Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 219, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1912 — RESERVED FOR ROYAL NAVY [ARTICLE]

RESERVED FOR ROYAL NAVY

Most Trees In American Colony Were Claimed as Special Prerogative of the Crown. In the Provincial Charter of 1691, under which the Plymouth Colony and the Province of Maine were united with Massachusetts, it was provided that all trees of the diameter, of 24 inches and upward, 12 inches from the ground, growing upon land not heretofore granted to any private person, should be reserved to the crown for the furnishing of masts for th® royal navy. A surveyor-general of woods was appointed to see that this provision of the charter was carried into effect. Near the coast all white pines of suitable dimensions were marked with the “broad arrow” —three cuts through the bark with an ax, like the track of a crow. This was the king’s mark. Long after the Revolution had obliterated the royal authority men who had been taught in boyhood to respect the king’s mark hesitated to cut sflch trees, In felling a tree it was necessary to “bed it” to prevent its breaking. This was done by cutting the small growth placing the small trees across the hollow, so that there should be no strain upon one section mor® than upon another* when the monster pine struck the ground. The mast was hauled out of th® woods on one strong sled, whether in winter or summer, and so many oxen were required that the hind pair were often choked in crossing a hollow, being hung up in their yoke by the pulling of those ahead of them. A mast-hauling was a great event and everybody within walking-dis-tance came to see it.