The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-03-29
CURRENT COMMENT
Forestry in Vermont.

"The efforts Of the Vermont state
forestry department to get the subject
of forests and reforestation before the
public of Vermont through the moving
picture films are very commemorate
and should get cooperation from the
managers Of moving picture shows all
over the state. The public may not at
hrst evince a great deal OF interest IN
the pictures but the presentation of
other pictures along the same lines IS
likely to arouse a considerable mount
Of interest later on. There is M doubt
that the public needs to be informed
of the conditions relating to forestry,
and the moving picture films furnish a
fine medium for spreading the informa
tion."-Barre Times.
It is high time that intensive propa-
rands we're resorted To to awaken pub
lie interest in our forestry and TO edl-
scate potential lawmakers 70 the polnt
where they will be willing TO formulate
a broad and comprehensive policy OF
conservation and reforestation.
Many people. looking at our seeming
Iy wooded hills and mountains, consid-
or Vermont TO be a lumber state. But
Vermont is nothing Of the sort. We are
one Of the lumber importing states. The
southern states now supply a large part
Of the lumber used in Vermont, but
within 10 years, il is estimated, the
southern source will be exhausted and
then we will be dependent upon lumber
brought across the continent from
Washington. Oregon and California.
One of the reasons why forestry un-
der private control and ownership
makes such little progress is the time
element involved II takes years TO
raise a crop Of trees. Individuals aud
corporations are looking for the imme.
date profit. individuals like TO see
quick action on their money. A crop
that takes more than one season %
mature does not make much OF an ap
peal.
The state, on the other hand, Is in n
position to discount the time element
and can go about the work of reforesta-
ton in a proper way. There could be
no sounder business stroke that the
state could take than 20 pledge itself 10
a definite annual investment in forest
lands. there to carry on the program Of
reforestation. To do this would not be
an expense but an investment. The
profit would be sure; only il would be
deferred.
The benefits at some future date
would be many and marked. That state
which. while all Others are destroying.
begins to build up, will be the state to
profit immensely by its foresight for
ultimately the demand will be SO great
that those who are possessed Of a hlm
Der supply viii be on the long end Of
the financial arrangement.
The Messenger admits that vision i
essential to the formulation Of a proper
state forestry policy. The get rich
quick" business man must be converted
The small owner does not possess the
capital to carry such a policy out, even
though he realizes the advantages. Il i
pre- eminently a field for state effort,
and is one bit Of state effort that can
not be called socialistic.
II i useless to expect that the pres
.ent legislature viii address itself 70
this problem. for whatever virtues the
1921 general assembly nav have, vision
and broad gagged statesmsnship are
rot among them But = real and intsIli.
gent propaganda for the next two years
might well result in the awakening q
the general public to the necessities
and THE opportunities foreststion pre-
seuts n l. wsll worh trying "a infu-
snoe the action q ERE 1928 general a.
emily and now i the time to begin
ST. Adams NesseugeT.