Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-02-07
Redwood Canyon Decided to U. S

| w WdsuluS IOU, JduudEy %o-~Ouo "a
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
295 acres of primeval redwood forest
on the southern slope of Mt. Tamal
pals, about six miles from the city OF
San Francisco. Tue land was decided
to the government with the approval
of Forester Clifford Pinchot, chief of
the United States Forest Service. The
papers have now gone to the Secretary
of the Interior and a proclamation de.
claring the canyon National Monu-
ment will be signed at an early date.
This means that more of California g
redwood giants will be saved for the
scientific study and pleasure Of the
whole country, in fact the whole
world, for the great eequoias are only
found in the Golden State. This grove
given to the government by Mr.. Kent
Is one of the only tracts of redwood
forests to be found in its natural state
in California today. The land is said
to have cost Mr.. Kent $47 900 some
years ago, but its stand of redwood
timber alone is now valued at more
than $3.50 900 on the market.
The canyons of TamalpaIs which
drain into San Francisco Bay, we're
cut clean years ago and the redwood
obtained from them went into the con.
struction of the San Francisco. The
giants on the tract to be known as
Muir Woods escaped the ak however,
chiefly because the outlet is on the
ocean side instead of the bay side. and
also because the various owners of the
land have for sentimental reasons
jealousy guarded the timber from
harm or 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 to name the Ma
tional Monument Muir Woods. +" after
John Muir, the noted naturalist. The
giants of Redwood Canyon will now
be given permanent protection by
virtue of the Act of ] June s, 1906, which
provides that objects of scientific in
ter. st may be declared National Mon
uments If such action is deemed neces
sary for their preservation and pro-
| 10
pleasure ground as we'll as a place for
scientific study for the people prscti.
cally of the whole of California, for |
within radius of 81 miles of the can.
yon two-thirds Of the population of |
the entire state are centered.
The chief reason for the permanent |
protection of the land by tho govern
ment is that there is no other redwood |
grove in the whole world more accessi. |
ole to SO many people. The canyon is
in absolutely primeval condition, not |
SO much as scratched by the hands Of /
man. 1t lies within an hours ride of |
San Francisco. at the very door OF |
hundreds OF thousands of people.
So long as the land remains In pri
vate ownership there is always danger |
that the trees will be attacked. and
Mr.. Kent feared this, but as National
Monument they will be safe for all
times. There are, of course, many
hner stands of redwood In California.
but there are no typical groves owned
bv the United States nor are there any
which might be acquired by the gov
ernment except at great expense.
Originally this land was part of the
old Spanish grant, Rancho Sansa
llto." Mr.. Kent purchased the land
some years ago for a sum said to be
about $47, 900. To insure the preserya-
tion of the redwOOds for the instruc
tion and enjoyment OF all the people
for the years to come, he has now
decided the tract to the United States
as gift. The largest redwoods are
eighteen feet In diameter at the butt
and will approach three hundred feet
In height, rising with perfectly straight
and clean stems. AS none of the big
trees have been cut, their ago is of
course somewhat problematical,b but it
is safe to say that the veterans have
stood from one thousand to fifteen
hundred years.
The total stand of redwood, roughly
estimated. is about 80 million feet,
With some 5 million feet OF fir, and a
very considerable amount of tan bark
oak. The redwood alone, at fair
valuation, has market value of
tSl5O,O0O as it stands. Except for a
narrow strip of brush aloDg the east
border and fringe along the south
west line, the whole canyon is covered
with dense forest growth. The
stand is heaviest along the creek and
on the lower slopes, becoming poorer
above. Redwood is the dominating
tree, towering high above everything
else aud forming fully three f0urths of
the whole forest. Douglas fir is next
in importance, and scattered over the
entire tract are all the various hard
woods common to the region, chief
among which ale the numerous oaks.
madrone. alder, maple and mountain
laurel, all IF which form kind of
dwarf underwood to tue lofty redwood
and fir. The redwood occurs both in
big aud small groups and by single
trees, while the other species are
lsprinkled throughout.
The destr uctIOn of redwood by lum-
b 9ring has been SO rapid in the last
decade that it is now only a question
of eaIs when the original growth will
have wholly disappeared. Its extra
Ordinary scientific and educational
| vaIua aiouu 70 h tho fo ct rhot it ia q