The New York herald., 1921-01-21

a successful new crop. Our State Con-
stitution is at fault, for It forbids the
-emoval OF any live or dead timber
from the State preserve.
While I had the honor of being presi-
dent of the New York State Forestry
Association. and during Governor Whit
mans administration, . constitutional
amendment was advocated by the asso-
citation, and although in final form it
was changed from our plan a measure
passed both houses OF the Legislature
permitting the construction by the State
Of fire trails and the taking out of dead
and down timber from the State Forest
Preserve. This measure was protected
by a clause that this dead and down
timber was for domestic use only, to
prevent any possibility OF it's latitude
being extended to numbering operations.
The amendment failed by not being
followed up by the further necessary
legislation to effect the change in the
Constitution. Had this change in the
Constitution become a law it would
have permitted the State properly to
prepare its property for natural growth
and also for reforestation without the
existing fire danger which so often i'm
perils and destroys a young growing
forest.
The New York State Forestry Asso-
citation also fathered a tax law defer
ring the tax burden on growing timber
until harvest. This legislation also
passed both houseS of the Legislature
during Governor Whitman's administra-
ton, but the bill failed to receive his
signature. ~
Manifestly the owner of forest land.
especially such as holds regrowth, re-
ceives no income from his property until
the time of harvest. 1t takes years to
mature reforested property. but re-
forestation is public service and the
owner. who has to wait years for a re-
turn. should be favored to the extent
Of being allowed TO pay but a small
land tax until the harvesting of his
ment would encourage private refores-
tation. It might or II might not, but
the experiment would cost the State
nothing except a deferment of a small
amount of income.
Legislation which would make obli-
gatory disposal OF slash by lumbermen
and give them n deferment of forest
taxation until harvest might. IL both
laws could bA enacted simultaneously.
be compromise which would meet the
approval OF the lumbermen and all
others concerned In betterlng forestry
conditions. The Federal Government
cooperation bill introduced in Congress
by Senator capper last spring has much
merit in that IL proposes 70 furnish an
appropriation to aid States In land clas-
sifcation for timber production. fire pro-
lection and reforestation. and provides
that the money appropriated may be
withheld II the states and private own
ers within such States do not protect
their tlmbered and cut over lands from
fre. .Ac Such n Federal law would
prove a great Incentive to national. State
ana private forest upbuIiding.
The new National COMMITTEES for For
est Fire Protection headed by George
ID. Pratt, Conservation Commissioner of
New York State. can do n great public
service by education and direrting leg
islation on the important problem OF fire
protection for our forests. IL is my lm-
presslon from careful observation that
the most important issue for years to
come Is to see that our forests arc prop
erly protected from fire and let nature
do the rest. HERBERT s. CARPENTER.
ARpsLEy ON HUDSON. January 90.