CHAPTER XVII. 

 THE PROGRESS OF FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND. 



The six New England States have made more progress in 

 forest legislation, in forest administration, and in the general 

 forestry educational movement than any other group of states 

 in the country. It is the purpose of this chapter to point out 

 the general policies that are being pursued in the different states. 

 These various governments have worked out their several 

 schemes of forest administration quite independently of the 

 national government, although no doubt unconsciously taking 

 many ideas from the United States Forest Service as well as 

 from other states. Connecticut, in 1901, first established the po- 

 sition of state forester, in which she was soon copied by Massa- 

 chusetts. Rhode Island was the next to fall into line. Vermont 

 then followed the example of the states to the south, first in 

 establishing a system of fire wardens, then a state nursery, and 

 in 1908 creating the position of state forester. New Hampshire 

 has now followed the other states in all of these lines, so that 

 Maine is to-day the only state without a regular forest service. 



In tracing the history of this forestry movement in New 

 England a singular fact stands out, namely, that the movement 

 owes its success almost entirely to the foresight of city men, 

 men of large business interests, often entirely unconnected with 

 the forests. Except for the fire protective measures of Maine 

 and northern New Hampshire, it may be said that the lumber- 

 men, who should have been most interested, have done the least 

 for the advancement of this movement. It can be as strongly 

 asserted that the farmers, who, as a class, will benefit nearly as 

 much as the lumbermen, have never taken the initiative in wise 

 forestry legislation, although they have generously supported 



