Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Report of the Secretary of Agriculture in relation to the forests, rivers, and mountains of the southern Appalachian region

Item
?

Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • 34 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. in northern Georgia to 71 inches in western North Carolina. The precipitation for the year 1898 in western North Carolina at Highlands was 105.24 inches; at Horse Cove, 99.97 inches; Flat Rock, 78.39 inches, and Linville, 71.05 inches. The rainfall in the warm seasons is often torrential, while in the spring and autumn the rains often continue over several days in succession. During May 21, 1901, the rainfall in twenty-four hours was, at Highlands, N. C, 4.03 inches; at Hendersonville, N. C, 4.91 inches; at Flat Rock, N. C, 6.12 inches; at Marion, N. C, 7.25 inches; and at Patterson, N. C, 8.3 inches. Near Roan Mountain, North Carolina, a rainfall of 8 inches in eleven hours has been recorded. In August of 1901 the total rainfall for the month at Highlands, N. C, was 30.74 inches. ieiPatureslimat" ^he tables which accompany Professor Henry's paper show the temperatures, rainfall, and other weather conditions at practically all of the stations established within this region. They emphasize two facts of special importance in connection with the present discussion, namely, that the climate is such as to permit travel and lumbering operations in all portions of this region throughout the entire year, while the rainfall, being heavy in the aggregate and often excessive within short periods, renders it necessary to protect the forests in order to limit floods and prevent the washing away of the land. HOW CAN THESE FORESTS BE PRESERVED? contrpfth^raSy Having given what I believe to be a fair statement of practical soiu- the conditions existing in the Southern Appalachian region, and considered the danger growing out of the policy and practice now in force, I pass on to inquire through what agency these forests can be preserved. After careful consideration I am able to suggest but one way to solve the problem, and that is for the Federal Government to purchase these forest-covered mountain slopes and make Pro tliein int° a national forest reserve. these forests be- Certainly, the lumbermen and the native farmers, who yonu the agency . . viduals8,16 indi"are now Pusning the destruction of these forests, can not be expected of themselves to bring about their preserva tion. Nor can the perpetuation of forest conditions, upon which depend so many national interests, be left to the caprice of private capital, which has no interest beyond the profits in the lumber industry. The restoration of forests already injured, and the reforesting of the steep
Object
?

Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).