PROTECTIXG NEW HAMI'Sl 1 1 Rl". I'ORESTS 



369 



vocatcd a National Forest in the White 

 Mountains, and engaged actively in 

 work for this object several months be- 

 fore the Intervale meeting, called by Dr. 

 Edward Everett Hale for the same pur- 

 pose. Dr. Hale became an honorary 

 life member of the Society, and worked 

 early and late for a National Forest 

 in the White ^lountains. It was a sin- 

 cere regret that his death came before 

 the bill was finally enacted ; but his 

 faith foresaw the result, in which he 

 found much satisfaction. The enact- 

 ment of the Weeks bill, in spite of active 

 opposition from the leaders of both po- 

 litical parties, was a triumph of popular 

 agitation throughout the length and 

 breadth of the country. In this nation- 

 wide agitation the Society took a prom- 

 inent part, as its present wide mem- 

 bership list testifies. The co-operation 

 of the men of the South was particu- 

 larly gratifying. The governors of the 

 New England States and the Southern 

 States appeared repeatedly together be- 

 fore committees of Congress. The bat- 

 tle was won and the President signed 

 the bill on March 1, 1910. 



"Since its formation one object of 

 the Society has been the acquisition of 

 the forest lands by the state and town 

 governments in New Hampshire. The 

 Crawford Notch is one of the famous 

 pieces of scenery in the White Moun- 

 tain region. When logging operations 

 threatened to disfigure it, the Society 

 proposed that it be acquired by the 

 State of New Hampshire, and a bill 

 was prepared for the legislature. The 

 suggestion was promptly approved by 

 Mr. W. A. Barron, of the Barron & 

 Merrill Company, and the late John 

 Anderson, of Bretton Woods. The Ap- 

 palachian Alountain Club joined with 

 the Society in an appeal for funds with 

 which to carry on the campaign. A 

 complete and careful survey of the 

 timber in the Notch was made by the 

 Society and maps were drawn. The 

 bill was passed in the session of 1911. 

 Through a clerical oversight it proved 

 defective, and the state is unable to is- 

 sue the bonds authorized in the bill to 

 buy this property ; but owing to the in- 

 terest and energy of Governor Bass, 

 the difficulties have been partly over- 

 come and the more picturesque portions 

 of the Notch, the northern half, are be- 



ing purchased from current state funds. 



"In 1909 the residents around Suna- 

 pee Lake began a campaign under the 

 leadership of Mr. Herbert Welsh, of 

 Philadelphia, for acquiring the forests 

 on Sunapee Mountain. They invited 

 the co-operation of the Society, which 

 aided in the technical forest work and 

 in the legal work required. Through 

 the efforts of Mr. Welsh, $8,000 have 

 been subscribed and six hundred and 

 fifty-six acres purchased, covering the 

 entire top of the main mountain, be- 

 sides the north and south peaks, with 

 the long sky line, and Lake Solitude, a 

 charming body of water, near the top 

 of the main mountain, with the timber 

 around its entire margin. At the re- 

 quest of the contributors the entire 

 property has been placed in the care of 

 the Society as trustee, together with a 

 fund of $500, covering the expenses of 

 management for a term of years. Now 

 that the purchase has been completed, 

 the contributors seek additional funds 

 with which to clear up the slash and 

 make trails. The Society believes that 

 when the plans adopted are fully de- 

 veloped, Sunapee Mountain will be- 

 come a most beautiful mountain park. 



"The Society made an appeal during 

 the past winter, for sufficient money to 

 accept a gift of the Lost River and one 

 hundred and forty-eight acres of land 

 adjoining it, offered by the Publishers' 

 Paper Company, provided the Society 

 would buy the standing timber upon 

 the tract. This, on careful estimate, 

 was found to amount to $7,000. By 

 means of a legacy of $5,000, left by 

 Miss Dora Martin, of Dover, a portion 

 of which became available, together 

 with contributions amounting to $1.;U5 

 from the prominent hotels in the White 

 Mountains, and the remainder from 

 generous contributions on the part of a 

 large number of members and friends 

 of the Society, the gift was accepted, 

 and the timber purchased. Lost River 

 is located seven miles west of North 

 Woodstock. The region is one of great 

 beauty, majestic in its setting and 

 charming in detail. 



"For ten years the forester of the 

 Society has been examining woodlands 

 throughout the State, giving advice to 

 the owners on methods of management. 

 Since the reorganization of the For- 



