The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-23

Cd by Two Departments.
BURLINGTON, Jan. -. - IN let
ter issued for publication in the state
press by \. T. HAYES. who recently re-
signed as state forester, Mr.. Halves Sc
vcrcly criticises Gov II. F. Graham :
plan to consolidate the state forestry
and state agricultural departments.
He does not question the governor 5
sincerity in advancing the consolida-
tion plan. hut he does question whether
ID win be for the best interests Of the
state. lie states that the governed evil
IDENTIFY did not consult anyone on this
move which is opposed to all of the best
forestry thought in the country.
In all states where forestry work is
most efficiently handled, says Mr..
Halves. il has been organized under
uou.political board, coordinate with the
department of agriculture, but not
subordinate to IT,
He points out that il is not in the
line of efficiency and Is manifestlv il
logical to subordinate the work of for
cstry' improvement, etc, in a state
which has such a vast area of forest and
waste lands as Vermont, these lands
comprising $4,000 acres or 81 pc;
cent of the state ) area. He further
points out that it would be difficult TO
get an efficient forester to serve IN Il
subordinate capacity under the commits
sioner of agriculture.
/ GOV. Graham iutimated before the
Farmers club that forestry work should
1 he done entirely Ivy field man, and Mr..
Halves, in referring to this, remarks that
/ tho chief executive does not say who
/ is 20 answer the many technical letters
from all parts of the nation. He says
that no commissioner ei agriculture
would be able TO answer these letters.
The preparations Of bulletins and re
ports, the letter states takes time. til,
governor not stating whether thcS,
should bc given up. If a trained fores
ter &, to ke employed Mr.. Halves he
liovTE'f7If racrFss ssroYy'1t have the bcnc
III of his knowledge through bulletins
and if trained forester is not TO br
employed the work had better h
dropped and the money saved.
If the forestry work was to be re
moved from Burlington and the Uni
vcr4itv Of Vermont as contemplated il
the consolidation hin then. according
TO Mr.. Halves, there will bc two distinc
agencies carrying on forestry work i
the state and Vermont is too small fo
this.
, lie further points out that Vernon
V was one of the first states that was in
position by virtue OF its forestry he
= 'partment to take advantage of tn
Weeks law and has received from -, 90
> TO $4,000 a year Of federal none
I for fire protection The employment
of lookout station Waterman and p;
Itfolman IS very essential to the larg
lumber interests, he states. The FEEDER;
authorities can withhold aid if forestr
= in any state is not being conducted a
:, ticiently.
II The American Forestry association ;
II a meeting held in Washington last wee
commended the progress made by seve
II al states in forestry and coud amned Z
II dangerous 10 forestry any plan of con
II MAation. Il is understood this refcrrC
II particularly to Minnesota and Vernon
II where such movements are under co
II siicratiou.
II Mr.. Halves closed by saving that e
III periments in government are cXpensN
n and that i is well to consider careful
|, what has been done elsewhere