Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-07-24
Government Buys Rockbridge Land
For Forest Reservation


The United States Government
has bought considerable tract OF
Rockbridge land lying south OF
James River and known as Natural
Bridge Area, for the purpose OF
forest conservation. The property
embraces about %. 900 acres, and a
part Of the tract. Is the old Glen wood
estate belonging to the heirs OF the
late Judge Francis T. Anderson.
Hon. William A. Anderson, execu-
tor of his fathers estate, has made
the sale through the United States
Department OF Agricultural, Hon.
James Wilson, Secretary. The
price agreed upon is IS, 80 per acre.
The tract embraces mountain lands
lying in Rockbridge, Bedford and
Botetourt counties, and extends
along James River distance OF
about twelve miles from several
miles east of Balcony Falls 70 a
point about two miles W est OF Gil
more's Mills in Botetourt county,
and extending eight or ten miles
across the mountains south ward
into Bedford county. r
The agreement has been put on
record in the clerks Office in Lex
ington, and the opening paragraphs
of this paper are as follows:
United States Department. OF Ag-
riculture, Office OF the Secretary.
Agreement for the purchase oflands
in the Natural Bridge Area, Virgin
ia. This agreement. made and en-
tered into this 10Th day OF June,
1912, by and between William A..
Anderson OF Lexington, Rockbridge
county, Virginia, as executor of the
last will and testament OF Francis T.
Anderson. deceased, hereinafter
known IS the vendor, and the Unit
ed States ofyAmerica, by the Score
tary OF Agriculture, duly authorized
thereto by act of Congress of March
1, 1911. The vendor agrees to sell
to the United States all the tracts or
parcels OF land, tenements and here
ditaments, together with all the
rights, easement and appurtenances
thereunto belonging, lying in the
counties of Rockbridge, Bedford and
-Botetoart. State Of Virginia, known
as the Glenwood estate and contain.
ing $4,000 acres, more or less, ex-
elusive Of the exceptions and reser-
Rations hereinafter mentioned. Pc.
The property Surrounds annuhl
Der OF small tracts Of land and some
farms, that are owned by residents
of the community who are an willing
to part with their homes. There
are thirty-five OF these. Sea-. =
Mr.. Anderson obligates. himself
to furnish within sixty days of the
execution OF this Instrument to the
United States an abstract and other
necessary evidences of title, etc.
The agreement is signed by Will
liam A. Anderson, executor Of
Francis T. Anderson, and witness
ed by A. w. Lee and John w. Wrig-
ley, and on behalf of the United
States by James Wilson. Secretary
of Agriculture. and Witnessed by R.
w. Williams.
The survey was made under the
direction of MIR. r. E. Witt of Lex
ington.
The United States has secured
this vast area among the mountains
OF Virginia for the purpose of con-
serving the forests so as to protect
the water sheds and water supply.
The cullipg out Timber and clear
ing woodland reduces the flow OF
streams, and to avoid this the gov
eminent has come to the aid Of
mountainous communities. Another
important factor in determining the
returns from forests is the destrfe-
tion by fire Of valuable areas Of tim
Der. The United States will reduce
this to minimum, possibly by the
of wardens or other Off
cers to care for the preserves.
The passing of this estate into the
hands Of the United States brings
to close the private ownership of
Pre- perty that once belonged TO
Light Horse Harry Lee. and has