Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-05-10
900 ACRES IN
NASSANUI'ION WANTED

II. Y. OfKmaf, Forest a gent, mnG6r
the United States Forestry Service
and Field Assistant E. L. Lindsey,
we're in Luray for about two weeks
examining and mapping the lands in
the Massanutton mountain offered for
sale to the United States under the
provisions of the Weeks Forestry law.
This Law contempletes the purchase OF
cheap land at the headwaters of navig-
able streams for the protection of the
latter. Only lands unsuited to farm
ing, grazing or fruit growing are con
sidered.
Bile Ridge lands are too valuable
to be wanted.
A representative of the Forestry
Department says:
SAT present about so, 600 acres of
land in the Massauutton has been
offered to the government. This land
is located all along the Massanatton
mountain from its Northern extremity
at Strasburg to it's Southern limit at
MEG aheysville. AS a rule the lands
have been offered at from 81. so to
81 90 an acre This sort of land is
steep with nearly all the timber re-
moved and represents the general con-
dition of most of the range. A few
small offerings at higher prices have
been made because of the value of
timber on the lands. Sirce Of ma jor-
ity of landowners realize the poor
character of the lands and how little
timber they contain they are disposed
for the most part to considerit for
tunate that they are able to sell them
to the government even at low prices.
While this cannot be said for all own
ers sufficient land will be obtained at
far prices to justify the establishment
of a National Fo' est. Owners who
are holding their lands for excessive
prices Will of curse be allowed to re-
tain them but in so doing they cannot
prevent the establishment of Forest
including other lands"
The examinations being conducted
at this time include an estimate of the
merchantable timber on the land to-
gether with a classification of the
land. Three general classes of lands
are recognized and carefully mapped.
They are cove land, found along the
streams, slope land occupying the
middle Of the mountain sides, and
Blue Ridge land found on the highest
mountain tops. Different values are
set upon each OF these types.
If purchases are made the land will
be protected from fires and timber will
be sold as it natures. If fires are kept
out the Massanulton will undoubtedly
become restocked with game, and
hunting and fishing may be enjoyed
under the game laws of the State.
Grazing will be permitted under rea-
soma bic restrictions.
These Investigations SIS to the noun
tain lands are going on under the
direction of Forest Assistant E. d.
Clark, whose headquarters are at
Woodstock and who was now at Lu-
ray for few days. 1t was on the re-
communication of Mr.. Clark " b 0
thoroughly investigated the Massanut-
ton proposition last winter that the
purchases in that range were decided
on
Any persons interested in the sale
of lands should communicate with
either Mr.. Clark al Woodstock or Mr..
Volkm&r, at Luray. These gentlemen
make the necessary investigation AID
recommend such purchases as should
be made. The recommendations are
considered by the National Forest
Reservation Commission before final
terms are made The Mass mutton
National Forest will probably be put
under the care of res dent ranger
with civil service standing.
The Massauutson work started about
month ago and about $1,000 acres
have already been examined. Numer-
| GUS tracts have been offered in this
county and INVESTIGATIONS have been
in progres both IRON Luray and Shen-
andoah as headquarters. In all there
are probably 100, 600 acres in the Mas
sanutton which the government would
buy at d reasonable price and about
half of this land lies in Page county.
Mr.. Clark believes that the purchase
of these lands is assured if they are
offered at such price as the govern
ment will accept
In the Nassanutton work the rrime
object is to protect the headwaters OF
the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers
by the conservation and upbuildipg
of forest area.
The purchase of 1000 acres in the
North Mountain the next range West
of the Massanutton, has been recon-
mended by Mr.. Clark and his assis
tants and is now being considered by
the National Forest Reservation Com
mission. Members of this Comm.s-
sion including Secretary of Interior
Fisher, Senator Smith, of Maryland.
Chief of Forest, Graves and others
visited North Mountain this week.
In lieu Of taxes five per cent. of all
receipts from timber and bark taken
from nstional forests gees to State
and county in which Gated for roa l.
and schools. Page News.
81, 600, 900 Ceal Pier for c. SO.