Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-06
Another Bio Tree Park.

California is TO make q park out O
the redwood trees in the Big Basin O.
Santa Cruz county. The state com
mission has agreed to pay $25O,OOO To-
the property. This sum was apprOpri
ated for the purpose at the last session
of the Legislature two years ago. The
commissioners having charge of the
appropriation are Father Kenna. A. w
Foster, Professor w. II. Dudley OF
Stanford University, w. H. Mills, and
Governor Henry T. Gage. ex-officie
chairman Of the commission. The act
creating the commission and making the
appropriation provided that forest land
for big tree park might include pro-
perty in both San MateO and Santa
Cruz counties. The commission has
had many sessions since its creation.
1t finally agreed to buy $500 acres of
redwood forest land in Santa Cruz
county. The tract of land is twelve
miles from Boulder Creek. on the mar
row gauge road, and sixteen miles
from PalO Alto. BY rail and buggy it
is not over three and half hours from
San Francisco, and it is expected it will
become not only one Of the greatest
attractions in the vicinity Of San Fran
cisco, but a much talked-Of public re-
sort the world over.
Experts employed by the commission
have gone on record to the effect that
1900 acres of the $500 embrace the larg-
est and finest timber area in the world.
An additional reserve Of 1900 acres adds
to the general effect, while the re-
naming 800 acres make a complete and
marvellous whole. The last-named
area brings into the park several fine
streams Of water, including the West
Waddell. Surrounding this choice re-
serve Of 1900 acres adds to the general
effect, while the remaining 500 acres
make complete and marvellous whole.
The last-named area brings into the
park several fine streams of water, in
Guiding the West Waddell. Surround
ing this choice reserve Of California
big trees are mountain ridges which
range in elevation from 1900 to 1900
feet. 1t is a spot where nature is fas-
cinating in its wild and gigantic
growth.
The Sempervirens Club, of which
Charles w. Reed and w. w. Richards
are respectively president and secre-
tary, and which includes in it's men,
bership many prominent men and
women. started the agitation which
has saved this forest spo. from the
wOOdman's axe. For three or four
years the club has WORKED to attain
the end JUS. accomplished and the
welfare Of this natural big tree park
will be it's particular solicitude in the
future.
The legislative act provided for the
payment of $500 year for five years,
beginning with Jan. /, 1902. Not until
the last payment is made will the own
err give deed to the State. During
that time the deed will be held in es-
crow and the owner must pay the
taxes. The owner. is the Big Basin
Lumber Company, through it's repre-
sentative. H. L. Middleton.
In 1898. just before he died, Senator
Stanford was negotiating for the same
property as forest reserve and park
for Stanford University. His death
ended the negotiations. The hard times
of the summer of 1893 and the year
following made it impossible for his
widow to complete the negotiations.
N. p. Chapman, Robert Dollar, Mat
thew Harris. Messrs. Scott, Van
Perry and Cunningham were
the experts who aided the commission
in determining the area and fixing the
value of the forest reserve park. Ac-
cording to their expert opinion there is
on the $500 acres the remarkable guam
tity of 1876, OOO,0O feet Of marketable
Francisco Examiner.