New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-16
WHITE MOUyTAIY FORESTRY

1t Is safe to assert that our national pride in
the beauties Of American mountain scenery
centres about the White Mountains Of New.
Hampshire. The fears which have been aroused
lest corporate greed should denude tie slopes
of the Presidential Range have been only less
keen, perhaps than those for the despoiIing
of Niagara Falls by the Harvesting of the cata-
ract This widespread interest will be gratifed
by the knowledge that three different agencies
are now making notable efforts for the preserva-
ton Of the region in all its natural attractive
ness.
Senator Gallnger has framed a bill authoriz
ing the Secretary OF Agriculture to purchase in
his discretion, land suited to the purposes of
"a national forest reserve in the White Noun
"talns within the State of New Hampshire in
total extent not to exceed one million acres
Under the provisions of the bill the Secretary
may contract for the purchase of lands excu-
sive OF the timber thereon, which is to be cut
and removed only under his supervision The
reforesting of clearings on lands purchased and
the making of rules for the care Of the reserve
and the sale of timber which may be removed
without injury to the forest are to be part of
the duties of the Agricultural Department The
Secretary Is empowered to make contracts to
the amount of 100000 for the purchase of
lands, and the sum of 81, 100000 is to be imme-
diately available on the passage and approval
of the act. recent report on the provisions
and scope of the BILL made to the Secretary, rec
ommends only the acquisition by the govern
ment of the cut-over lands, as being a better
business venture than the purchase of virgin
timber tracts at present prices. The chief Dur
pose Of those who are pushing the meas sure.
however is not, and we think should not be- to
reforest the proposed reserve, but to protect the
forest cover already In existence. 1t is lust as
well for Congress to face the fact that the ac-
QUESTION Of these New Hampshire forest and
mountain tracts, associated with some of the
greatest names Of our history is not a mere
question of business.
practical example Of scientific forestry Is
already afforded by private enterprise. The
company which owns the great tract surround
ing the hotels at Breton Woods, at the base OF
Mount Washington has placed It's woods under
the care of a forestry school graduate Sew
eral miles Of road were laid out through the
forest last winter, all the trees being cut
close to the ground and all the small limbs.
or slash" the lumbermen call the miscel-
laneous debris being burned Immediately. This
precaution removed the chief danger of for
est fires. nursery of one hundred and fifty
thousand small trees is drawn upon to restock
the barren territory which lies between the
hotels and Crawford Notch, and already clumps
Of spruces, balsams and frs grouped to sim
ulate natural planting, relieve what would
otherwise be the monotony of that gravelly ex- |
panse. Naples, birches and white pine ara
planted on denuded areas best suited to them
and in the wooded portions Of the property the
growth is th1nned to give each promising tree
its best chance Naturally, the proprietors real |
ize that the existence of the White Mountain
region as health resort depends upon the |
preservation of its forests but their enlightened
selfinterest is worthy of praise by contrast |
with the action of landowners In the DAYS be- |
fore scientific forestry came to be recognized |
as something more than government fad
The third agency at work in New HAMPSHIRE |
for the saving of the states chief asset is the
State Forest Commission. which has power to |
condemn land for the purposes of a reserve |
when the cost OF purchase and future care is |
guaranteed by the citizens petitioning for the
formation of such reserve. Last fall tract
of several hundred acres of woodland on the |
slope Of Mount Monadnock was thus condemned |
and saved, even after lumbermen had begun |
the work of stripping it; and now General NJ |
G. Wentworth, a member OF the commission |
has promised to head with $1,000 popular |
subscription of 100000 to enable that body to
create a state park out OF the whole White |
Mountain forest region.
The need Of recoDciling these projects OF state |
and national control of the proposed reserve is |
obvious but the general interest in the subject |
is Of hopeful augury.