Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-08
First National Forest East
Of Mississippi.
oea|a Forest Of 2o1,48o Acres
is Now Set Aside.
4 Dakota Reserve Of i4,080 Acres
In the Bad Lands.


tional Forest created east of the Missis-
sippi River. President Roosevelt has just
signed proclamation setting aside and
naming the Ocala National Forest III
Marion county in eastern Florida and an
other proclamation creating the Dakota
National Forest in Billings county North
tional Forest is the first in North Dakota
the two proclamatons add two more
states to the list Of those wherein land
will be put under scientific forest ad-
ininistration. There are now nineteen
states, and Alaska, having National For
ests.
Before the creation of the Ocala in
Florida, the two forests in Arkansas. the
Ozark and the Arkansas. We're the east
the other National Forests are in the
Rocky Mountain and the Pacific Coast
States. The Florida forest has an area
Of 201 $50 acres, of which about one
fourth has been taken up under various
land laws. 1t covers a plateau between
the st. Johns and Ochlawaha rivers and
at no point is an elevation exceeding $50
feet above sea level obtained. The area
is by nature better fitted for the produce
ton of forest growth than for any other
purpose. Nearly all of the area. how
ever, seems particularly well adapted to
the growth of sand pine which is even
now replacing the less valuable species.
and with protection from fire almost the
entire area will in time undoubtedly be
covered with dense stand of this Spc-
cies. The long-leaf pine. a much more
valuable commercial tree than the sand
pine, appears sparsely on this Forest
and is confined principally to the lower
fiat lands along the streams on the Dor
ders of the Forest.
In addition to the pines and scrub
growths, bald cypress. cabbage palmetto
and tupelo gum, gradually changing to
water oak ash. elm, magnolia, hickory.
and maple are found bordering the num-
erous ponds and lakes which are scatter
ed abundantly throughout the confines of
this Forest.
Fire has played very important part
in bringing about the present poorly
forcsted condition of the Ocala. as year
after year large fires have burned unin-
terruptedly over this tract. killing all
vegetation and consuming the humus Of
the soil. Naturally protected portions
which have not been subject to the
flames. prove positively however. that
the soil will rapidly respond to little
fol, nd hof hn fis,,,
of fires would eventually mean the refor-
estation of practically the entire area
No sawmill operations have been con
Quoted on the area included in the Ocala
Natio.al Forest. Turpentining by box.
ing is carried on over contiguous areas
and through the careless and antiIuated
methods used the future pine crop of the
adjoining region is greatly ieopardzed
The soil Is of little vlaue for agricultural
purposes and about the only crop which
can be produced that will be of lasting
value is sand pine, and with proper care
and attention there should in time be d
valuable forest of this species
The new Dakota National Forest con
ssts of 140SO acres in the Bad Lands re
gion. 1t is located in Billings county ant
lies an equal distance between the North
ern Pacific Railroad on the north ant
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul or
the south. It's creation is important fol
It means that an experimental field fo
forest planting has been secured in Nortf
Dakota, the least forested state in the
Union. having only one per cent. of tree
growth. The Forest Service expects t.
establish forest nurseries with the hope
that In time to come the area may ,;
rcforested by artificial means. This fea
ture Is expected to prove very gooo
object lesson to the settlers. who it Is
hoped will in turn plant windbreaks
around their farms.
The Forest Is very open and for the
most part contains a scattering stand o
western yellow pine timber Along tn
creek bed Is found ash. box elder cotton
wood, elm, and birch Cedar breaks arr
also found on precipitous slopes border
ing the streams Western yellow pine
is the only merchantable species. how
ever. on the Forest and the average
stand per acre is not over 1000 feet
The reproduction of pine is fairly gooo
wherever mature trees occur. but ow'
ing to the open condition of the Fores
and the dense growth of grass it is FOL
the most Part unsatisfactory
There is but little timber that will b.
sold from the Forest at the present
time since this area is very isolated
being surrounded on all sides by vas
plains. Many homesteaders have II
the past come to this Forest for timber
for legs to build their houses. Since
the completion of the Chicago. NIL
waukee. and ST. Paul r. r. Billings
county is rapidly being settled an'
while stock grazing is at the presen
time the most important industry 1t Il
very probable that farming will be
come the most important industr!
within the next few years. 1t is YER!
important, therefore, that the timbe
which now remains should be con
served exclusively for the use of tn
home builder.
At the present time there are bu
seven homesteaders within the bound
aries of the Forest. but all of the od'
sections are alienated land bein'
owned by the Western Land Securltle
Company This company has beef
selling portions of their holdings dur
ing the past few years. Very little
the Government land within tn
boundaries of the Forest is suitable TO
farming purposes. since it is quit
&c