Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-02-23
National Forests In the East.

National Forests In the East.
That 5,OOO.OO acres of non sgricultur.
al land should be secured by the federal
government in the southern Appala-
chiaDs and COO, 900 acres in the White
Mountain region of New Epgland TO
form national forests for the protection
of the watersheds of navigable streams
in the east, is urged by the National For
est Reservation Commission IN its latest
report.
The Commission has approved for pur-
chase so far 1,l04,529 acres in New
HAMPSHIRE, Virginia, West Virginia,
North and South Carolina, Tennessee
and Georgia, in accordance with the
Weeks Law, which appropriated ST.
600 600 for this work, though only about
$4,000. 900 will have been spent by July
l, when the appropriation will expire.
\ further appropriation providing fol
continued purchases until 1920 at the
current rate of - 100000 year is re-
commended BY the Commission. Under
the terms of the Weeks Law, passed
March /, 1911, Sl,000,0OO was made
available for expenditure prior to July l
OF that year and 100000 annually
thereafter for five years. Because of
the time required to examine and survey
the lands and negotiate with owners,
the expenditures in the early years of
the work were less than the amounts
appropriated.
The lands thus far approved for pur-
chase have been obtained on what are re-
garded as very reasonable terms. The
average price is S5.03 per acre, involving
a total expenditure of =, $50, POP q, ex
elusive of the cost of examination and
survey. About one third of the area is
virgin cumberland, and, while most of
the remainder has been cut over or Gull
ed, much valuable timber is standing on
il also. In 1914 the purchases approved
comprised 39l, IA acres at the relatively
low price of 81 % per acre. Areas in which
land is to be purchased have been desig-
mated 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 being &C
quired, says the report, present attract
i've scenery and afford delightful places
in which to travel or rest Some of the
most attractive spots have been inacces
sible. but the roads and trails which are
being built by the Forest Service will
make il 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 per-
mitted, and demands for such uses have
already been made in considerable vol
ume.
Since the uses of the acquired lands
are beginning to take form, says the re-
port, it Is becoming clear 10 the public
that the forests are to serve the several
regions in a number of important ways.
Perhaps their greatest use is in the con
troll of forest fires. Roads, trails, and
telephone lines will greatly facilitate the
protection from fire not only on the
governments land but also on private
and state lands adjacent to the national
forests In addition, the range can be
more completely utilized, the water re-
sources will be more readily available to
the public and the general use OF the
mountains will be increased.
The Forest Service has already begun
making improvements. Ninety-two
miles of roadway, $50 miles of trail, and
% miles of telephone line have been
constructed. This work can be still
further extended as soon as proceeds
from timber sales begin TO come IN, as
10 percent of the forest receipts is spe-
officially set apart by law for road and
trail construction. Not only will the 10
calities affected benefit in this way, but
il is provided by law also that % percent
of the forest receipts be paid over to the
counties affected for roads and schools.
TIE virgin timberland which is being
acquired contains many trees that are
overmature, and the stands partially 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 deterioratiug material,
as well az of such other mature growth
as can be spared from the forest without
impairing its protective influence. The
policy of administration in these forests
will call for numerous small timber con
tractors living near at hand and working
in the timber all or part OF the year.
Those who may desire to live on govern
ment land will have every opportunity
To develop comfortable homes, and use
available cleared patches for their gar
dens and crops. Thus, says the report,
the forests will be made permanent, and
thriving forest communities will be
built up.
The forests will also serve as practical
demonstrations of forestry in the pro-
ductiou of successive crops of timber.
Government ownership and management
of these extensive areas in the eastern
mountains will further benefit the coun-
try by providing encouragement and aid
for the mouptain people in using the re-
sources of the region to best advantage.
The nation is getting, from this acqui-
sition of national forests in the east, the
added advantage of large and impor;
tant region turned to it's natural use and
made permanently productive, while the
protection of watersheds will, in a large
measure, produce immunity from both
food and low water in q vast section OF
the country.
From the appropriation for 1914, there
is an estimated balance of nearly 500, 1000
remaining, which, with what remains OF
the 81, 900, 900 appropriated for the fiscal
year 1915, is still available for additional
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