FOREST CONFERENCE IN WHITE MOUNTAINS 609 



with the greatest variation in practise, regulated in the interest of the whole 

 Mr. Hollis advocated, first, that the people. Mr. Bass spoke particularly of 

 land be taxed annually, apart from the the new forest-fire law in New Hamp- 

 forest, and second, that as soon as it shire, which is progressive in that it pro- 

 could be brought about without hard- vides for patrolling the woods in dry 

 ship to the towns now dependent upon seasons to prevent fires, and provides 

 taxes from woodlands, and as soon as for the arrest without warrant of per- 

 constitutional difficulties can be solved, sons found violating the law. 

 the forest should be taxed once only, An admirable address on "Trees 

 viz, when felled. As a step in this Along the Highway" was read by Dr. 

 direction, he urged exemption of wood- John D. Quackenbos, of New York 

 lands properly planted, and those so cut and Lake Sunapee, N. H. Prof. B. S. 

 as to leave adequate forest cover. This Pickett, of the New Hampshire State 

 exemption could gradually be extended College, urged that a well-equipped for- 

 to the whole forest area. estry department be established at that 



Commissioner E. P. Whipple, of New institution. Mrs. P. S. Peterson, of 

 York, urged the maintenance of our Chicago, chairman of the forestry corn- 

 great water-powers through preserva- mittee of the National Federation of 

 tion of the forests on the mountains. In Women's Clubs, presented in a prac- 

 a series of rarely beautiful lantern pic- tical manner the need for educational 

 tures he showed the progress of moist- work everywhere as to the meaning and 

 ure, the forests alone serving to prevent importance of forestry to the country, 

 erosion and keep the soil on the moun- The most notable address in this not- 

 tains. The forest history of China, able series was that of Mr. George H. 

 France, Germany, Italy, and Canada Maxwell. With faith in the future that 

 were traced to show examples of what cannot be shaken, he said that the prin- 

 is inevitably true in this country as in ciple of Federal control of the head- 

 every other. The vitality and perma- waters of interstate streams must be 

 nence of our entire civilization depend accepted by the country. He urged 

 upon the preservation of the forest and New Hampshire and the people who 

 the reforestation of denuded areas. live in the East to take courage and 



That the fundamental work of a push forward the Appalachian bill for 



forest service is educational, was the national forests in the White Moun- 



view of Robert P. Bass, president of tains and Southern Appalachians, be- 



the New Hampshire Forestry Commis- cause this is only the beginning of a 



sion, and of Austin P. Hawes, state necessary policy. He said it is more 



forester in Vermont. This education important to save the forests than to 



should bear fruit in three main lines, build battle-ships, for the safety of the 



the prevention of forest fires, the main- people depends more upon them. To 



tenance of the forest cover, and the ac- prevent the consequences of forest de- 



quisition of forest land by public au- struction it will prove of the utmost 



thorities. Federal, state, or local, in or- value to introduce forest instruction into 



der to guarantee that the forests are the public schools. 



The tall oak, towering to the skies. 

 The fury of the wind defies, 

 From age to age, in virtue strong, 

 Inured to stand, and suffer wrong. 



Montgomery 



