The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-04
PROCLAMATION
MAKES THREE new
|NATION'L FORESTS

President Wilson has issued a proc
lamation establishing three new Ma
tional Forests in the East-the White
Mountain, in Maine and New Hamp-
shire, the Shenandoah, in Virginia and
West Virginia, and the Natural Bridge
in Virginia.
| Proclaiming the Forests is the final
step in carrying out the law for build
ing up eastern National Forests
through the purchase of lands in the
mountains. Ever since the law was
passed in 1911 the Government has
been engaged in acquiring lands about
the headwaters of the principal rivers
both in New England and in the
Southern Appalachians. AS the lands
are bought or contracted for they are
put under administration as "Pur-
chase Areas" pending the time when
their accumulation has reached point
justifying the proclamation which
gives the lands their final status. The
Pisgah National Forest, in North Car
DINA, and the Alabama National For
est in Alabama, are the only eastern
areas which had received this status
before the new proclamations were
issued.
The White Mountain National For
est is located in Grafton, Carroll and
Coos counties, N. H, and Oxford coun-
ty, Me. The Government has actual
ly taken title to about $4,000 acres
and in addition about $4,000 acres
more have been approved for pur-
chase, making total of about 391,0 900
acres under Federal protection. This
Forest protects in part the watersheds
of the Androscoggin, Saco, Connecti-
cut and Ammonoosuc rivers. The
White Mountain region, long famous
as one of the most important recrea-
ton grounds of the nation and 1ocat-
ed as it is in close proximity to the
most densely populated portion of the
country, has great value not only for
4 the protection of streamflow and the
A production of timber but also as pub
: lie playground and is administered
with a view to- it's use for all three
& purposes.
4 The Shenandoah National Forest is
situated in Rockingham, Augusta
Bath and Highland counties, Va, and
Pendleton County, West. Va. The
s Government has acquired to date
& slightly in excess of 100000 acres
a and an additional area of approximate
ly $1,000 acres has been approved fol-
& purchase, making total of approx
imateIy 165, 900 acres under Fedora
3 protection. The Forest is for the mos
!. part on the watershed of the Shenan.
d doah River and it also protects a por-
u ton of the watersheds of the Potomac
"A ond tho On the anf
u still intact are trench systems con.
Il structed during the Civil War under
d the direct supervision of Stonewal
n Jackson.
The Natural Bridge National Fores
is situated in Rockingham, Nelson
Amherst, Botetourt and Bedford coun
ties, Va The Federal Government
has actually acquired title to a little
81 over $4,000 acres, and an additions
area of approximately $4,000 acre.
y has been approved for purchase. Tht
= Forest, which protects a portion O.
: the watershed of the James River
d does not include the Natural Bridge
y but this scenic feature is within thre.
or four miles of the boundary. 1t il
II expected that visitors to the region
y will take advantage of the opportun
Is tiles which the Forest affords for re
ID creation and outdoor life in the noun
r tains.