New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1908-01-22
IDEAL MONUMENT
FOR THE NATION,
Redwood Canyon Decided to the
United States.
FINE STAND OF GIANT TIMBER

Natural Forest of Redwoods Will Be
Named Muir Woods, After the Noted
NaturaIist-Superb Pleasure Ground
For Tourists-The Big Trees Not Cut
One of the most public spirited gifts
ever made to the United States govern
ment 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 Mount Tamalpais, about six miles
from the city of San Francisco. says a
Washington dispatch. The land was
decided to the government with the APP
prevail Of Forester Clifford. Pinchot,
chief Of the United States forest serv-
ice The papers have now gone to the
secretary Of the Interior, and procla-
nation declaring the canyon a national
monument will be signed at an early
date
This means that more Of CALIFORNIA;
redwood giants will be saved for the
scientific study and pleasure Of the
whole country-in fact, the whole
world-for the great sequoias 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 their natural state
in California today. The land IS said
to have cost Mr. Kent $4,000 some
years ago, but it's stand of redwood tim
Der alone is now valued at more than
$4,000 on the market.
! The CANYONS of Tamalpais which
drain into San Francisco bay, were cut
clean years ago, and the redwood OBJ
/ tanned from them went into the con-
struction of the old 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 jeal-
ously guarded the timber from harm or
destruction. Modern methods of log
ging would make short work Of the tim
Der and would, besides, put a 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 8, 1906, which pro-
vides that objects of scientific interest
may be declared national monuments
If such action is deemed necessary for
their preservation and protection. This
| ot no mir nd
as well as 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 population Of the entire
state are centered.
The chief reason for the permanent
protection Of the land by the govern
grove In the whole world more accessi
BILE 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 doors OF
hundreds of thousands of people.
/ So long as the land remains in pri
thst the trees will be attacked ant
/ Mr. Kent feared this. but as q nationa
5 monument they will be safe for al
[ time There are, Of course, many fine
; stands of redwood in California bu
there are no typical groves owned b.
y the United States nor are there an.
, which might be acquired by the gov
! OF
Originally this land was part Of th
old Spanish grant, Rancho Sausalite
y The largest redwoodS are eighteen fee
e in diameter at the butt and win az
d proach 800 feet in height, rising wit
IT perfectly straight and clean stems a
none Of the big trees have been GU
I. their age is. Of course. somewhat prof
n lematical, but it is safe to say that til
W veterans have stood from a thousan
to fifteen hundred years.
The total stand of redwood rOughl
estimated. is about 3O,O00,000 fee
t. with some 100000 feet of fir and
N very considerable amount of tanbar
lg oak. The redwood alone. at a fair va
T, uation, has market value of $4,000
I'd strip of brush along the east bordt
le and fringe along the southwest lin
IL the whole canyon is covered with
III dense forest growth. The stand
heaviest along the creek and on tt
lower slopes, becoming poorer abov
Redwood is the dominating tree, to,
Of ering high above everything else ar
e forming fully three-fourths Of Il
T. whole forest. Douglas fir is next in il
Id portance, and scattered over the emit
at tract are all the various hard Woo
a. common to the region, chief amor
which are the numerous oaks, m
drone alder, maple and mountain la
rel, all of which form a kind of diva
re underwood to the lofty redwood al
ne fir. The redwood occurs both in b
lie and small groups and by single tree
OF while the other species are sprinkle
IL, :, L I