New-York tribune., 1908-01-19
A REDWOOD MONUMENT
Famous Forest Presented to the
Government.
TFrom IN. tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Jan. 1s.-One of the most public
spirited gifts ever made to the government has
come from William Kent. of Chicago. who has
just decided to the United States 2s5 acres of
primeval redwood forest on the southern slope
of Mount Tamalpais. about six miles from San
Francisco. The land decided to the govern
ment with the approval of Clifford Pinchot, chief
of the United States Forest Service The papers
have now gone to the Secretary of the Interior
and a proclamation declaring the canyon a
tonal monument will be signed at early date.
This means that more of Californa's redwood
giants will be saved for the scientific study and
pleasure of the whole country-in fact. the whole
world. for the great sequoias only found in
the Golden State. This grove given to the govern
ment by Mr. Kent is of the only tracts OF
redwood forests TO be found in It's natural state
in California to-day. The/land is said 10 have cost
Mr. Kent $4,000 some years ago. but the redwood
timber alone is now valued at more than s15O,000.
Inc canyons of Tamalpais. which drain into San
Francisco Bay. cut clean years ago and the
redwood obtained from them went into the con-
structon of the old San Francisco. The giants
on the tract. to be known Muir Woods.
capped the axe, however, chiefly because the
let is on the ocean side instead of the bay side,
and also because the owners of the land have for
sentimental reasons jealousy guarded the timber
from harm destruction. Modern methods OF
logging would make short work of the timber and
would besides put handsome profit in the hands
of the owners
1t Is the intention the national monu-
ment Muir Woods. after John Muir, the noted
naturalist The giants OF Redwood Canyon will
no" have permanent protection by virtue Of the
ACT OF June 8, 1895. which provides that objects of
scientific interest may be declared national <lonu-
ments il such action is deemed necessary for their
preservation and protection. This 295-acre tract
VIII be a pleasure ground. well a place for
scientific study. for the people practically of the
whole OF California, for within radius of fifty
two miles on the canyon two-thirds of the popula-
tion Of the entire state centred.
The chief reason for the permanent protection of
the land by the government is that there is
other redwood grove in the world more accessible
to SO many people The canyon is in absolutely
pcineval condition much scratched BY
the hand of II Is within hours ride of
San Francisco, at the very doors Of hundreds OF
thousands of people.
So long the land remained in private owner
ship there was danger that the trees would be at
tackled but national monument they will be
safe for all time. There Of course many
finer stands of redwood in California. but there
typical groves owned by the United States
nor are there any which might be acquired by the
government except at great expense
Originally this land part OF the old Spanish
grant. Rancho Sausa1ito The largest redwOOds
are eighteen feet in diameter the butt and will
approach thre" hundred n height. rising with
perfectly straight and clean stems. AS none Of
the big trees have been their age is of course.
somewhat problomaticaI nut IT is safe to say that
The Veterans have stood from one thousand 70
fifteen hundred years
The total stand of redwood roughly estimated,
Is about ~ 90 1o feet with 51"ro feet OF hr
and a considerable amount of tanbark oak The
redwood alone has n market value OF $4,000 as II
stands Except for a narrow strip Of brush along
the east border and a fringe along the southwest
line the whole canyon is covered with A dense
forest growth Tho stand is heaviest along the
creek and on tine lower slopes becoming poorer
above Redwood is the dominating tree, towering
hyr above everything else and forming fully three
foi,rths Of the whole forest. Douglas tir Is next
in importance and scattered the entire tract
arc all the various hard woods common 70 the re
zi0u chief among which tho numerous oakS
r7ladrono alder. pie and mountain laurel all o.
which form a kind OF dwarf underwood TO tn" lofty
redwood and fr. The redwood occurs hoth IN DIG
and small groups and single trees while the otheT
spccias are sprinkIed throughout
The destruction Of redwood by ianlhernE has
been SO rapid in the last decade that It Is now only
q question Of wears when the original growth VII
have wholly disappeared Its extraordinary scisn-
td., and educational value. together with the fact
that It is a pleasure ground for all the people VINO
live in visit this part of California makes 'ie
wood m ideal national monument