The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-03-22
BEAUTIFUL COOKSBURG.
As Mr.. Truman Pictures II When
Transferred Into State Park.
[Brookville Republican ]


The idea of making a state preserve
Of the properties owned by our friends
the Cooks, at Cooksburg, is certainly one
of great wisdom and one of good taste.
To preserve at least one specimen for
future generations to feast their eyes up
on OF our once mighty forests is an ex-
cellent conception, and should met with
favor by our people both far and wide.
Even in this locality, the recent center of
what but recently was the finest pine
timber region in the world, we have
adults that have never seen, not only a
pine forest, but even single specimen of
the original pine 1t seems to one of my
age, who has witnessed the disappearance
of more than 90 per cent. of our forests,
really as If the earth had suddenly opened
aud swallowed them. A beautiful forest
of grown timber Is one of the grandest
sights in all this world to gaze upon. and
combining ones thoughts to the limits of
our own state, and knowing that practi-
cally every tree, excepting those on the
Cook estate. are doomed to early destruc-
tion, the thought of saving from extinc-
ton some hundreds of acres, IN one grand
body OF woods in all ills primeval gradeur
is work OF art, and coming from one
whose age has passed four score years Is
splendid example of real altruistic
genius, n quality OF mind almost ~ rare
in our midst as is the old-time forest.
The preservation of Cooksburg aud its
lovely environment of forest, means even
more than that generations yet unborn
will come To see at least one spot where
nature in woodland still revels, but
those grand old hills aud woods, the
valley through which the Clarion river
flows, would come to be known as the
Adirondack of Pennsy ylvania-the besuty
spot of the state; and would attract
throughout our delightful summer sea-
sons thousands of people bent on seeking
health and recreation and repose, and to
wander at will through all the pristine
glory of ancient trees. The purchase by
the state would mean that Cooksburg
would be TO Pennsylvan a rs the Yellow
stone Park is To the nation; II would be-
come the states great play ground. And
although not so vast rs the Yellowstone,
and not possessed Of its geyser wonders
nor its snow clad mountain peaks, Cooks
burg would fascinate you aud learn you
to love its associations; while one tour of
the National Park usually satisfies ones
inclinatons Tor seeing it for all times.
II Cooksburg is tn become park and
a playground for the state, l picture the
two elegant homes of the Cook brothers
being enlarged and converted into hotels.
and these, together with others, will be
used by those who may go perhaps to
take one stroll through the woods to learn
of this regions former greatness, and for
others who will 20 for longer periods.
Winding driveways will be made
throughout the park, and these will be
driven over by those seeking the pleasure
and charms of the woodland beauty.
Lovers in the course of years will make
well defined pathways leading into the
deeper recesses and where the foliage
density makes the penetration of the
suns rays impossible, and here is where
many who have not yet entered into be-
ing, will make their betrothAl vows. The
lawns surrounding the homes are the
work of landscape gardner, aud the
lines of maple trees, beautiful even now,
will grow in size and grandeur for CEN
turtles TO come. Added to all these capti-
waiting charms of both art and nature one
must carry their dreams further and
picture the river back watered, and on the
bosom OF its waters ste pleasure craft and
TO hear the clicking OF the petrol engines
in their propelling action.
You may call this dream indeed, and
so it may seem to those only familiar
with our common surroundings. 1t is
right and proper that the state should
purchase Cooksburg for the purpose of
perpetuating a grand old relic, and hav-
inl done so, it should take just such &C.
tion as the Washington government took
in making the Yellowstone Park pre-
serve for the world to go and see. To ac-
complish this and to carry out in minia-
ture what the government has done in
the Yellowstone, carriage drives and
bride paths would be made to cover the
grounds. small government force
would have to be maintained to protect
the woods from timber depredators, and
to keep such order as the law would pre-
scribe. The building of a dam to make
and extensive back water would add
greatly TO the place as a resort. The
hotels could be leased, and also the right
given to those wishing to conduct slivery
business throughout the season Should
all this come to pass, as | believe it will,
the states attention would be called to the
necessity and importance OF greatly i'm
proving the road between Brookville and
Cooksburg. And If one may interiect in-
to all this Just one bit of commercialsm,
the traffic to and from the points named,
would tend to bring a considerable
amount of grist to our hotels.
Through the loveliness and grandeur of
nature, combined with the WORKS of man,
Cooksburg is TO the regions which sur
round 1t as is Venus in the starry con
stellation of the heavens in her supreme
brilliance over all the stars.
ALFRED TRUMAN.