Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-21

to whether we favor d state income tax,
or the classification of intangibles.
1 believe classification to
be the better method, particularly in
view of the national income tax, and
the possible complications arising
from methods somewhat similar, also
the burden would be more widely dis
tributed Judging from the experience
OF states where classification has been
given a fair trial, a striking illustra-
ton being furnished by the result in
Minnesota.
The Resolutions
The discussion Of the above addresses
was followed by one of the most pleas
ant events on the program. Charles A.
Jordan of Lisbon addressed the Chat
and offered the following resolutions,
the adoption Of which he moved. That
motion WGs promptly seconded from a
dozen parts Of the hall and Chairman
Stetson old the delegates that the res
o,utions were good enough 70 give an
old-fashioned. tremendous cry of yes
m called for the vote. 1t came and
it was a Al yelI-but it didn't satisfy
the Chairman.
We'll, boys, that was pretty good but
not good enough. l believe l could yell
louder than that alone. Now try it
again and raise the roof"
The shout that went up that time
seemed to satisfy him. for he held onto
his ears, as though the drums were
bursting-fOr it was a genuine old fash
Toned. townmeeting yell, once heard
never forgotten.
The resolutions were as follows
Realizing in a marked degree that We
have been benefited by these meetings
and that from the addresses and dis
cussions and meeting the heads of de-
partments we have received help and
information that will prove a material
advantage to US in our work; and also
realizing that our visit to Augusta
could no have been made as profitable
n pleasant rs it has, without the
hearty cooperation OF a large numbcr
of people,
Therefore we, the delegates 10 II"
First Annual meeting Of the Associa-
ton of Maine Assessors, desire in this
manner 20 express our thearty apprn-
citation and thanks to the citizens Ct
Augusta, to The heads of departments
at the State House and to the speakers
for .heir entertainment, instruction ana
help.
And We especially desire to thank His
EXcellency, Governor Carl f. Millikcn.
for his untirinS efforts in our behalf in
directing arrangements for our enter
tainment and for al that he has done
TO make this meeting 4 success and
stay III Augusta so pleasant and profit
able.
session proved one of the most impor-
Forrest Colby.
Not very long ago Mr.. Stetson.
chairman of the State Board of Asses
sors, told me about the meeting Of this
convention II asked me to make an
address on ""rho Taxation of Forest
Lands" ! hesitated at the time, know
ing something about the bigness Of the
subject. He seemed inclined not to
take No for an answer and III an
u~nguardcd moment / consented and
here I am.
1t is estimated that the present area
Of forest lands in Maine 10
about 15.G0c, 600 acres, of which about
IL per cent is OF that type Of land called
WoodlotS. Although a great number of
Individual owners are represented i'll
this large area. It is surprising to note
what a large percentage of it is gath
cred into q feW holdings by individuals
and corporations.
On SO great an area. with 50 great a
diversity OF growth. it is not possible
to make any very accurate figures on
the amoun of m~crchactable timber CO
various kinds now available i'll Maine;
nevertheless after a careful study Of
conditions on our several watersheds
one may get en- approximate idea Of
our present timber supply, My esti-
mate Of the merchantablc timber in lie
State of Maine al the present time
would be AS follows:
Spruce, 6" in diameter and over. includ-
Ing a small rercen-
tage OF fir, - billion feet B. NJ.
Pine. 6 billion feet B. ".
Cedar, 3 billion feet B.. NJ.
ienliock. l billion feet B. NJ.
There are many millions of feet of the
common dwoods-beech, yellow
birch. and maple, but a large part of il
is 10 marketable at present on account
Of the lack OF transportation facilities.
Of white birch and poplar there is still
n considerable supply. which will he
further increased by bodies of young
growth following old burns and rapidly
approaching maturity.
During the last ten years the annual
cut Of timber in Maine probably has
averaged close to u billion feet &. NJ.
zach year. j wish l could state that a
billion feet OF timber Ia grown each
year 10 Offset the billion feet cut off.
But ] regret to say that during hat
period it is not probable hat the
annual growth in our timberlandS has
added to our even one-tenth
Of the amount cut off. This situation
is brought about, not on accoun of any
lack Of ability to grow timber on the
part of our lands. but rather because
we are not, by our methods, encourage
ing growth and reproduction of our VAL
liable soft wood species. The natural
result of annually harvesting about ten
times the amount OF timber we grow
on our forest lands will be TO reduce
ourselves in the future TO Il state OF