The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-06-03
NEW NATIONAL FORESTS.
White Mountains in New England Have
Been Named.

President Wilson has issued procla-
nation establishing three new national
forests in the East,-the White Noun
tain, in Maine and New Hampshire, the
Shenandoah, in Virginia and West Vir-
yinia, and the Natural Bridge, in Vir-
ginia
Proclaiming the forests is the final step
in carrying out the law for building up
eastern national forests through the pur-
chase of lands in the mountains Ever
since the law was passed in 1911, the
government has been engaged in acquir-
ing 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 rs "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 Carolina, and
the Alabama national forest, in Alaba-
ma, are the only eastern areas which had
received this status before the new proc
lsmations were issued.
The White Mountain national forest
is located in Grafton, Carroll and Coos
counties, New Hampshire, and Oxford
county, Maine The government has ac-
tually taken title to about 267 900 acres
and in addition about l24, 1000 acres more
have been approved for purchase, max
ing total of about 39l 900 acres under
federal protection. This forest protects |
in part the watersheds of the andre |
scoggin, Saco, Connecticut, and Ammo |
noosuc rivers. The White mountain re-
gion, long famous as one of the most inn
portant recreation grounds Of the nation
and located as it is in close proximity
to the most densely populated portion
of the country, has great value, not only
for the protection of streamfow and the
production of timber, but also as pub
lie playground, and is administered with
a view to its use for all three purposes.
The Shenandoah national forest is sit
lated in Rockingham, Augusta, Bath
and Highland counties, Virginia, and
Pendleton county, West Virginia. The
government has acquired to date slightly
n excess of 100000 acres and an addi-
ionsl area of approximately $4,000 acres
,ss been approved for purchase, making
/ total of approximately 10000 acres
inder federal protection. The forest is
or the most part on the watershed OF j
he Shenandoah river, and 1t also pro-
ects portion of the watersheds of the
Potomac and the James. On the area
md still intact are trench systems CON
tructed during the Civil war under the
lirect supervision of Stonewall Jackson
The Natural Bridge national forest is {
ituated in Rockingham. elson Am
erst, Botetourt, and Bedford counties,
Firginia. The federal government has
ctually acquired title to a little over t
5000 acres, and an additional area of s
pproximately 10000 acres has been ap- v
roved for purchase. The forest, which L
rotects portion of the watershed Of
he James river. does not include the u
-atural Bridge, but this scenic feature is
'ithin three or four miles of the bounda
Y. 1t is expected that visitors to the is
egion will take advantage of the oppor- IL
mites which the forest affords for rec CT
'ation and outdoor life in the noun pt
Inns. 81