The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-23
CONSOLIDATE
FOREST LANDS
in ". FLORIDA
Secretary Houston Proposes
to Exchange So as to Get
All In One Tract
WOULD TRADE WITH
PRIVATE OWNERS
Thinks It Necessary To
Bring Government Lands
Closer Together.

Owing to the fact that the Choetaw-
hatchee national forest lands are
scattered through a wide territory
and government and private land so
intermixed that it is impossible for
the forest service 10 properly de-
velop or care for the forest, Secretary
of Agriculture Houston had recon-
mended the exchange of certain
tracts Of government owned land for
private holdings, thus consolidating
all government lands in one large
tract.
The secretary says that at present
the boundaries of the government land
are so indefinite that local residents
are guilty of innocent trespass be-
cause of the difficulty of locating
these boundaries.
Secretary Houston has written a
letter to Senator Myers, chairman of
the senate public lands committee,
relative to the senate bin for the
consolidation Of forest land, in which
he says.
''The Florida national forest con-
sists of two units, the larger and
more important of which is situated
on Observation-Disclosures Bay and Santa
Rosa Sound in West Florida, in the
counties Of Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and
Walton.
The Choctawhatchee or western
division Of the forest has total gross
acreage of 467, ZOO acres, of which
157,718 acres belong to the govern
ment; 310,072 acres have been alien
ated and are now privately owned.
With one exception Of several solid
bodies of government land along
Choctawhatchee Bay, the government
lands and private holdings are inter
mixed checkerboard fashion through
out the division. Practically the en-
/ tire area is uniformly covered with
a forest growth of long1leaf pine, val
liable not only for saw timber, cross
ties, etc, but for its naval stores by
product. The considerable area Of
privately owned lands within the for
est boundaries presents many diff
culties in fire protection and fire sup
preston. If the forest lands were
consolidated in one large body or even
in several smaller bodies their adj
ministration would be rendered much
less difficult, and it would become pos
sible to reduce the cost Of admins
tration and increase its effectiveness.
"Since the Florida forest contains
the only long-leaf pine owned or con-
trolled by the government, it presents
the sole opportunity that the govern
ment has to render practical assist
ance to the people of the south in con-
Quoting studies and experiments in
this species on a large scale. Prac-
| teal turpentine experiments have
been carried on in this forest for a
number Of years, and the results Sc
: obtained are of the utmost value to
the naval stores operations through
out the south. The consolidation OF
the forest lands will make it posi-
BILE to carry on these experiments al
greatly reduced cost and with much
better results.
"The cattle business lie one OF grow
ing importance in Florida, and as the
state is settled up the national for
: est viii become more and more i'm
portant to this industry. Through
consolidation only is It possible to ef.
: fectiyely administer the range in the
forest. If the exchange is authorized
: the western division OF the foresi
could be contracted 10 about one-hali
! of its present size. It would then b.
possible TO establish weII-defned for
: est boundaries which car be seen anC
readily understood by local inhabi
tants. At present the boundaries ar
so indefinite that the focs- people arr
frequently guilty of innocent tregpasl
2 because Of the difficulty Of locating
4 the forest boundaries. AS soon a
consolidated the gross income of TIL
d forest should increase, since it vii
t then be possible to dispose Of mucl
a fully matured timber which now can
t not be disposed Of on account Of tn
cost Of handling scattered units"