COUNTY, CITY, TOWN AND SCHOOL FORESTS 



429 



This partial list of the woodland parks, forests pro- 

 tecting the potable water supply, and other areas of 

 potential forest land owned and managed by small 

 governmental units in ten States gives a total area 

 of over 130,000 acres. Although their organiza- 

 tion for the production of forest products has scarcely 

 begun, their location near large centers of population 

 where all classes of forest products are high makes in- 

 tensive forest management possible. I believe we can 

 look forward to the growing importance of these forests 

 not only for the protection which they afford and their 

 use for recreation but also for production of timber. It 

 is my belief that when complete data of all the communal 

 forests in this country are available there will be over 

 250,000 acres. The following brief descriptions are taken 

 from information received through correspondence. 



Hartford, Conn., owns 4,345 acres of watershed for- 

 ests which protect her potable water supply. A working 

 plan has been made for the property and systematic plant- 

 ing has been in progress during the past fifteen years. 

 Improvement thinnings have been made and considerable 

 mature and diseased hardwoods removed. Good roads 

 have been constructed and other work accomplished look- 

 ing towards the orderly development of the property for 

 the production of timber as well as for purposes of pro- 

 tection and recreation. 



Cincinnati, Ohio, owns a municipal forest of 1,500 

 acres, which consists chiefly of old fields with pronounced 

 topographic features. At present it comprises an aggrega- 

 tion of farms of which about 25 per cent is in forest, 

 mostly culled or severely injured by grazing. These for- 

 ests are being managed as selection forests since the 

 growth is largely all-aged classes. Reforestation has been 

 begun and will play an important role in the development 

 of the property since 75 per cent is open or denuded land. 

 During the past two years approximately 150 acres have 

 been reforested. The object of municipal ownership and 

 management is for the protection of potable water supply, 

 for recreation purposes, and for the production of wood. 

 Oberlin, Ohio, owns 110 acres. The area now covered 

 with timber is managed as a selection forest. Reforesta- 

 tion of the open fields was begun ten years ago. 



Lynchburg, Va., owns about 7,000 acres of land situ- 

 ated northwest of the city in the Blue Ridge. The city 

 keeps one man employed there constantly and another 

 at times to guard against trespass and fire. The city has 

 not as yet attempted any planting or improvement cutting. 

 Staunton, Va., owns about 5,000 acres of mountain 

 land, from which it obtains its water. The property is 

 situated south of the city on the northwest slope of the 

 Blue Ridge. It is mostly cut-over land and no attempt 

 has yet been made to improve it. 



The city of Newark, N. J., owns approximately 22,851 

 acres on the upper waters of the Pequannoch in Morris 

 and Passaic counties. A large part of the tract is farm 

 land which has been depopulated to prevent contamina- 

 tion of the water. Six or seven years ago some planta- 

 tions were made under the direction of the State forester 



and at various times since some young trees have been 

 planted. It is probable that this tract will ultimately be- 

 come forested, but little has as yet been done looking to- 

 ward its orderly development for the production of forest 

 crops. 



Essex County Park Commission, New Jersey, owns 

 3,365 acres, of which 2,050 acres are forested with hard- 

 woods. Improvement thinnings are made from time to 

 time, though chiefly with the view to scenic effects. 



East Orange, N. J., owns 800 acres. About 400 acres 

 are forests, and planting is in progress upon about 200 

 acres. A forest nursery is maintained, also some im- 

 provement fellings are carried on in the older stands. 



Atlantic City, N. J., owns about 2,000 acres in Atlantic 

 County, but the property is scarcely accorded fire pro- 

 tection. 



Asheville, N. C, owns 1,700 acres, which embrace the 

 entire watershed from which the potable water supply is 

 obtained. It is patrolled to prevent fire and trespass, and 

 is fenced to exclude cattle. A well-constructed fire line 

 surrounds about half of the property. 



Bryson City, N. C, owns 196 acres mostly forested. It 

 has a watchman to prevent fire and trespass, but the for- 

 est has not been organized for forest production. 



Marion, N. C, owns 628 acres. It is patrolled to pre- 

 vent fire and trespass and a fire line entirely surrounds it. 

 It has recently been fenced to exclude cattle. 



Newington, N. H., owns a tract of 200 acres, most of 

 which carries a dense pine stand which varies in age 

 from 20 to 60 years. A few years ago it became neces- 

 sary to make some town improvements. On a patch of 

 six acres in the town forest an older growth of pine 

 was sold for $2,000, which made the necessary improve- 

 ments without increasing taxes. Plans are now under 

 way to plant the cut-over land and to survey and map 

 the growth, dividing it into age classes and forming a 

 systematic plan of cutting and reforestation. Eight thou- 

 sand pine trees were planted in 1914. 



The city of Manchester, N. H., owns 1,800 acres, which 

 protects its water supply. Rapid progress is being made 

 in the removal of oaks and gray birch that are subject to 

 damage by the gypsy moth and in planting the open land 

 with pine. During the years 1914-15, 15,000 pines were 

 set out. 



The city of Concord. N. H., owns about 400 acres for 

 water protection. In 1914, 50 acres of land, badly in- 

 fested with gypsy moth were lumbered, bringing to the 

 city a revenue of over $4,000. The brush on this lum- 

 bered area was burned and reforestation established. 

 So far 87,000 pines have been planted. 



The above have been selected from a large number of 

 brief descriptions because they fairly well represent the 

 point of view that different communities hold in regard 

 to their forest property and the increasing recognition of 

 the value of these lands for the production of timber 

 without in any way lessening their importance for protec- 

 tion purposes and for purposes of recreation. 



