Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-02-12
STATE LAND AND FOREST PRES
ERVATION
White Pine and Taxation Equalixa-
tjon-Gensrai Forestry Work


While the act introd. ced by Repre-
sentative Granville OF Parsonsf!eld.
providing for increasing the growth OF
white pine and to equalize the tax on
timberlands. was laid on the table at
the hearing on the bili week ago be-
fore the committee on State lands and
forest preservation, no one appeared
Tuesday to be heard when the measure
WAS again up for consideration accord
ing to the vote of the committee.
Blaine S.>Vi!es Of Augusta. former
State land agent, spoke in support of
the bill but stated that in his opinion
the question was go big that the work
should be begun in a small way AMI
gradually increased. He favored q
stumrage tax act at this session of the
Legislature as beginning of the plan.
In reply to question he stated that
he thought the timber would not e
cut until ready. Senator Ames sug-
gested that many towns had the tax
so high that the owners of timber
lands cut the timber earlier, and Mr..
Eiles thought that WAS true. Repre-
sentative Granville thought that l
measure of this kind would stimulate
owners of tmberland to reforest, the
hill providing that the State furnish
small! trees; for reforesting at cost. He
also pointed out that the bill also pro-
Nidcs that the towns get their share
OF tax.
Representative Roberts of Lyman,
who also was heard week ago, stated
that he supported the bill last week
and was in favor of it's general feat
urcs, bat would call attention to GER
tain matters. one of these provisions
Icing that the small town would lose
ii much lumber was not cut; that a
town had got to take a large respon-
shility in respect TO fires, and also
question Of figuring land values. in the
small town. lie stated that he had the
small town in mind in calling attention
TO certain features of the bill
The bill was then laid on the taba
for executive session. no others appear
ing for or against the bill
A. :. Littlelield OF Rockland appeared
Iii favor of the resolve to authoriz,
the Land agent to convey ledges OF
Tommy island near South Thomaston.
to Edwin Il. Shea. a weir fisherman.
Mr.. 1.ittiefieli stated that the isianl
was not worth much in itself excepting
for the we:rs. and that Mr.. Shea want
co 10 protect his weir privileges. which
he has had since 1910 Tommy island
Is about an acre and a half in size and
about half = mile from the mainland.
Representative Rowe!l OF South Thorn
aston, who is also selectman of t! .
,cwn, also spoke in favor Of the re.
:"iVe. stating tnat on account Of the
success Of weir fishing about 40 Ii
ccnses had been issued by the select
men, and Mr.. shea simply wanted to
Trct ct what was his Ter: onal holdings
and rights. 1t waT pointed out by one
Q! the speakers that the Governor ami
Council formerly conveyed such priv.
lleges, but in re -ent Years the Legis.
iature had authorized similar PRIVILEGES
state Land Agent Forrest TT. COLBY
appeared in support Of the act apnro-
printing $1,000 for general forestry p:,r-
roses. explaining that it was supposed
that all bills coming from the depart.
mcnt were to be fathered by it. but
he added that this was a measure
which he was glad to support He stat
ed that the State land agent at pres
ent has no funds with which to do work
outside the State forestry district, and
there is much work to be done. He
stated that the Governor was In favor
Of it and that there had not been one
forest land owner who had objected.
although the money was to be spcr.
outside the district. While Mr.. Colby
stated. that he had recommended So. Ooa
it had been decided to make $4,000 tie
appropriation provided for in the bill
The enforcement Of the slash law and
fire protection work would be features
which the law would make possible out
side the forestry district. The money
might be used in any town in the State
not in this district. and would be spent
Under the State land agent.