PRESENT FOREST PROBLEMS OF MASSACHUSETTS 391 



insure its being kept in proper fighting order. If the state pays half the 

 cost of a wagon it has the right to know that it is properly housed against 

 the weather, and that the extinguishers are not allowed to freeze and burst. 

 The duties of the state warden, who, of course, should act under the orders 

 of the state forester, would be many, and profitable to state and to towns 

 alike. There can be no question as to the profitableness of an annual invest- 

 ment of ten thousand dollars for such a service. The state is today spending 

 a like sum yearly in making forest plantations, every one of which runs the 

 hazard of fire owing to the hit or miss arrangements for fire fighting which 

 obtain in most of our country towns. Better suspend the reforestation appro- 

 priations and devote the money to guarding what we have against destruction. 

 At present forest plantations are a gamble. 



To meet the taxation problem is not so simple since it has been held that 

 under the Massachusetts constitution the legislature cannot classify property 

 for taxation purposes. All taxes must be proportional. A strenuous effort 

 was made a year or two ago to have the ctinstitution amended so that 

 classification would be possible, and although failure was the only result 

 hope has not yet been abandoned. Until this is brought to pass so that forest 

 land may be assessed on a land value each year, while the crop is allowed to 

 pay its tax only upon maturity, forestry as a business cannot thrive as it 

 should. But pending the arrival of that happy day when woodland property 

 is assessed on a logical basis, it is the duty of the state to insist upon the 

 control of fires, and to assist in that control in a practical manner. 



Massachusetts has a great opportunity to grow timber as a by-product 

 on some of her state and municipal lands. During the past twelve years the 

 state has been buying forest lands on its greater hills, and setting them 

 apart as recreation grounds, to be maintained in natural condition. In this 

 way six reservations have thus far been established, all in the central and 

 western counties. To be sure the aggregate area is not great, only twelve 

 to thirteen thousand acres, but it is all wild forest land, admirably 

 adapted to timber culture, and good for nothing else aside from the recreation 

 feature. On some of these timber j^lantations have already been started by the 

 commissioners in charge, but much more should be done, and doubtless will 

 be done as the years progress, thus supplanting the largely worthless second 

 growth woods with really fine forest. There is not the slightest reason why 

 these rehabilitated forests should not in time be made to yield a revenue. From 

 portions of these areas, at least, the timber can be harvested without seriously 

 interfering with their value as recreation grounds. There is every reason 

 also why the state should continue this policy of buying reservations in the 

 hilly sections, but for the specific purpose of reforesting, the recreation 

 feature becoming secondary. 



Then, too, many of the cities and towns of the state already own lands, 

 in connection with their water supplies, which might easily be made revenue 

 producing if devoted to timber growing. Such a use is certainly in no sense 

 inimical to the water supply, and unless they are so used these lands become 

 an unnecessary burden upon the communities owning them through the 

 failure to develop their potential possibilities. Why charge the keep of these 

 lands entirely to the annual tax levy? Why not put under management the 

 existing woodlands on these watersheds, and plant up the remainder with 

 timber trees? A year or two ago the state forester put these questions to 

 the cities and towns of the state, and ten responded at once asking to be 

 given professional advice. Some of these have already begun planting, but 

 there are many more that should be interested in this plan, and the state 

 forester is ready to lend them all the help they require in order that they 

 may make a beginning. Timber could be grown on such lands very cheaply 



