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nents believe that the purchase of the Tamalpais region by the United States government is well warranted. Others suggest that the State of California should appropriate a sum sufficient to acquire this wilderness area at a fair valuation, preserving it as a State park solely on account of its scenic charm. But thus far no tentative offer to buy or sell has been made. The owners are making no effort to unload their property upon the public, knowing full well that its value is gradually enhancing. With constantly improving transportation facilities, the opening of new tracts for country homes continues, with the resultant restriction of

wild and free life. Most of the Tamalpais watershed is owned by a few old families, whose estates have been left much in their primitive state, due largely to a prevalent appreciation of their rare and virgin beauty. It is generally believed by thousands who, tax-free and care-free, roam at will over these principalities of primeval Nature that their owners are more than half willing to turn their property over to the public at a reasonable valuation. Their taxes are ever-increasing, but their revenues from their lands are negligible quantities. In fact, their only financial inducement in retaining these extensive properties, is the ulti

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Sunrise from the summit of Mt. Tamalpais, from a photo taken when rolling

banks of fog covered the valleys and bay waters.

mate partition of these mountain pastures and trackless jungles into suburban homesites. Therefore, those who would transform these highlands of Marin into a great public playground believe that the time is ripening for such a change of tenure. But the people of this State at large have not learned enough about this delight

ful Tamal-Land to enthuse over the investment of public funds in such a realm of recreation. And so, a substitute measure has been submitted to our law-makers.

Assemblyman Clark and Senator Owens have introduced a Bill into the present session of the Legislature, authorizing the setting apart of a special

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From the West Point trail; Muir Woods in the foreground, showing the character of the wooded country proposed as a State preserve for wild game. In the background is an arm of San Francisco Bay.

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One of a number of shady brooks coming down through the woods on the

flank of Mt. Tamalpais.

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The old pioneer sawmill, Mill Valley, some twelve miles north of San

Francisco.

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