Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-01
William Kent, ofChicago, Deeds
Redwood Canyon, California,
to United States
FINE STAND OF GIANT TIMBER
Natural Forest Of Redwoods Will Be
Named Muir Woods, After the Noted
Acknowledgement Pleasure Ground
For Tourists-The Big Trees Not Cut

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 q
Washington dispatch. The land was
decided to the government with the mp
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 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 its stand of redwood tim
Der alone Is now valued at lnore than
S15O,OO0 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 COD
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 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
205 acre tract will be n pleasure ground
as we'll as a place for scientific study
for the people practically OF the whole
Of California. for within radius Of
fiftytwo miles on the canyon two
thirds Of the population Of the entire
state are conferred.
The chief 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
bic to so many people. The canyon is
in absolutely prmeval condition, not
so much as scratched by the hands Of
man. 1t lies within an hours ride OF
San Francisco, at the very doors o.;
hundreds of thousands of people.
SO long as the land remains In pr
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
time. There are of course. many finer
stands of redwood III California. but
there are no typical groves owned by
the United States. nor are there any
which might be acquired by the gov
eminent except at great expense.
Originally this land was part Of the
old Spanish grant. Rancho Sausalito
The largest redwoods are eighteen feet
In diameter at the butt and will ap.
proach 300 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 prob
lematical, but it is safe to say that the
veterans have stood from a thousand
to fifteen hundred years.
The total stand of redwood, roughly
estimated, is about 100000 feet
with some 100000 feet of fir and q
very considerable amount Of tanbark
oak. The redwood alone. at a fair val
as it stands. Except for narrow
strip Of brush along the east border
and a fringe along the southwest line
the whole canyon is covered with Il
dense forest growth. The stand |,
heaviest along the creek and on tn,
lower slopes; becoming poorer above
Redwood is the dominating tree, tow.
ering high above everything else and
forming fully three-fourths Of the
whole forest. Douglas fir is next in i'm,
portance, and scattered over the entire
tract are all the various hard woods
common to the region. chief among
which are the numerous oaks, ma
drone, alder, maple and mountain lau-
rel all Of which form a kind Of dwarf
underwood to the lofty redwood and
fir. The redwood occurs both in big
and small groups and by single trees
while the other species are sprinkle5
throughout.
The destruction of redwood by lum-
bering has been so rapid in the last
decade that 1t is now only question
Of years when the original growth will
have wholly disappeared. Its extraor
binary scientific and educational value
along with the fact that it is a pleas
ure ground for all Of the people VIII,
live in or visit this part Of California
makes the wood an ideal national nor
ument.