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CHAPTER XXXII. The Grand Canyon A Forest Reserve, Game Preserve And
National Monument
Made Forest Reserve in 1893. For several years prior to 1893, the
author and some of his Grand Canyon friends sought to have this
scenic masterpiece preserved from desecration as far as possible. In
that year President Harrison issued a proclamation declaring it a
Forest Reserve, and outlining the boundaries to be included.
Homesteads. It is interesting to note that, up to the time of the
issuance of this proclamation, any citizen of the United States
might have located a homestead on one hundred and sixty acres of
land in the Grand Canyon region. The only two old-timers who had
taken advantage of this provision of the law were John Hance and P. D.
Berry. The former located at or near the head of the trail that
bears his name, and Berry at the head of the Grand View Trail. Both me
built log houses, Hance's being a somewhat rude structure, while
Berry's was a substantial building. The Hance cabin was already built
when I first visited him in 1889, and Berry built his in the years
1896-1898. Game Preserve in 1906. On November 28, 1906, President Roosevelt issue
a proclamation setting aside that part of the reserve north and west
of the Colorado River as a Game Preserve. To further safeguard it and
protect the cliff dwellings of the ancient inhabitants from the
vandalism of irresponsible excavators, who ruthlessly knocked down
the walls of buildings of permanent interest, President Roosevelt, on
January 11, 1908, declared it a National Monument, and on June 23 of
the same year, the Game Preserve was enlarged to include the whole of
the Forest Reserve. President Roosevelt on July 2,1908, which divided the Grand Canyon
Forest Reserve into two parts, the section north of the Grand Canyon t
be known as the Kaibab National Forest, and that on the south as the
Coconino National Forest. All these proclamations may be had by addressing the Chief Forester,
Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
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