Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-03-02

flowers and for wild strawberries about spring.
This vast, remote, rugged, heavily-timbered kai-
bab National forest Is still wild place In spite OF
the fact that thousands Of cattle and sheep have
been grazing in 1t for years. 1t Is still so wild
that there are at least 10000 blackta deer In 1t,
though they shrink in disgust from the cattle and
sheep. There are many mountain lions that live
on the deer.
This Is the way Senator Smoot's joint resolu-
tion came to be introduced: Stephen T. Mather,
director Of the national park service, drove from
the north through the Kaibab National forest to
the North Rim of the Grand canyon. Upon his
return to Washington he wrote the following let
ter to President Harding:
Dear Mr.. President:
Last summer l visited the wonderful country at
the North Rim Of the Grand canyon and was pro-
foundy impressed with the splendid forest and the
extraordinary display Of wild life to be found there
This region has been so isolated from Transportation
centers that 1t has remained almost untouched and
is Of the very largest areas Of virgin forest In
the country 1t is reliably estimated that there are
some thirteen thousand deer in the kaibab National
forest
1 was accompanied by Mr. Emerson Hough. the
wel-known writer. who suggested for this splendid
tract the name Of THE Presidents Forest"
A few weeks later in Los Angeles met Mr. E.
]. Marshall, president of the Grand Canyon Cattle
company the corpora ton which has conducted cattle
grazing operations in this forest for a number Of
years, and very much gratified to find ready
and enthusiastic response to the idea Of maintaining
this region solely game preserve and for public
enjoyment. Since then he has very generously made
the offer which have the honor Of transmitting to
you in the accompanying letter. This offer means
very real sacrifice the part Of the Grand Canyon
Cattle company in abandoning the improvements
which they made and relinquishng the prospect Of
considerable profit from their operation. Mr. Mar
shals other interests, however. considerable and
he cheerfully makes this sacrifice In truly public
spirited manner
May 1 express the hope. Mr. President, that you
may find an opportunity Of visiting the Presidents
Forest yourself feeling the inspiration Of its vast
ness and unspoiled beauty.
The Letter of Mr.. Marshall to President Harding
Is in part as follows
The Grand Canyon Cattle company, a California
corporation, has been operating here for number of
years leases the United States forest
ice, and during that time has made extensive and
valuable improvements particularly in the develop
ment Of supply and the erection Of stone cat
tie camp buildings. The company certain pat
ented tracts land within the boundaries of
est reservation and several tracts Of located scrip
lands In the immediate vicinity. At the present time
we are grazing herd Of breeding cattle, numbering
about head under permit from the forest service
We desire TO register our willingness to vacate and
abandon the Kalbab forest reservation and the pub
lie lands Immediately adjoining to the east thereof
recognizing that by doing the purposes Of former
President Roosevelt in establishing preserve
here could be completely fulfilled and making
the entire region available for the public enjoyment
Our only request is that reasonable time be given
dispose of and move Its livestock and
other personal property and that In recognition Of
action grazing permits be not hereafter issued
to other livestock interests In the covered by
permit.
Arrangements have been made through private in
diyiduals acquiring the companys patented land
holdings. which to be presented to the United
States without cost to the government.