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,:', 1891 1891 1897 1905 1919 1919 1919 1921 1921 1922 000699 CHRONOLOGY OF THE WILDERNESS CONCEPT IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS - Forest Service, USDA - Rocky Mountain Region Congress passes the Act of March 3, 1891, authorizing the President to establish Forest Reserves, later to to become National Forests, on the public domain. That same month President Harrison proclaims the Yellowstone Timberland Reserve (now Shoshone National Forest) in Wyoming. The second Forest Reserve is proclaimed on October 16,1891, with 1,198,080 acres designated as the White River Plateau Timberland Reserve in Colorado. This area includes the Flat Tops and Trappers Lake. Congress passes the Act of June 4, 1897, authorizing administration of the Forest Reserves. Previously, they were simply withdrawn from use. The Act of February 1,1905, provides for the transfer of the Forest Reserves from the U.S. Department of the Interior to the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Shortly afterwards, the Bureau of Forestry is renamed the Forest Service. At this time some 60 Reserves have been designated, containing approximately 56 million acres. Arthur Carhart, Forest Service Recreation Engineer, is assigned the task of designing a loop road and summer homesites at Trappers Lake, White River National Forest. As a result, Carhart proposes that the Lake area be kept underdeveloped and prepares management plan. Carhart's Supervisor, C. J. Stahl, approves Carhart's proposal and road plans are dropped. Aldo Leopold learns of the Trappers Lake policy and meets with Carhart to discuss the concept. Carhart outlines key points in memo to Leopold. Carhart makes second visit to the Superior National Forest and prepares Recreation Plan incorporating the wilderness concept. He had initially visited the area in 1919. Paper by Leopold entitled, "The Wilderness and Its Place in Forest Recreation Policy" is published. District Forester approves Carhart's plan for the Superior National Forest. Ultimately, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area will be established in this Forest.