\o. 4.] MASSACHUSETTS FORESTRY. 323 



own lifetime. The majority of such owners are well 

 advanced in years, and must, if possible, get something out 

 of their property to support them in their declining years. 

 All property is subject to taxation, that which affords no 

 income as well as that which gives an annual return. As 

 woodland increases in value by growth, the taxes are in- 

 creased, until the owner with small means is practically 

 compelled to cut the wood as soon as he can get anything 

 for it. He can hardly wait for railroad ties, much less for 

 valuable timber and other lumber. He cannot consider the 

 public welfare, though he may be well aware that the cover- 

 ing of his land with mature forest growth is necessary for 

 the conservation of the water supply for the centres of 

 population and for the maintenance of a steady flow of the 

 streams that furnish water power to numerous manufactur- 

 ing establishments, so necessary to the prosperity of the 

 State and which furnish employment to the working people. 

 It is said to be folly to preach Christianity to a starving 

 man. It is equally foolish to urge the benefit to the com- 

 munity from hillsides covered with a mature forest growth, 

 when the owner must get something from those hillsides to 

 pay the taxes on them and to help " keep the wolf from the 

 door." As long as present conditions continue, just so long 

 will the cutting of immature tree growth continue, and our 

 hillsides will bear only a covering of sprouts and brush. 

 The flow of our streams will continue to decrease except in 

 time of freshets, and the problem of water supply for our 

 cities will cause more and more anxiet}^ to all those who 

 feel a responsibility for the welfare of those who will come 

 after us. 



Doubtless something should be done. Preaching will not 

 avail. The owners cannot do it, and, if they were finan- 

 cially able, would not feel under obligation, as a class, to 

 make sacrifices for the good of the community and posterity. 

 The community should pay its own bills. Our State has 

 always recognized the fact that it was under obligations to 

 provide for the necessities of the people and for the good of 

 posterity in the matters of education, support of the poor 

 and care of the insane ; and in later years for water supply, 



