Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-09

suffered in forestry work, might
have been prevented If those states
had had forestry associations.
Speaking Of the value Of timber to
the economic conditions Of the
State, Mr.. Carter quoted figures from
the Interstate Commerce Commission
showing that in 1919 on the Maine
Central Railroad the forest products
composed 33 3-S per cent Of all the
freight hauled, and that was exclu-
sive of pulp and other manufactures
of wood, except of course, lumber.
He gave figures showing the value of
lumber compared with crops from the
farms. The farmers of the State
have timber and wood as one of the
big crops Do they know it in the
sense of seeing to it that the State
helps them with this crop as with
other crops, he asked. He also spoke
of the value of the forests as game
preserves.
One opportunity for the State
Forestry association is to have a
clear cut platform, and the speaker
stated that he had no doubt that the
committee in the resolutions would
furnish this. The more definitely
this platform is stated and the more
clearly the Forest association stands
sponsors for it, the better it is.
Regarding fire protection, he de-
clared that on an average of 20 years
the fire hazard has been lower in
this State. than in many other states,
but any section of the State where
there is no organization to detect and
report fires suffers. He said that as
had been previously stated, there is
real need to have protection so
that the forests can be insured like
other property.
For another plank of the platform,
he suggested more application by the
State of the principle that is recog-
nized by important states having fire
protection-that the State has a re-
sponsibility in aiding in the protec-
ton of growing timber. He stated
that under the Weeks law the State
gets a little less than $4,000 a year
from the federal government to help
In fire protection. This is as much
as New York state gets, and the
amount is surpassed by that of only
four states in the Union.
Another plank should deal with
taxation of the forest crop, and still
another, with white pine blister.
The speaker stated that state for
estry associations had functioned in
these and other lines, and he had no
doubt that the Maine association
would function as well and perhaps
better than ever.
Col. Roy Marston
The meeting was then presided
over by Col. Roy Marston of Skowhe
gan, who in referring to Mr.. Carriers
remarks stated that he thought that
Mr.. Carter had answered his subject.
He said that it seemed that no de-
partment in the federal government
had practiced cooperation with the
states as the forestry department and
that Mr.. Carter was an efficacy of
this cooperation.
Mr.. Marston then asked Mr.. Carter
what states have a stumpage tax,
and this question Mr.. Carter ans
wered by saying that Louisiana is
the outstanding state with a sever
ance or stumpage tax. And he ex-
planned the plan of that tax there.
Mr.. Marston said that about 10
years ago bill was introduced in
the State Legislature of Maine for a
stumpage tax. but the agricultural
interests in the State Legislature
were opposed to- it and the timber
land owners We're passive on the mat
ter. He said that it seemed that
there was no matter more important
Tor the association to consider than
taxation.
The plan of the Granville law of
the State was then explained by
Commissioner Dana.
Address on Incorporation"
The next speaker was John H.
Foster of Concord, N. H., State for
ester for New Hampshire, whose
subject was Cooperation between
State Forest associations and De-
partments of Forestry" Mr.. Foster
spoke in place of w. r. Brown,
chairman of the New Hampshire
Forest commission, who was unable
to be present
Mr.. Foster stated that the society
in New Hampshire was known as
the Society for the Protection of
New Hampshire Forests" but felt
that a better name would have been
''The New Hampshire Forestry asso-
ciation," as by the former title there
is some feeling that the society
stands for keeping the lumbermen
from cutting trees.
In New Hampshire, the member
ship to the association is not con-
fined to permanent residents of the
State, but is about evenly divided be-
tween residents of the state and
those who own land in the state but
reside outside Of the STATE limits. The
speaker showed how the associa-
tons influence especially in Con-
gressiona. legislation, was increased
by this form of membership. The
membership is between $500 and
5000.
The New Hampshire maintains a
paid forester as secretary, this man
being Philip Ayers, whose work is
too well known in Maine to require
explanation. One of the greatest
features of the organization is to
build up strong interest in forestry
within the state. The strong in
fuence that the association has in
forestry matters of New Hampshire
was described by the speaker.
Mr.. Foster said that the society
has always been a money getter, has
believed in acquiring land and has
purchased areas of scenic values,
some being on the picturesque noun