University of Virginia Library

State Study Suggests
Sale Of Seward Forest

By Mark Pirrung
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

When released last week, the report of
the Governor's Management Study
reviewing financial status of state
institutions recommended that the
University sell its holdings at the Seward
forest to gain cash assets.

The Seward forest was bequeathed to
the University in 1932 by Walter Merritt
Seward along with his entire estate. The
forest, which constitutes 3,600 acres of
timberland in Brunswick County, was
designated by the will to stand as research
and demonstration ground for the youth
of Virginia in the field of forest
management.

The forest is run at present by Guy Estes
who takes charge of logging and sawing
operations at the Seward property. Mr. Estes
told the Cavalier Daily yesterday that the forest
is run and supported by a $250,000
endowment left to the operations of the forest
by Mr. Seward.

Mr. Estes remarked that the gross sales of
the forest ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 per
year. From its gross profits the Seward forest
provides the salary for one to two professors
every year.

Richard Shutts, Business Manager of the
University commented on the proposal to sell
to the Cavalier Daily saying that the forest had
in the last few years begun to show a profit.

"That forest has just got to the point where
it could really make money," Mr. Shutts said.

The proposition to sell the land must first
come before President Shannon's Arboretum
Committee.

Opposing Valuations

The Governor's report quoted an estimated
value for the total land according to Ray Hunt
the University Comptroller at $300 per acre.

The Virginia Electric and Power Company
recently paid approximately $19,000 for a right
of way through almost 30 acres of prime
timberland in the Forest. The price amounts to
almost $670 an acre.

The forest which was established as a
working branch of the University's Forestry
School in 1935 has served and furthered study
of forestry to the youth of Virginia since its
inception.

Benefactor's Intent

In the will of Mr. Seward the benefactor
states, "It is my desire to create in our native
County of Brunswick an instrumentality for
instruction in the science of forestry, and in the
art of cutting, sawing, manufacturing, and
marketing of products of the forest."

Mr. Estes in a report to the Arboretum
Committee wrote, "Here at the forest may be
seen areas from bare land recently cut over up
through all age classes to mature stands which
are now becoming a rarity in this part of the
country." "Currently the growing stock is
estimated at 1,000,000 board feel. Plans call
for harvesting 1,000,000 board feet annually,"
Mr. Estes continued.