APPENDIX. 57 



The selectmen of each town, in which such forest plantations had 

 been begun, should once in two 3'ears make a report to the forest 

 commissioners of the acreage of said plantation, the character of the 

 surface, whether level, mountainous, rocky or swampy, whether 

 sterile or fertile, the natural and artificial growths upon it, and the 

 kinds and sizes of the trees, the fires that had occurred and the 

 losses resulting since a previous report, the amount expended in 

 planting, fencing and caring for the same; and the forest commis- 

 sioner should recapitulate and tabulate the substance of said reports 

 in his own report to the legislature. 



In ten years perhaps permits might be given for some compensa- 

 tion in rent, to remove from the plantations, dead trees, superfluous 

 and inferior growths ; and in twenty years some kinds of fuel might 

 be sold from it, the removal of which would enhance the growth of 

 the more valuable trees. In thirty or forty years, the time being 

 determined b}' the character of the soil and its condition when first 

 acquired by the town, — the timber trees carefully removed at 

 maturity, and, where cut clean, their places supplied by fresh plan- 

 tations, might become the source of revenue to the town and abate 

 the burden of general taxation. 



If timber lands, exposed to devasting fires and subjected to regular 

 taxation, have always been in this State a favorite investment and 

 the basis of large private fortunes, it is hard to see why, when 

 exempted from taxation, and prudently cared for by vigilant over- 

 sight, they ma}' not prove a permanent source of municipal revenue. 



AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE FORFEITURE OF LANDS FOR 

 THE NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES. 



Section 1 . That whenever taxes shall remain unpaid on any 

 lands of resident or non-resident proprietors in incorporated and 

 unincorporated places, for the times prescribed in chapter 6 of the 

 Revised Statutes, and such lands are not tillage or meadow land, a 

 part of or appertinent to a homestead or farm, nor lots fronting on 

 a street of a town or village, or on the falls of any river or stream, 

 and likely to be used as the site of buildings or mills, instead of 



