County, Town, and Village Forests 1739 



The principal points in the law are summarized below, together with 

 some suggestions as to their application. The complete text of the law is 

 then given for the use of those who wish further details. Finally, a 

 typical instance of a communal forest in Europe is cited, in order to 

 show the possibilities opened up by the new law. 



Lands to be developed 



The lands acquired by counties, towns, and villages as forests shall be 

 developed and used for the planting and rearing of trees thereon accord- 

 ing to the principles of scientific forestry. They shall be administered for 

 the benefit and advantage of the county, town, or village. Moneys may 

 be appropriated for the care and maintenance of the lands so acquired 

 and for the development and use of the forests thereon, the necessary 

 amounts to be raised by taxation in the same manner as for other expend- 

 itures of counties, towns, or villages. 



This provision of the law enables the intelligent development of forest 

 land acquired by a county, town, or village. It enables the carrying-out 

 of a plan of management, a working plan prepared by a specially trained 

 forester. If the tract is of sufficient size a resident forester is desirable; 

 otherwise, periodic visits of a technically trained forester will suffice. The 

 local organization must depend, of course, on the size of the forest and the 

 character of the work to be done. Responsibility for the correct develop- 

 ment of the tract should in no case, however, be placed in the hands of 

 laymen unfamiliar with the science of forestry, although laymen could 

 and should be employed in carrying out the directions of the forester 

 in charge* 



How land is acquired 



After the governing board has determined by resolution to acquire 

 lands under the law, public notice is given by publication in an authorized 

 newspaper for at least two weeks. The board shall give a hearing to all 

 persons appearing in support of, or in opposition to, such proposed resolu- 

 tions. After the purchase of such lands has been authorized, the necessary 

 moneys may be raised by taxation or by the issuance and sale of county, 

 town, or village bonds, as the case may be. 



Object of the forests 



All revenues from the lands shall be used for the reduction of taxation 

 in the municipality concerned. The principal object, therefore, is the 

 sale of forest products in aid of public revenues, and the protection of the 

 water supply of the municipality. 



* The Department of Forestry of the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University 

 will be glad to assist and advise in the management of county, town, and village forests. 



