Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01

Horse Shoe to the summit OF Swift
Run Gap, where the explorers first
sighted the Valley of the Shenandoah
and named it the valley of Euphra-
tes,' taking possession for King
George / OF England. Scotch-Irish
and German settlers from Pennsyl-
wanna ultimately drifted to the north
ern part of the valley, where families
from Ulster, led by certain John
Lewis. staked out homesteads in the
southerly section. Lord Fairfax, who
owned large tracts in the Virginia
Valley, finally engaged George Wash
ington to survey his holdings.
Historical records disclose that the
plans Of Gen. Washington during the
Revolutionary War were to retreat to
Fort Valley, in the Shenandoah Val
ed in defeat. A man named William
Powell was a friend of Washington
during the days when the latter sur
veyed' the Fairfax lands. Powell blazed
many trails through the Virginia
mountains, searching for valuable
minerals. He found certain precious
metals and made counterfeit coin
which contained more pure silver than
the money Of the English King.
Powell's early efforts led to the de-
velopment of the iron ore and man.
ganese assets OF the Shenandoah.
The steep, rock-strewn mountains Of
the Shenandoah are valuable chiefly
for watershed protection and timber
production. The iron furnaces op-
Grated during early days are now
abandoned. Time was when boats
loaded with iron and lumber were
floated down the Shenandoah River.
their final port being Baltimore. The
boats were chopped into f1rewood at
the journeys end. as there was no
way Of getting them back to the
fOrested country. In the early days
the mountaineers also picked and sold
wild berries, which were abundant.
They burned over the woods In their
efforts to destroy snakes and clear
up underbrush. Fires ragged from
one end OF the valley TO the other.
What was once a magnificment hunt
ing ground became a land barren OF
wild life except a few rabbits and
squirrels.
The Shenandoah National Forest
came into being in 1917. with head
quarters at Harrlsonburg. In the
future, when the forestry program
is completed. a total OF three-fourths
of a million acres will be handled
under national supervision. The land
in this Federal forest was purchased
by Uncle Sam at an average price OF
1925 an acre. There is sufficient
timber in the forest to reimburse the
Government for it's original outlay,
when it is made fully accessible. The
primary reason for establishing this
particular forest was watershed pro
lection The Federal estimate is that
the Shenandoah National Forest con-
tains $40 900 600 feet Of saw timber
and products, composed of chestnut
oak. white oak. red oak. black oak,
scarlet oak. yellow pine, chestnut,
hemlock, yellow poplar and similar
species The bark from the chestnut
oak and hemlock timber is used ex-
tensively in tanning leather, while
lumber and railroad ties are the other
cash crops.
A LII the recreational advantages OF
I the Federal forest in Virginia are
free to Washingtonians who will abide
by the campf1re-control rules. There
are black bears in this forest, while
grouse and wild turkey are also
occasionally bagged The State game
laws of Virginia govern the cunning
season in the forest. Washington
| folks who enjoy hunting will enjoy
! the advantages offered in this Old Do
minion preserve. Public fishing in
the streams and pools within the for
est's boundaries is also permitted.
AS rapidly as possible the Forest
| Service is improving the roads that
now exist in this forest. New high
ways are also being constructed. This
road program governs the future
recreational use of this forest and will
provide an outlet for timber WHICH
now is inaccessible. There are some
marvellous scenic effects in the forest.
| Trails have been built to most Of
these and can be reached by mixers
or horsemen.
There is g. tower built on Massanut-
ten Mountain, accessible by automo-
bile road from Woodstock. Va, which
commands a most enhancing view of
the valley, including nine sinuous
bends in the North Fork of the Shen-
andoah River At the western ex-
tremity of the forest there is an OBJ
servation and fire-lookout tower, at
an elevation of $500 feet, on the
browning crag of North Mountain.
From that summit a wonderful
panorama of forest, mountain and
stream is visible. A public camp
ground has been established near the
top of North Mountain. where drink
ing water, shelter and f1replaces have
been provided.
There are two other public camps.
fitted with benches, tables. f1replaces
and conveniences for tourists. One Is
at Elizabeth Furnace, Va, on the
Massanutten, accessible by automobile
from Water Lick Station, near Fort
Valley. The other is at North River
Gap, near Stokesville, which can be
reached by good motor road from Har-
risonburg. The only regulations at
these free camps are caution with
fire, compliance with State game and
9 N df1n oy.I FrS.
the preservation of woodland beauty.
A portion of the Massanutten divi-
sion of the Shenandoah National
Forest has been set aside for develop
ment and use as a Summer home area
Washingtonians who wish to build
cabins, cottages and bungalows for
use as Summer homes can rent sites
on long-term leases at small cost from
the Forest Service. In the California
Federal forests thousands of homes
have been built and colonies of Sum-
mer residents annually migrate to the
kingdom of the timberline when late
Spring days issue their magnetic mes
sages and call the campers.
The Appalachian trail, a boulevard
for mixers which will span a 1000
mile course from Mount Washington,
the king of New England peaks. to
Mount Mitchell, at the top of the
Great Smokes of Southland. will pass
along the highest plateaus Of the
Shenandoah National Park. Already
great stretches of this trail. which
will be internationally popular, have
been constructed by State and Fed
eral governments.
Much of the trail has also been
built by the Appalachian Mountain
Club, a branch of this organization
having recently been established at
Asheville, N. G. The eventual chain
of walking trails, which will lead
from New England to Georgia. will
place within reach Of one-half the
population OF the United States OPP