The Elbert County tribune., 1905-12-14
PALMER and BELL
ENpow COLORADO COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF FORESTRY
BY GIFT OF mANI1ou PARK
Fifteen Thousand Acres Of Land Do
nated-Two-Thirds Covered With
Forests = Hotel, Cottages and
Ranches Included.

Colorado Springs.-Through the gem
erosity of Gen. William ]. Palmer and
Dr. William A Bell, Colorado College
is to have school of forestry. As an
endowment for the school and
to furnish practical labora-
tory for its students and instruc-
tors, the great property known as
Manitou park has been presented to
the college by these two men.
Manitou park consists of $4,000
acres of land, two-thirds of which is
covered by forest Many years ago
this whole tract was deforested. At
present there is a fine new growth,
which makes the land particularly de
sirable for forestry purposes. The ho-
tel, the cottages and the range and hay
lands are included in the gift-the
value OF which most conservative esti-
mates place at $150,000 The streams
and lakes in the park have recently
been well stocked with fish by General
Palmer. enhancing the sources of in
come.
Preparations for this movement have
been under way for some months. Gen
eral Palmer has always been deeply in
terested in the preservation and care
OF the forests of this country. The raw
ages OF the "turpentine beetle" among
the pines and spruce trees of the
Rocky Mountain region led him last
fall to interest himself still more
deeply IN the subject of forestry Dr.
Bell, himself botanist of no mean at
tainments, shared his interest. Their
mutual desire to check the rayaees of
parasites and the even more dangerous
inroads Sd the indiscriminate AK, led
these men, whose public spirit is
known the country over. to propose to
DIR. William F. Slocum the founding of
a school of forestry in the Rocky noun
tains.
With his characteristic energy the
president of Colorado College took the
matter in hand. He went to Washing
ton. ID. c.. there to consult the men
most competent to advise him in the
matter. A conference was arranged
at the Cosmos Club in Washington,
where the following gentlemen, all
highest authorities in their respective
departments, were present:
DR.. Henry Gannet of the United
States Geological Survey: DR.. F. II.
Newell. division chief United States
Geological Survey: DR.. F. v. Colvills,
Bureau of Plant Industry: Dr. A X.
Fisher, assistant chief of division of
the United States Biological Survey:
DR.. B. w. Everman, chief of the United
IL
Hall. assistant forester United States;
DIR. Willis l.. Moore, chief of United
States Weather Bureau; Dr. L. o. How
ard, chief entomologist, honorary cur
ator OF the Smithsonian National Mu-
scum; DR.. A. ID. Hopkins, United
States entomologist, and DIR. Beverly
T. Galloway, chief of United States
Bureau of Plant Industry.
All these gentlemen not only pro-
fesed the deepest interest in the
movement. but they assured DR.. Slo-
cum of their constant readiness to CO.
operate with it in every possible way
A few days later conference was
held in New York City, at which were
present General Palmer President Slo-
cum, Philip b. Stewart of Colorado
Springs, DR.. Carroll Dunham of the
board of control of the Bussey Insti-
tute of Harvard, and Dr. Clifford Pin
chot The last named gentleman is the
highest authority on forestry in Amer
lea. At this meeting it was suggested
that the new department center in
Colorado College. The magnificent
new science building, Palmer hall, with
its well equipped laboratories and
latest conveniences for scientific re-
search. makes possible the study and
research which this new movement
entails. Without this adjunct it would
hardly be possible to use the new gift
TO the college to best advantage. DIR.
Pinchot agreed to find the right man
to act as head of the new department
DIR. Slocum also met prominent rail
road men, who were as enthusiastic
about the new project as the scien-
lists whose special function is the
duty of the earth's surface and all that
grows upon it,
The far-reaching Importance of this
new movement can hardly be overesti-
mated In Germany forestry has long
been a treasured science. There the
forester knows almost every tree in
his district; he takes care of the young
plant and marks the tree that is ready
for cutting. He adjusts with accuracy
the distribution of trees, considering
the access of wind. sunlight and the
condition of the soil He is, in addi-
tion. the warder of all game his for
est holds. and knows the run of the
deer. the resting places of partridge
and pheasant. even the haunts of the
timid hare.
The enormous consumption Of tim
ber for industrial purposes. the crimi-
nal waste of our splendid forests, the
ravages of parasites and fires, have
made the question of the preservation
of forests subject of immense i'm
portanee for the welfare of the coun-
try. The arid regions especially de-
pend for the equalization of their wa
ter supply upon the preservation of
the forest coverings on the mountains
whence the water comes. Destroy the
forests, and instead of descending
from the mountains in life-giving
streams the water rushes over the
surface IN destructive torrents. an in
jury to many, of use to no one. The
irrigation of our arid plains depends
first of all upon the conservation of
the water in the high places.