thomas says that a devise
OF 1.SOo acres in Lincoln and Zl3O acres
| in Warren. inventoricd ut $500 by the
| United states for a national park, has
not been accepted. The report con-
tinucs
| If the United States accepts this devise
| and establishes n national park in YER
mont, the project should he enlarged to
embrace much larger area of the Green
| Mountains. ! venture to suggest that an
endeavor be made to include IN the pro-
posed park a strip along the height OF
, land extending from the tract devised by
| Mr. Battel snuthwards at least as far
as the highway from Brandon to Roches.
ter. l have in mind the crest of the ridge
extending down the mountain on either
side sufficiently to allow the construc-
length
Such a Green Mountain national park
would admit of magnificent drive
through the highest and widest land In
the State, commanding views of both
Lake Champlain and the White Noun.
tains. and through most of its length
through grand virgin forests 1t would
speedily become one Of the most popular
recreational features in the entire coun
try. 1t would lend distinction to Vermont
as a recreation region and benefit tn,
entire State. Within easy reach Of the
great centers of population i. would b,
of value to countless numbers who car
not visit the National Parks Of the West
II this project to establish . nationa
park in Vermont is success, it SHOULD
be called the Batte National park as
tribute to one of the most loyal SOM
, Vermont ever had. President Thoma
has shown commendable wisdom and yea
in this connection and it is he hope,
the project may be crowned with sue
cess