The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-03
FOREST
SAVED FROM RUIN
William Kent Deeds Tract TO
United States
GIANT TREES ARE NOW SAFE
Destruction of the Fine Redwood Tim
Der Has Been Rapid for Years,
But This Tract Has
Been Protected.

Washington February Especially
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 south slope of Mt. Tamalpais,
about six miles from the city of San
Francisco. The land was decided to
the government with the approval of
Forester Clifford Pinchot chief of the
United States forest service. The pa
pers have now gone to the Secretary of
the Interior and a proclamation de-
claring the canyon a national monu-
ment 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 seauoias 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 an 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
$4,000 on the market.
Wood All Cut.
The canyons of Tamalpais which
drain into San Francisco bay, were
cut clean years ago and the redwood
obtained from them went into the con-
struetion of the old San Francisco. The
giants on the tract to be known az
Muir Woods escaped the axe, 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 method of log
| ging would make sh ort work of the
timber and would. besides, put a hand
! some profit in the hands of the own
ers.
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
295-acre tract will be a pleasure ground
as well as a place for scientific study
for the people practically of the whole
of California, for within a radius of
81 miles of the canyon two-thirds of
| the population of the entire state are
| conferred.
Finely Situated.
The chef reason for the permanent
protection of the land by the govern
ment is that there is no other redwood
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 door of
| hundreds of thousands of people.
So long as the land remains in pr-
| vate ownership Their is always danger
| that the trees will be attacked, and
| Mr.. Kent feared this, but as a Nation
| al Monument they will be 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
| eminent except at great expense.
Originally this land was part of the
| old Spanish grant, Rancho Sausalito"
Mr. Kent purchased the land some
| years ago for a sum said to be about
SAT 900. To insure the preservation Of
the redwoods for the instruction 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 redwoods are IS feet in
| diameter at the butt and will APP
proach 800 feet in height rising with
perfectly straight and clean stems. AS
none of the big trees have been cut
their age is Of course somewhat profile
NAUTICAL but it is safe to say that the
| veterans have stood from 1000 to 1900
years.
Amount of Redwood.
The total stand of redwood. roughly
estimated, is about 80, 000. 900 feet, with
some 5000 600 feet of fir, and very
considerab BILE amount of tan bark oak.
The redwood alone. at a fair valuation,
has a market value of $4,000 as it
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 dense
forest growth. The stand is heaviest
along the creek and on the lower
| slopes, becoming poorer above. Red
wood is the dominating tree, towering
high above everything else and form
ing fully three-fourths of the whole
forest. Douglas fir is next in impor-
lance, and scattered over the entire
tract are all the various hardwoods
| common to the region, chief among
| which are the numerous oaks madrone,
alder, maple and mountain laurel, all
of which form a win dof dwarf under
| wood to the lofty redwood and fir. The
| redwood occurs both in big and small
groups and by single trees, while the
other species are sprinkled through
out.
The destruction of redwood by lum-
bering has been so rapid in the last
decade that it is now only question
Of years when the original growth will
have wholly disappeared Its extra
| ordinary scientific and educational
value along with the fact that it Is
a pleasure ground for all of the peo-
ple who line in or vish this part of Cali
fornia, makes the wood an ideal Ma
| tional Monument.
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TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY
l N, 4.