88 



stems reaching to lofty heights. Hundreds of seedlings are growing 

 everywhere and if left alone will perpetuate the excellent forest condition 

 now prevailing. Farther down the stream are the "Shades of Death," an 

 area of 200 acres in virgin forest, especially noted for its beautiful scenery. 

 The sides and slopes of the sharp hills and promontories are covered with 

 a thick growth of evergreen hemlocks and cedars and the tip-top heights 

 with pines which lift their foliage 200 feet above the brook, averting the 

 sun's rays and tilling the deep chasm with a gloom typical of the "Valley 

 of the Shades." Here one sees typical forest conditions, the forest litter 

 holding the moisture and feeding gradually the many pure, cold springs. 

 This land, if deforested, would l)e worth practically nothing, but under 

 proper management a large return could be secured annually from the 

 timber gi-owing there. This area, however, has been recommended by the 

 State Forester as a forest reserve with the purpose of increasing its effi- 

 ciency as a park. Dr. Henry Moore, of Irvington, Indiana, was chosen 

 president of the board of control. No other recommendations have been 

 made. 



Walnut Township reports fifty-eight forest tracts containing a total 

 acreage of 4,493 acres of 20 per cent. Avhole area. These forest tracts are 

 comparatively large, thirteen of them containing 100 acres or over. 



Franklin Township reports eleven forest tracts, of twenty acres or 

 over, making a total of 420 acres, or 2 per cent. The areas are small and 

 most of the good timber has been removed. The boulder trail passes 

 through the western portion of the township and the land in its vicinity 

 would be worth much more if properly covered with timber than it is in 

 its present condition; the large number of boulders making cultivation 

 of crops very ditlicult. 



Sugar Creek Township reports seven tracts or 302 acres, 1.4 per cent, 

 of total area. Most of the region is black prairie land and the timber is 

 mostly in groves which have grown since the settlement of the country. 

 The prevailing species are shellbark hickory and white oak. 



Madison is also a prairie region and its condition of soil and forest 

 closely resembles Sugar Creek. Seven tracts are reported, giving a total 

 of 458 acres, though the total acreage of the township, including smaller 

 tracts, is reported as 501 acres or 21 per cent. 



Coal Creek reports but two tracts of more than twenty acres, though 

 the total acreage amounts to 201 acres or .6 per cent, of the total area 

 of the township. 



