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WCU - Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

Correspondence between Stanley W. Black and Zebulon Weaver, January, 1933

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Correspondence between Stanley W. Black and Zebulon Weaver, January, 1933

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Item 2 - Correspondence between Stanley W. Black and Zebulon Weaver, January, 1933
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-1988.jpg

Correspondence between Stanley W. Black and Zebulon Weaver, January, 1933

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Item 3 - Correspondence between Stanley W. Black and Zebulon Weaver, January, 1933
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-1989.jpg

Correspondence between Stanley W. Black and Zebulon Weaver, January, 1933

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  • STANLEY W. BLACK ATTORNEY-AT-LAW ■RYSON CITY, N. C January 5, 1933 Honorable Zebulon Weaver, M. C. Washington, D. C. Dear Zeb: You are more or less familiar with the financial condition of Swain County, caused by the loss of so much of our taxable area being taken by the Smoky Mountains Park and the Forest Service; also, the large amount of taxes we have lost on the Indian Lands, due to the unexpected decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals. If Swain County continues to exist, it is imperative that we recieve some relief, either from the State, the national government, or both, in connection with the payment of our bonded indebtedness, which was incurred on the strength of our tax values on all of these lands. Almost one-half million dollars was spent on roads which are now either within the area of the Indian Reservation and the Park lands, or in such close proximity thereto, that the county would never have incurred the expense had it had any foreknowledge that these large areas would be palced in a condition to escape taxation. Copy riglited Material .Western Carolina University _ _ . I do not know wnat yoft^anjio in the way of Federal relief, but I would be glad if you woulagjive this matter your earnest consideration, and, if you can devise any plan whereby some of these obligations could be taken over, you would be doing this county a most valuable service- It seems eminently unfair that the Indian Reservation should remain a part of Swain County and contribute nothing to the operating expenses. It is also very unfair for the property holders of the county outside the Park area and. Indian Reservation to be saddled with this great burden of debt that was originally spread over the entire county. The taxable area still remaining is a fraction less then 43^ of the original area of the county and the tax valuation is around 66 2/yfo. I will be very glad to have your views on this question. In regard to the settlement of the Methodist Church claim, if you have authority to do so, please submit me the best offer you can for settlement. I do not think the claim made by the committee appointed by the Conference of $500*00 is more than should be paid, but they might be willing to cut the amount slightly, if the matter could be immediately adjusted. With kind regards, I am Very truly yours, SWB:W S. W. BLACK
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  • Zebulon Weaver (1872-1948) was a lawyer and U.S. Representative from western North Carolina. He was a member of the North Carolina Park Commission and was involved in the land acquisition process that went towards establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and development of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This correspondence between Weaver and Black centers around repercussions of goverment appropriation of lands for the Smoky Mountain Park. Following are brief summaries of each of these letters: Stanley W. Black to Zebulon Weaver, January 5, 1933 In this letter Black expresses concern about considerable portions of Swain County land being appropriated by the Smoky Mountain Park, the Forest Service, and the Indian Reservation. According to Black since these lands were no longer taxable, this measure had placed tax burdens on Swain County residents. Black hoped Weaver could alleviate some of these concerns. Zebulon Weaver to Stanley W. Black, January 10, 1933 In this letter Weaver assures Black that he would pursue in Congress the matter of providing some relief for counties whose lands had been included in the park. Stanley W. Black to Zebulon Weaver, January 12, 1933 In this letter Black thanks Weaver for his support, provides an estimate of the valuation lost on the Swain County lands, and expresses his desire for Congress to stop making what he considered to be wasteful appropriations.

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Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

This digital collection was created to contribute to the public's understanding of the forces and ideas that led to the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934. The most vi...

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