Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-28

Az late as 1913 the people of the State
Of Maine owned over 100000 acres
of cumberland. The final act in the
tragedy occurred in 1868 and this
was the greatest calamity of all. The
Legislature passed an act granting 70
the European and North American
Railway all the lands on the "Penob-
scot and st. Johns waters" in con-
sideration Of the agreement that
military railroad would be built to
the Canadian border. In the deed 1t
was recited that about 100000 acres
of land were granted but, as a mat
ter of fact, about 100000 acres were
given ANY,, and the Governor of the
State signed the deed. The railroad
was constructed only about twelve
rights in all that was left of great
Inheritance.
Thesefacts are by-gones and to-
day it is necessary to face the facts
as they are and see if we cannot
build for future generations better
than our ancestors built for us. To-
day the State, out of this vast in
heritance is the owner of but 3S7,026
/
acres of land.
The timberlands of Maine are fast
passing into the control of few
large corporations and individual
holdings. One Company owns more
than 100000 acres or one-nineteenth
Of the whole state, while thirty one
| ownerships own 100000 acres in
Maine, which comprise thirty per
cent of the entire acreage of the
State. This situation prevails in
other New England states and fifteen
ownerships in Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont own more than
l5,500,0O0 acres or one fourth of all
the forest area of those three states
These large ownerships naturally
create d monopoly, prevent any COM
petition and, at times, make legisla-
ton difficult.
The Mount Katahdin National
Park project has been under consid-
Grafton for some years. Congressman
Guernsey introduced an act provid-
ing for the creation of a Federal For
est Reserve in the Katahdin region.
This failed of passage, however, and
in 1919 l introduced an act establish
ing State Park, believing that the
State OF Maine should begin to ac-
quire waste and burned over timber
lands so as to aid in maintaining the
supply of timber and if this policy is
established and continued the State
IN years to come should acquire
large areas of lands which are now
practically worthless but which in
the future will become capable of
producing a profitable harvest. This
land can be bought at a low price
today, the State can afford to carry
II and it will prove a profitable in
vestment both directly from the in
come received and indirectly from
the tourists travel that is bound to
come II this land is purchased in
mountainous and picturesque regions
such as Mount Katahdin.
The policy of acquiring these lands
is approved by both Federal and
State authorities. Mr.. H. S. Graves,
the Chief Forester of the Federal
Government says: THE states should
acquire large forest tracts" and Hon.
Forrest H. Colby, Forest Commits
sioner of this State says: Federal or
state ownership of timberlands, par
ticularly cut over and neglected lands,
is to be desired and will in a great
measure help to.insure a future sup
ply of lumber"
other states have made beginnings,
New York having acquired 100000
acres and Pennsylvania 1000. 900
acres while under the Weeks Act L.
eoo,ooo acres have been purchased by
the United States at an average price
Oh $5.26 per acre. This is considered
good investment by the Federal
government and an annual income is
already assured from these pur-
chases. The present is the time when
THIS policy should be established in
Maine and these purchases made, for
as the years go on the land will cost
more and it will be more difficult to
purchase it.
TO most people Mount Katahdin is
but name but to those who have
seen and climbed the mountain it is
wonderful reality. The mountain
at present is inaccessible and a trip
there entails a good deal of expense
and many hardships but the grandeur
OF the mountain, it's unusual forma-
ton and wonderful coloring cannot
be equaled or surpassed by any
mountain east of the Mississippi
River. Katahdin rises 5,273 feet from
the plane without any foot hills to
detract from its dignity. The seem
cry of the White Mountains of New
Hampshire is tame in comparison
with that of Mount Katahdin and the
range OF mountains beyond. To reach
the mountain requires a tramp Of
from sixty to seventy miles over old
ana unused tote roads, and across
1ords and swamps. There are several
approaches but the most picturesque
Is that which leads to the South basin
IN which is located Chimney Pond. a
peautlful sheet of water, surrounded
on the south and west by perpendicu-
lar cliffs rising $500 feet. The climb
OF Pamola and across the Knife Edge
TO Monument Peak is a difficult one
ana there are none of the aids to
mountain climbing which one finds in
the Alps or in some portions of the
Rockies. On Monument Peak is q
pile OF stones in which is kept a COP
per box and those who have the cour-
age and strength to reach that peak
are supposed to deposit their names
In the box as a proof that thew nos
SeSSed the aud,,roroo - 1T, ~