Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-03
AUGUSTA C. OF C,
ADVOCATES POLICY
OF REF0RESTATION

Believing that the future prosper
ity and development of the indus
trial, agricultural and recreational
resources of the State of Maine de-
pend in a large measure on the for
ests of the State, the board of direc-
tors of the Augusta Chamber of
Commerce. adopted resolutions ad-
VoCating a complete policy of refor-
estation and control by Federal and
State agencies at the meeting Tues
day evening. This resolution which
Includes a very concise summary of
the situation now existing, will be
forwarded to the select committee on
Reforestat ton of the United States
Senate. The resolution in part Is as
follows:
THE Augusta Chamber of Com
meUce being vitality interested in the
future prosperity and development of
the industrial. agricultural and rec
rca tional possibilities within the
State of Maine, believe that certain
steps should be taken as an aid to
remedying, in part at least. the sit
uatiOn now existing. Therefore, 1t is
Resolved, that the Board of Direc-
tors of the Augusta Chamber of
Commerce in meeting assembled do
hereby go on record as favoring:
L. ~ cooperative dlS ll1DulIOh VI
planting stock, said distribution to
he made from Federal nurseries and
through State or other reliable agen-
cies; and
,. An increased federal appropria-
ton TO be disbursed under the pres
ent Weeks law which provides for
federal cooperation in fire protec-
ton on the watersheds of navigable
streams; and
8. A reduction in the federal in
come tax for those concerns or indi-
viduals who reforest a certain per
cent. of cut over, burnt over or waste
! lands annually; and
1. A proper system of timberland
taxation, inasmuch as the basis of
! taxation of timberlands in Maine is
fundamentally wrong and is leading
to the depletion of the forests of
Maine to a great extent. Timber is
a growing crop and should be taxed
the same as other crops and that is
but once and would be at the time
of cutting, with nominal tax on the
! soil.
5. Federal cooperation in an edu-
Cational campaign which would in
Struct the people at large in the
seriousness of the destruction of
forest land by insects, disease and
fire; and in the Importance of refor-
eSting this land that future genera
tons might harvest the crop that the
prosperity and development of the
States natural resources will not
cease.
Secretary Folsom presented writ
ten reports to the Board of Directors
concerning his attendance at the Ma
tional School for Commercial EXecu-
tiVeS held at Northwestern University
at Evanston, Ill; report of his at
tendance at the meeting of the New
England Association of Commercial
Executives held at Concord. n. H.,
and a report of his attendance at
the hearing in Bangor conducted by
the Senate Committee on ReforeSta-
ton. All of these reports were I'M
animouslv accepted by the board.
After a great deal of discussion 1t
was voted that the Augusta Chamber
of Commerce should become members
of the United States Chamber or
Commerce and the Secretary was in
structed to take the necessary steps
to accomplish this step.
The matter of holding a Chamber
of Commerce Show for the purpose
OF creating a fund which would be
used to undcrwrite the 1924 Winter
Carnival was given much discussion
and the Board of Directors voted TO
hold such an entertainment and the
Secretary was made a committee TO
complete all arrangements for such
a production.
The Board of Directors went on
record as favoring a public meeting
to be held in this city to investigate
the matter of obtaining immediate
action in having the so-called North
Belfast road put into a good condl-
ton. They voted to cooperate IN
every way possible with the city Of
ficials IN an effort to obtain action
in this most important matter.
Several membership matters were
largely discussed, among which was
the matter of changing the fiscal
wear of the Chamber of Commerce.
the idea of q joint meeting with the
Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and the
matter of electing ten Directors to
fill the vacancies which Will soon
exist because of the expiration of tho
term of many members of the pres
ent Board of Directors.
The Directors also voted to again
entertain the Boys and Girls Clubs
as they have done in the past. The