Kalamazoo, Mich., Feb.,21, 1935.

Forest Service,
meee
Gentlemen :-

Some time ago an association was organized
composed of citizens throughout southwestern Michigan and
from destruction a beautiful forest of 590 acres, located in
Volinia Township, Cass County, Mich. This forest contains
practically every variety of hard-wood thet ever grew in
Southern Michigan, and we believe the largest elms and tulip
trees to be found anywhere are in this tract.

We do not wish to make any unwarranted statements,
but in presenting our appeal we do wish to make our claims as
strong as absolute truth will permit. le believe it is the
very last tract of its acreage containing such a wide variety
of hard wood that is left in the United States, and if it is
the last of its kind in the United States, it is undoubtedly
the very last in the world, We know that in the Upper Peninsulé
there are hard-wood forests of much greater area, but we
understand that the tulip and some other trees we have in
southern Michigan do not grow there,and that the trees in
the Upper Peninsula do not attain to the size of those in the
lower Peninsula,

: We wish to have reliable information concerning
forests in other states . We wish to know if we are $ustéfteé
correct in stating thet for variety , size of trees,and

acreage, it is the largest remaining hard-wood forest, and it
is to secure an answer to this

 

_ you.
Among the trees to be found in this forest, are the
following :-
Ash Iron Wood.
Beech. Hard Maple.
Bass Wood. Seft Maple.
Dog Wood. Red Oak. :
White Elm. White Oak.
Red Zim Black Oak.
Rock lm. Paw Paw.
Wild Cherry. Shumac.
Hiskory. Sassafras.
Hackberry. Tulip ( or Whitewood. )

Black Walnut.
White Walnut ( or Butternut)

There is one elm 150 4 feet in height with circumference
three feet from ground of 24.2 ft. and a tulip 145.3 ft. in
heightwith circumference two feet above ground of 20.6. This tree,
straight as 4 rifle barrel, towers above ground 90,8 ft. to the
rirst branch. Other tulip trees in vicinity, nearly the same
size. Most of the black walnuts were cut , put it remains
more like the forests of pioneer days than anything we know.

Can we truthfully claim it is the last of its kind ?
we await with interest your reply,and we assure you

we will very much appreciate your courtesy.
Yours very truly,
A. W. Reynolds.

203 Kal. Nat, Bank Bld‘ g