SAVING THE REDWOODS 



533 



ferns, of which there are said to be some 

 thirty species. 



The protection of the California red- 

 woods is now the subject of anxious 

 solicitude on the part of many citizens, 

 but the practical means of achieving this 

 result are in the hands of the Redwoods 

 League. There are two distinct move- 

 ments on foot. First and of instant need 

 are the efforts made by Humboldt County 

 and by the Redwoods League to stop the 

 cutting along the highway on the South 

 Fork of the Eel River. 



OPTIONS PURCHASED BY TWO LOVERS OE 

 THE REDWOODS 



This has been substantially accom- 

 plished, and since August, 1919, all the 

 cutting has been stopped by the purchase 

 of the land on which lumbering opera- 

 tions were here carried on. This was 

 made possible through the munificence of 

 Mr. Stephen T. Mather and Mr. William 

 Kent, each of whom donated $30,000 to 

 be used in the purchase of options on the 

 threatened areas. 



These options have since been taken 

 up by the Supervisors of Humboldt 

 County, a body of men having rare fore- 

 sight. Humboldt County expects to pro- 

 vide a bond issue on a large scale, which 

 will secure the preservation of the groves 

 most in danger, but the bulk of the money 

 needed must be provided by the State of 

 California. The necessary bond issue 

 will shortly be brought before the people. 

 It has been sponsored by the Governor 

 and has the active support of the most 

 influential men in the State. 



In addition to this, the Redwoods 

 League has succeeded in enlisting the 

 support of many public-spirited lumber- 

 men and owners of timber, who propose 

 to donate at least a portion of their hold- 

 ings for park purposes, especially along 

 the highway. 



The extent of this redwoods park has 

 been definitely determined as the entire 

 valley of the South Fork of the Eel 

 River from the point where the redwoods 

 begin down to and including Bull Creek 

 Flat and Dyerville Flat. If, in addition, 

 funds can be provided to purchase any 

 or all of the 20,000 acres of redwoods on 

 the left bank of the main Eel farther 

 down stream, a superb reserve would be 

 established. 



The Eel River redwoods constitute the 

 most immediate problem, but there is also 

 a very definitely formulated plan to pro- 

 vide a National Redwoods Park. A na- 

 tional park requires a large area, with 

 sufficient isolation and compactness to 

 admit of proper administration. There 

 are three such areas available: 1st, the 

 grove along Redwood Creek, of about 

 50,000 acres in extent and peculiarly 

 adapted for a national park ; 2d, the 

 groves along the Klamath River, as yet 

 untouched and of great beauty ; 3d, the 

 Smith River groves, in Del Norte County. 

 A complete survey, such as is now being 

 undertaken by the Redwoods League, 

 will be necessary to determine the rela- 

 tive suitability of these three groves for 

 a national park. 



THE REDWOODS LEAGUE 



The "Save the Redwoods League" was 

 formally organized in San Francisco in 

 July, 1919. 



The league is under the executive con- 

 trol of Dr. John C. Merriam, of the Uni- 

 versity of California, Berkeley, Calif., 

 and its purposes are : 



(1) To purchase redwood groves by 

 private subscriptions and by county bond 

 issues. 



(2) To secure a State bond issue to 

 buy the finest redwood groves along 

 State highways. 



(3) To establish, through Federal aid, 

 a National Redwoods Park. 



(4) To obtain, through State and 

 county aid, the protection of timber along 

 the scenic highways now in course of 

 construction throughout California. 



(5) To' encourage the State to pur- 

 chase cut-over redwood areas for refor- 

 estation by natural means or by replant- 

 ing where repeated fires have made 

 sprout reproduction impossible. 



Committees have been formed also to 

 study the subjects of redwood distribu- 

 tion, variation, and the most efficient 

 commercial use of redwood products, in 

 the belief that nearly all the purposes for 

 which this lumber is now used can be 

 adequately served by second - growth 

 trees. 



REDWOOD GROVES IDEAL MEMORIALS 



One of the first results of the activities 

 of the league has been the donation by 



