New Britain herald., 1915-03-05
MILLIONS OF ACRES
 TO PROTECT WAFER
5,000,000 in Southern AlpaAh- ians;; 6]O,O0O ia New England.

ernment in the southern Appaiachians and 600,00O acres in the White Noun tain region of New England to form national forests for the protection of the watersheds of navigable streams in the east, Is urged by the National Forest Reservation commission in its latest report.
 The commission has approved for purchase so far 1,1O4,529 acres in New Hampshire, Virginia, West Vir- ginia, North and South Carolina, Ten nessee and Georgia, in accordance with the Weeks law, which appro- priated s11,0o0,o0o for this work, though only about ss,o0o,ooo will appropriation will expire.
 A further appropriation providing for continued purchases until 1920 at the current rate of s2,0oo,ooo year is recommended by the commis- sion. Under the terms of the Weeks law, passed March 1. 1911, s1,0o0,- 900 was made available for expendi- ture prior to July 1 of that year and s2,000.00O annually thereafter for five years. Because of the time re- quired to examine and survey the lands and negotiate with owners. the expenditures in the early years of the work were less than the amounts ap- propriated.
 $5.O3 Per Acre.
 The lands thus far approved for purchase have been obtained on what are regarded as very reasonable terms. The average price is $5.03 %n+o ture of s5.560,2 ,202.21, exclusive of the cost of examination and survey. About one-third of the area is virgin timber land, and, while most of the re- mairder has been cut over or cuIled, much valuable timber is standing on it also. In 1914 the. purchases ap- proved comprised 391.114 acres at the relatively low price of s4.96 per acre Areas in which land Is to be pur- chased have been designated also in Alabama, Maine and Maryland but no purchases in these states have yet been approved by the commission.
 Many of the tracts which are be- ing acquired, says the report, present attractive scenery and afford delight ful 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 mod crate fee. Other special uses which do not injure the forests are likewise permitted, and demands for such uses Fave already been made in consider able volume.
 Since the uses of the acquired lands are beginning to take form, says the report, it is becoming clear to the public that the forests are to serve the several regions in a number of important ways. Perhaps their great est use is in the control of forest fires. Roads, trails and telephone lines will greatly facilitate the pro- lection from fire not only on the gov ernment's land but also on private and state lands adjacent to the na- tional forests. In addition, the range can be more completely utilized. the water resources will be more readily available to the public and the gen eral use of the mountains will be in creased
 Improvements Made.
 The forest service has already be- gun making improvements Ninety two miles of roadway, 520 miles of trail, and twenty-five miles of tele- phone line have been constructed This work can be still further ex- tended as soon as proceeds from tim Der sales begin to come in, as ten per cent of the forest receipts is spe- officially set apart by law for road and trail construction. Not only will the localities affected benefit in this way, but it Is provided by law also that twenty-five per cent. of the for est receipts be paid over to the coun- ties affected for roads and schools
 The virgin timberland which is be- ing acquired contains many trees that are overmature, and the stands par tially cut over contain certain kinds of timber which were not utilized at the time of numbering These lands, where there is a sale for the timber at fair prices, will be freed of this deteriorating material, as well as of such other mature growth as can be spared from the forest without i'm pairing it's protective influence. The policy of administration in these for ests will call for numerous small tim Der contractors living near at hand and working in the timber all or a part of the year Those who may desire to live on government land will have every opportunity to de- velop comfortable homes, and use available cleared patches for their gardens and crops. Thus, says the report. the forests will be made per- manent, and thriving forest com m unities will be built up.
 The forests will also serve as prac. tical demonstrations of forestry in the production of successive crops of timber. Government ownership and management of these extensive area. in the eastern mountains will further