The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-30
, GIFT TO THE NATION,
William Kent Has Decided to Govern.
ment 29s Acres Redwood.

One Of the most public spirited gift
ever made to the government ha,
come from William Kent, of Chicago
who has just decided to the Unitet
States 2oS acres Of primeval redwood
forest on the southern slope Of M
Tamalpais, about six miles from Tho
city of San Francisco The land wa;
decided TO the sovernmen, with tht
approval of Forester Clifford Pinehot
chief Of the United States Forest Ser
vice The papers have now gone tc
the Secretary of the Interior and 1
proclamation declaring the canyon I
National Monument will be signed Al
an early date, This means that more
| California'S redwood giants will be
saved for the scientific study and
pleasure OF the whole country, in fact
the whole world. for the great Sc.
quotas are only found in the Golden
State, This grove given to the gov
ernment 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 $4,000 some years ago, but
its stand Of redwood timber alone is
now valued at more than $50, 600
on the market.
The canyons OF Tamalpais which
drain into San Francisco Bay, were
cut clean years ago and the redwood
obtained from them went into the
construction OF the old San Fran
cisco, The giants on the tract to be
known as Muir Woods escaped the
AK however, chiefly because the out
let is on the ocean side instead OF the
bay side, and also because the var-
GUS owners OF the land have for senti.
mental reasons jealously guarded the
timber from harm or destruction.
Modern methods OF logging would
make short work OF the timber, and
would, besides, put a handsome pro-
fit in the hands OF the owners,
It is the intention TO name the Ma
tional Monument Muir Woods al
ter 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 scien-
tltic interest may be declared Ma
tional Monuments il such action is
deemed necessary for their preserya.
ton and protection This 29s acres
tract will be pleasure ground as
well as a place for scientific study
for the people practically OF the
whole OF California, for within
radius OF g miles OF the canyon two
thirds Of the population OF the en-
tire state are centered
The chief reason for the perma-
nent protection OF the land by the
government is that there is no other
redwood grove in the whole world |
more accessible 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 thous-
ands of people.
So long as the land remains in pri-
vate ownership there is always dan
ger that the trees will be attacked, |
and Mr.. Kent feared this, but as
National Monument they will he safe
for all times. There are, OF course,
many finer stands OF redwood in
California, but there are no 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 was part of the
old Spanish grant, Rancho Sausali-
to-" Mr.. Kent purchased the land
some years ago for sum said to be
about $4,000. To insure the preser-
vation Of the redwoods for the in
struction and enjoyment Of all the
people for the years to come, he has
now decided the tract to the United
States as a gift The largest red
woods 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 been1
cut, their age is OF course somewhat
problematical, but it is safe to say
that the veterans have stood from
one thousand to fifteen hundred
years.
The total stand Of redwood, rough
y estimated, is about 30 million feet, /
with some five million feet of fir, and
4 very considerable amount of tan
bark oak. The redwood alone, at a