IN Oak 
SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 21 
Southern Woods Road 
By W. Lester STEVENS. 
Those who are acquainted with the Southern Woods, 
Rockport, know that there are no more beautiful woods 
on the North Shore. 
The woods are in danger of being destroyed by the 
brown-tail and gypsy moths. The danger is not immedi- 
ate, but it will increase each year. ‘There are many dead 
and decaying trees which afford excellent nesting places 
for these pests. 
These woods cover such a large territory that it 
would be impossible for the town to do anything toward 
cleaning them, and under the law, owners of woodland 
can be taxed only one-half of one percent for such work. 
The owners of the property are not likely to have the 
moths exterminated at their own expense as no immediate 
benefit would accrue. And so it seems logical to assert 
that the woods are in grave danger within a few years. 
Rockport has no asset more valuable than these 
woods. In time they are bound to be the location of a 
su™mer resort as important as as that of Manchester or 
Pride’s, and to allow such an asset to be slowly destroyed 
is very unwise. 
But what can be done? one asks. 
dislikes to see the woods destroyed. 
A solution of this problem and of other problems 
which vex the town will in the epinion of many lie in the 
construction of a road through ‘he woods. It is claimed 
that as soon as a main road is built then immediately 
owners of property will open othe. roads to develop their 
property, and everyone admits that a rea.’ is needed and 
is bound to come. 
The question of the route is an all-important one. 
Some favor a road over the hills in the rear of Long 
Beach connecting South street with Jopha road. Un- 
doubtedly such a road would be a pleasant one to drive 
over and would also open up much valuable property. 
Others favor a road entering the woods near the Turks 
Head Inn, Rockport, and terminating at Prospect street. 
But the objection to such a route would be that it would 
open very little woodland. 
A route which has the approval of the county com- 
missioners, the State highway commission, the local board 
of selectmen and of many who are interested, is as fol- 
lows: An entrance to the road about so feet wide would 
be ~ade below Webster’s field. It would skirt the north 
and northwest edge of Cape Pond, the retaining wall 
near the Pumping Station would be moved out several 
feet. These few hundred feet of drive would be very 
beautiful. The road would then cross. the woodland 
Surely everyone 
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owned by Albert French and would meet the path which 
leads into the Darby Pasture, so-called. ‘The woods here 
are very beautiful. -In the Darby Pasture are two large 
hills each of which would accommodate several cottages 
and for which some people would be willing to expend a 
great deal of money. From either hill an excellent view 
can be had; on a clear day even the Isles of Shoals may 
be seen. 
The proposed road would then turn to the left and 
after a few hundred feet would strike a path which enters 
at Beech Plains and connects with the main highway on 
South street, nearly opposite Marmion way. Then the 
road would soon meet the old “Potato Pen Road,” and 
from here would.touch the road which passes by ‘‘Smith’s 
Bridge” and connects with the main highway opposite the 
vacation house. 
Crossing the meadow land owned by the heirs of the 
late Andrew Lane, it would again enter the woods follow- 
ing the Flat rock bars path, then branching off to the east 
through the property of the heirs of the late George H. 
Frost of Waltham, and would enter South Street just 
above Turk’s Head Inn. 
Space will not allow me to write more this week. I 
have given the proposed route hoping that some who are 
interested may follow it. In next week’s issue I will tell 
why it seems to be the most feasible and economical one. 
THERE IS MoRE than one who sympathizes with 
Jerome in his statement that “he is tired and sick of the 
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