Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Appalachian National Park Association Newspaper Clippings, 1899-1902

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  • THE PROPOSED APPALACHIAN PARE. The movement for an Appalachian park has made so much progress, met with bo much favor from the press of the country, and been so heartily recommended by Secretary of Agriculture, Wilson, and other representatives of the government who have investigated the matter, there is little doubt that the report of the committee recommending an appropriation of $10,000,000 to buy such land as may be owned by individuals, and do necessary work, will be favorably acted upon by Congress at the next if not at the present session. As giving some idea of the favor with which it is viewed by some of the leadiDg Northern papers, we clip the following (which also gives some interesting information) from an editorial in the Philadelphia Prtss: "Id the Southern Appalachian Mountain system, from Virginia to Alabama, the typical American forest growth find* its highest development. One hundred and thirty-seven species of trees have been examined and de scribed by the Government experts who have visited and surveyed tbe territory. Northern and Southern varieties there meet and commingle, making it an ideal region for the lover and student of tbe American silva The soil and climate and abundant rainfall combine to give the most favorable conditions to tree development. The coniferous evergreen trees are there in every variety, but with them in abundant measure and great development grow the oak, beech, asb, chestnut, walnut, cherry, tulip, mulberry, magnolia and a list of others that it would be tedious to recite. Congress has authorized forest reservations elsewhere. It is now proposed to set apart and save to future generations some 4,000,000 acres of this Southern primeval forest growing in natural parks, with a setting of cascades and gorges, the sound of many waters and the greater elevation of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains looking down upon it. "Congress cannot do posterity a greater service than to save for it a portion of this magnificent heritage. For under the natural law of human self fishnes?!, shortsightedness and carelessness these primeval forests are doomed. The movable sawmill is eating into it in every direction, leaving behind it a mass of inflammable debris that sooner or later is the starting point of a forest fire more destructive in a week than a hundred sawmills in an entire year. For some reason the whole of this section seems to have a strong affection for side- hill farming. They have cleared nearly one-quarter of the area under 1 consideration and their steeply-inclined farms, after four or five years of leaching, wishing and erosion, are worthless for farming purposes and IT di ti al m ?n bi w n II k E I n n a It p ■ 8 have lost the capacity to reproduce a fresh forest growth. Primeval forests are getting rare in this country. The forests most familiar to us now are second growth, too thick-set for beauty and often nearly impenetrable and with a stand of trees on the average much less valuable than the original growth. Before the country is entirely cut over let us save at least some samples of the original forest for future generations." Aside from the inestimable value of these wooded mountain ranges as suppliers of the Btreams which feed the rivers that run to the sea, they will also be of inestimable value as break waters, protecting these streams from sudden, destructive inundations, which are now becoming somewhat frequent as a result of indiscriminate forest denudation. But, aside from all this, the region to be embraced in thirfreserva- tion contains some of the grandest mountain scenery to be seen on either hemisphere. It is called "the Switzerland of America," and is in some respects superior to the mountain attractions of Switzerland. ' The Ap^ittlaclimtt-Park. Lynchburg News:' From a rather unsuspected quarter comes an appeal to Congress in behalf of the Appalachian Park. The Hartford Cou- rant has this to say on tho subject: "A sad mistake will be made— one which tbe coming generations will find it very hard to forgive—if Congress does not secure for them the Appalachian Park while it can. That glorious Southern mountain country, with its wealth of stately forests and tumbling streams, should be added at once to the national heritage. To let it become a prey to the lumbermen and their auxili- ries in the evil work of devastation would be a crime against the American people." Our thanks are due to the Cou- rant for so warmly championing a measure fraught with so many benefits to half a dozen States, and one that is recommended by ho many considerations, both utilitarian and sentimental. The lime has come for action. The delay of a siDgle year would involve the loss of some of tbe benefits to be gained by immediate action. The coat of the enterprise is a mere triile in com-,! parison with its obvious merits ;1 THE GREATEST OF PA We are glad to know^KW^lie bill to establish a natlona^VrSst reserve in the Southern Appabarfnan range has been re- portfcltarf«B»ifPPf*«»-th,e house of representatives. This Is a measure that should have the prompt and hearty support of the men of all parties In congress. The sooner it shall be passed the better It will be. The bill authorizes the purchase of 4,000,000 acres of land in the mountain region extending from Southern Virginia and West Virginia to Northern Alabama and Georgia, touching South Carolina and Tennessee, and containing not only the greatest variety of timber In the country, but what is of equal importance, the head springs of more than a dozen important rivers emptying into the Atlantic ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. President Roosevelt devoted a large part of his message to congress last December to this Subject and made an unanswerable argument in support of the proposed great national park. There was a great differ ence of opinion on several ot the | dent's recommendations, but the Intelligence and patriotism of the country ap-' ulauded the policy of this measure for the protection of our forests. No proposition could be made which would involve more comprehensively the interests of the whole country and deserve more general support. Congress should have printed for free distribution throughout the country that portion of the president's message which deals with this matter. The masses of our people need education on the importance of preserving great tracts of forest lands before their depletion can be carried further. Such a grand national park as the 'pending bill provides for would be cheap at almost any money cost. Congress should not adjourn before making provisions for the purchase of the vast area which, under this bill, would be converted Into the greatest forest reserve -in the worjd. While this movement concerns the whole country no state has a more direct interest In it than Georgia. The park would include a large area in this state and it would be one of the most beautiful and most valuable portions of the entire reserve. We cannot doubt that bo* Georgia senators and every member of the house from this state will be earnest and active in promoting the passage of the Appalachian national park bill. I tl The bill appropriating $10,000,- 000 for an Appalachian forest reserve has been favorably reported to the House of Representatives. The expenditure will be made at the rate of $2,000,000 a yeai and it is esti-l mated that more than that amount] of property will be saved yearly in Hti; immunity from floods and morcSai equable rainfall. —4 in
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).