Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-03-03

flowers and for wild Strawberries about q spring.
This vast, remote, rugged, heavlly-timbered Kali
bah 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 black-tail deer in it.
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 Shoots joint resolu
tion came to be introduced: Stephen I. Mather
director of the national park service, drove from
the north through the Kabab 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 pro-
foundly impressed with the splendid forest and the
extraordinary display of wild life TO be found there
This region has been isolated from transportation
centers that II has remained almost untouched, and
Is one Of the very largest of virgin forest In
the country. 1t is reliably estimated that there are
some thirteen thousand deer in the Kaibab National
forest
accompanied by Mr.. Emerson Hough, the
welknown writer. who suggested for this splendid
tract the of "The Presidents Forest"
few weeks later In Los Angeles met Mr. E.
j. Marshall president of the Grand Canyon Cattle
company the corporation which has conducted cattle
grazing operations In this forest for a number OF
years. and was very much gratfed to find a ready
and enthusiastic response to the idea OF maintaining
this region solely a 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 relinqushng the prospect OF a
considerable profit from their operation Mr. Mar
shalls other interests however. considerable and
he cheerfuly makes this sacrifice In truly public
spirited manner
May express the hope Mr.. President that YOU
may find an opportunity Of visiting the Presidents
Forest yourself and 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 for number of
years under leases from the United States forest serv
ice, and during that time has made extensive and
valuable improvements, particularly In the deyelop.
ment Of water supply and the erection of stone cat
tie camp buildings. The company owns certain NAT.
ented tracts OF land within the boundaries of the for
est reservation and several tracts of located scrn
lands In the immediate vicinity At the present time
we are grazing herd Of breeding cattle numbering
about 1900 head. under permit from the forest service
We desire to register our willingness to vacate and
abandon the Kabab 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 game preserve
here could be more completely fulfilled and making
the entire region available for the public enjoyment
Our only request is that reasonable time be given
the company to dispose of and its livestock and
other personal property and that in recognition OF our
action such grazing permits be not hereafter issued
to other livestock interests In the now covered by
our permit
Arrangements have been made through nrvat. In
dividuals for acquiring the company's patented land
holdings, which to be presented to tho United
States without cost to the government.