Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1908-03-11

President has Just signed a proc
lamation creating the Ozark Nation
al Forest in The northwestern par
of the State of Arkansas. Thu
Ozark and the Arkansas National
Forest, which was created in De-
cembcr last, form the two eastern.
most National Forests. The new
forest has an area OF nearly $4,000
acres and is located in Johnson,
Newton, Searcy, Hope and Van
Buren, counties, on the divide be-
tween the Arkansas and White riv-
crs. 1t includes the Boston noun
tains and other ridges along the
southern extremity Of the Ozark
Range Of Missouri.
The area included in the new
Ozark Forest is natural forest land,
Tor the most part covered with I'M
broken stands of hardwood and
shortleaf pine. Oak, hickory, elm.
gum, maple and ash are the pre-
dominating trees, while the pine is
found in limited areas in the south
eastern part of the forest.
The timber is estimated to be
worth not less than $1,500.000
just as it stands, and may bring
$5,000,000 if properly handled, as
the people OF the country who arc
now selling the timber do not real
lie the value of their possessions
and are accepting $3.50 TO $500
per thousand board feet, and in
some eases $500 to $500 per acre.
The stands on the forest run all the
way from nothing up to 10000 feet
per acre, averaging about 5000
feet in understandable timber Th@
value Of the timber is conservatives
ly placed at $500 to $500 per
thousand feet. It is estimated
that there is not less than one-haIr
billion feet of hardwood saw timber
alone. besides vast amount OF
timber suitable for railroad ties.
handles, spolles and wagon stock.
and timber which is not now cut,
except for fuel. but which will lat:
become merchantable as the short
age OF hardwood increases.
The destruction of timber through
fire has reduced the value of much
of the land and in many places the
slopes are washed so badly that the
soil has lost much OF its power to
produce timber. 1t is thought, how
ever. that under careful manage
ment most OF these areas can. in
time. be reforested.
Samuel J. Record, supervisor OF
the Arkansas National Forest, will
also be in charge of the Ozark. and
will continue to have his headquar'
ters AZ Fort Smith. 1t is though,
that be will have four TO six guards
added 10 his force to begin the ad-
ministration of the new forest in
addition to those who have been
appointed on the Arkasas National
Forest These men WI be natives
of the State.
The Ozark and Arkansas Forests
will give the State total National
Forest area of nearly 100000
acres. but all Of the land is not I'M
der government control, as consid-
cradle areas have been taken M
of the Ozark National Forest has
put another relatively small tract
of the immense forest area Of the
Mississippi Valley under 4 system
of mana cement according TO n
principles OF scientific forestry.
The work on the forest will serve as
an object lesson of conservative
numbering and will surely be watch
ed with interest by private owners
of large tracts OF forest land in 9th
er parts OF tho Mississippi Valley.
The headwaters of Buffalo Fork
White River and Little Red River
are included in the Ozark Forest,
as well as numerous smaller
streams On account of the more
frequent occurrence OF fire and the
larger area of denuded land on the
south side, the streams are nearly
all muddy, testifying to the rapid
erosion which is in marked con-
trast TO the clear sparkling water
of Buffalo Fork. At the present
time the streams are not used for
developing water power, but In all
probability they will be OF great
importance for this use in the near
future.
All claims valid prior TO the