Middletown transcript., 1915-02-20
U. S. TO OWN s.sOO,OOO ACRES


The commission has approved for
purchase so far l, ,103, ,529 acres in New
Hampshire, Virginia, West Virginia,
North and South Carolina, Tennessee
and Georgia, in accordance with the
Weeks law, which approprionly
$11, 900, 900 for this work, though
only about $s,OOO,OOO will have
been spent by July /, when the appro-
priation providing for continued pur-
chases until 1920 at the current rate |
of So, OOO, 600 year is recommended by
the commission. Under the terms of
the Weeks law, passed March l, 1911,
81, 900, 600 was made available for ex-
penditure prior to July of that year
and ", 900, 900 annually thereafter for
five years. Because of the time requir-
ed to examine and survey the lands an
negotiate with owners, the expendi
lures in the early years of the work
were less than the amounts appropria-
ted.
The lands thus far approved for pur-
chase have been obtained on what are
garded as very reasonable terms. The
average price is $5.03 per acre in
volving a total expenditure of $5,5
2O2.O2 exclusive of the cost of exami-
nation and survey. About one-thIrd of
the area is vir gin timberand, and while
most of the remainder has been cut
over or culled,. much valuable timber is
standing on it also. In 1914 the pur-
chases approved comprised of 391, ia
acres at the relatively low price of 4.96
per acre. Areas in which land is to
De purchas ed have been designated
also in Alab anna, Maine and Maryland,
out no pure :hases in these states have
yet been approved by the commission.
Many of the tracts which are being
acquired, says the report, present at
tractive scenery and afford delightful
places in which to travel or rest. Some
of the most attractive spots have been
inaccessible, but the roads and trails
which are being built by the Forest
Service will make it easier to reach
them. Persons who desire to occupy
permanent camp sites, or places in
which to erect resorts, may obtain
them on payment of a moderate fee.
Other special uses which do not injure
the forests are. likewise permitted, and
demands for such uses have already
been made in considerable volume.
Since the uses of the. acquired lands
are beginning to take form, says the
report, it is becoming clear to the pub
lie that the forests are to serve the
several regions in ID number of impor
} tant ways.
4 Perhaps their greatest use is in thC
control of forest fires. Roads, trail
and telephone lines will greatly facili
tate the protection from fire not onl!
[ on the governments land but also OF
i private and state lands adjacent to tn,
= Irrational forests. In addition, the rang
can be more completely utilized, tn
water resources will be more read
lily available to the public and the gen
i eral use of the mountains will be in
creased.
The Forest Service has already begul
making Improvements. Ninety-tw
miles of roadway, $40 miles of trail
and 25 miles of telephone line have beel
: constructed. This work can be still
e further extended as soon as proceed
from timber sales begin to come in, a
10 per cent. of the forest receipts i
specifically set apart by law for roaC
a and trail construction. Not only vii
! the localities affected benefit in thi
s way, but it is provided by law also tina
25 per cent of the forest receipts b.
paid over to the counties affected 70
roads and schools.
s The virgin timberland which is beini
!, acquired contains many trees that ar
overmature, and the stands PARTIAL
cut over contain various kinds of tim
ber which were not utilized at time O
s limbering. These lands where there j
i a sale for the timber at fair prices, wi
II be freed of this deteriorating material
as well as of such other mature ,growt
as can be spared from the forest with
out impairing its protective influence
It The policy of administration in thes
n forests will call for numerous sma
timber contractors living near at han
! and working in the timber all or a par
of the year. Those who may desire t
al live on government land will have ever
al opportunity to develop comfortabl
p homes, and use available cleared patche
- tor their gardens and crops. Thus
says the report, the forests will b
y made permanent, and thriving fores
'e communities will be built up.
The forests will also serve as pra,
" tical demonstrations of forestry in tn
lv production of successive crops of tin
Der. Government ownership and mai
Ae agement of these extensive areas
Il the eastern mountains will furthC
ly benefit the country by providing el
a couragement and aid for the mounta
people in using the resources of the r
gion to the best advantage. The n
NC ton is getting, from this ACOUSTIC
st of national forests in the east, Il
added advantage of a large and ir
= portant region turned to it's natur
use and made permanently productiv