The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08
Vermont FORESTS
TO Be MA|NT AIMED
IN PRIMAL BEAUTY
MiddIebury College Has Large
Tract of Timber
Land

MIDDLEBURY. VT, April RE
lection by congress of the offer in
the will of Joseph Battell of Middle
bury. of a large tract of the Green
Mountain range for use as national
park gives to Mddlebury college
what is believed to be the largest
body of heavily timbered land owned
or controlled by any educational IN
stitutiGn in the United States. 1t also
means that Mr.. Battellis hope to pre-
serve a great section of the Green
Mountains in their virgin form will
be realized in notable way
BY the term of the will $500 acres
of land in the towns of Lincoln and
Warren, Vt, near Middlebury, were
offered for use as a national park. 1t
was provided that If congress failed
to accept the land ii would revert to
the ownership of Middlebury college.
The college already had been left a
tract of more than $4,000 acres of
mountain land which Mr. Battell had
spent his time and fortune for so
years to acquire. The new bequest
added to this gives Middlebury col
lege practically 81 900 acres of noun
tain campus.
Satisfy Own Conscience.
President Paul Dwight Moody said
recently that the college proposed to
satisfy it's own conscience and that of
the courts in carrying out the terms
of Mr.. Battells will.
Openness to vision rather than &C
feasibility to market Influenced Mr..
Battell as, bit by bi the acquired
these lands He bought scenery, not
timber. Sections beautiful for their
timber growth or for their situa ton
impressed him. and especially when
any tract of virgin forest seemed to
be in danger of destruction.
That the 3,900-acre tract was not
accepted by the United states gov
ernernment for a national park is no
reflection upon the gift or upon the
scenery The adverse action was
taken solely because congress dld
not believe it was eXpedient to eX-
tend the national park service into
Vermont at this time
Scientific forestry will be applied
by the college to a part of the tract,
but under the provisions of Mr.. Bat
tells will a large part of the holdings
will be preserved in prmeval state
In addition to his cravings to ac-
auire scenic lands. Mr.. BatteH was
widely known for his unfailing OPP
position to the automobile and his
friendship for the horse. AS breed
er of Morgan horses his name became
we'll known, and the farm used by
the government. 1t is known as the
United States Government Morgan
Horse Farm.
Champions Horses.
OF all the numerous opponents OF
automobiles 20 years ago, rev We're
situated as was Mr.. Battell to carry
on his propaganda. Through the col
umns of weekly newspaper. which
he owned. the champion of the morse
conducted his campaign against the
mechanical innovation.
Each week a column or more was
reserved in the publication as
chamber of horrors In which the
increasing number of automobile ac-
cidents was recorded. Sometimes, it
is said, the press was stopped In
the midst of run on Friday after
noon so that the latest accident,
which might be at point on the
Pacific coast. could be added to the
list Editorially. Mr.. Battell also
fought the new transportation meal :
um, urging that new roads be built
for automobiles and that the old
highways be preserved for horses:
While this campaign was under
way Mr.. Battell founded an unique
hotel on plateau near Broadleaf'
a thousand feet above Middlebury.
From this private tract ne barred
all gasoline propelled vehicles A
telephone line from the village gave
warning Of any attempts to invade its
precincts.
Today hundreds of cars make their
way in summer up the once secluded
road to Breadloaf Inn, and Middle
bury college has established IN tne
hotel summer school of Englisn,
IN which for six weeks period
teachers come from all parts Of the
country for intensive study