; This law was further modified on June 7, 1924, by the Clark-McNary Act “which authorized purchase of land for National Forests when such lands would promote a future timber supply.” With this new legislation in place, Wisconsin and the federal government began the slow process of acquiring land with the formation of a National Forest in mind as the end result. Beginning in 1925, Wisconsin granted the United States the right to purchase lands that was not to exceed 100,000 acres. Moore states that “the legislation required ‘that any tract or tracts so selected shall be first approved by the governor, the commissioners of public lands and the conservation commissioner.’” Two years later, in 1927, an additional 400,000 acres were added to the allotment allowed to the United States as well as the need for the federal government to gain the permission for purchase of land from the county boards in question. Moore further illuminates the reader about the founding of the Nicolet by pointing to an article in The Rhinelander (Wisconsin) Daily News, November 10, 1927. In the article, the Chief of the Forest Service was reported to be in Madison for a meeting with the Wisconsin Conservation Director concerning “the proposal to establish a 500,000 acre purchase area in Forest, Oneida, and Vilas counties.” The November 11th edition of the same newspaper further reported that the proposal had gained the support of the Forest Service, the State Conservation Commission, and the Governor of Wisconsin, as well as the newspaper editor. Moore quotes the editorial to state: If approved by the county boards, the action will be a long step forward in the reforestation program. The Federal government will buy worthless land, good only for forestry, from the present owners. When merchantable timber is produced, it will be cut and sold and a large part of the proceeds will be turned ba...
