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

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  • SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 129 These and other facts concerning the general climatic conditions of this region are brought out in the accompanying paper by Professor Henry of the United States Weather Bureau, showing the records of temperature, rainfall, and humidity at the stations of the Weather Bureau between Lynchburg, Va., on the north, and Montgomery, Ala., on the south, and from Salisbury, on the east, to Knoxville, on the west. The entire region is characterized by extremely heavy faf1eavy rain" rainfall in very short periods of time, and owing to the steep slopes and the absence of lakes, ponds, or marshes, which could act as reservoirs and hold back the storm waters, protracted heavy precipitation is followed by a rather rapid increase in the flow of the streams, the rise lasting generally for only a few hours, and the stream soon assuming its normal stage of flow. This is more especially the case where there are forest clearings. Consequently these violent rains, under certain conditions— i.e., where rains are excessive and clearings extensive, or where forest areas arc burned over so as to destroy the humus and undergrowth—give rise to floods which are very destructive to property and which cause occasionally the loss of human life. To a certain extent the forest acts as a reservoir, for it keeps the soil porous, allows it to absorb and hold the water for a time, and gradually gives it forth in the form of springs and rivulets. Where the areas have been deforested, however, the rain water forms small hut swift-flowing torrents down the sides of the mountains, and quickly reaches the streams below. Deep channels arc cut in the mountain sides, and all of the top fertile soil is carried oil. leaving only the underlying clays, which arc of poor quality and do not yield to cultivation. After a storm the streams rising in the deforested areas are extremely turbid with mud from the mountain sides, while those from the forest areas are comparatively clear. This erosion can be noted by the most casual observer, ana it forms one of the greatest menaces to the region, ine soil is deep and fertile, as is shown by the splendid growtn of foivst trees and by its yield under the first cultivation but it is only aquestion of time, if the forests arc want,... cut, when all of the soil and vegetation will be washedIt on the mountain sides and nothing will remain but tin frock These floods, due to protracted rains, are^ **"£ five in strips of valley lands bordering the streams in *S. Doc. 84 9
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).