Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15
BLISTER RUST BILL FRAMED
To Be introduced Soon by Sena-
tor Wheeler.
Measure tn be Approved by (.ovrrnos
Before Introtluc tlOn-Infccted
Trees and Bushes Would he
Destroyed.

Senator =. II. Wheeler Of Chittenier
county went to Washington some
Two weeks ago at the instance OF Governor
Hraham to attend nationwide confer
ence in the interest Of the combat against
the white pine blister rust He has il
is understood, practically completed tho
work of framing a bill to handle this i'm
portant work in Vermont which will he
introduced shortly. The Free Press an
nounced many weeks ago the fact that
such a bill was under contemplation. It,
provisions. however. were still in abey-
ance and. even when decided upon, would
naturally have to meet first with the
Governors approval.
The bill now considered will provide.
among other things, for the designation
OF areas in the State within which con-
troll measures may be put into operation.
1t will empower the proper authorities to
enter and inspect any public or private
property whatever, including orchards,
fruit or garden plantations parks, ceme-
teries, woodlands etc. which might be-
come infested infected 1t will forbid
owners or tenants within these areas
from planting fve-needle pines. currants
or gooseberries without written permits
sion from the authorities. 1t will provide
for the destruction by the State of all
II
wherever found ton the ground that the
latter provide the second host which
enables the evolution of tho rust). Own
ers, tenants, etc, however, may them
selves carry out the control measures
designated by the authorities, and will
be given ample time within which to do
so. Compensation shall be made for all
healthy gooseberry bushes or currants
that may be destroyed Out not infected
; ones) while compensation for healthy
five-needle pines destroyed shall be made
with the equivalent of stock from the
State nursery. Similar compensation. in
lieu of money damages may be made at
the owners option. for destroyed bushes.
Removal. shipment or transportation OF
five-needle pines, currants or goose
berries Will be prohibited. within the re-
restricted areas. The State nursery in
Spector is authorized to regulate the entry
into the state or the movement i'll tho
State of the pines or bushes.
If the owner or person in charge Of
premises refuses to execute an order to
remove or destroy pines currants and
( gooseberrcs, the forestry authorities may
| do so, the expense of the work to he
| assessed. collected and enforced the same
as taxes, and the money to go to the de-
partment for further work of the Same
sort. \ fine of not more than 500 shall
! be assessed against any such person who
neglects to obey such an order, who re-
: plants such an area without official per-
mission or who binders the work of
eradication of the department.
| The forestry department may CO.
operate with the United States depart
ment of agricultural experiment station
and extension service of the State Agri-
cultural College in investigating. con-
trolling and Graduating the rust from
! the State.
! The measure will declare the blister
! rust dangerous in all its stages and that
: infested fivc-ncedle pine trees, currants
: and gooseberries are a public nuisance.
, II will make unlawful the act Il showing
, ~ permitting the rus, to exist on any
, premises.