Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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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. 187 But in our forest reserves the hard woods that have so prominent a place in our lumber industry and agricultural implement, furniture, and cabinet manufactures are scarcely represented. The cedar, tamarack, canon live oak, and tan-bark oak are the only hard woods of commercial importance found on the reserves. Our walnut, maple, ash, locust, hickory, cherry, and beech timber are as yet derived almost wholly from the Central States, mainly east of the Mississippi. Timber planting has not kept pace with timber cutting, and the supply is diminishing. Furniture makers already complain of the scarcity of black walnut. The only other source of these hard woods is the Appalachian belt from the southern part of New York to Alabama. They grow in largest numbers on the slopes of the southern half of these mountain ranges. On the neighboring lowlands spread away the forests of long- leaf, short-leaf, and loblolly pines, which make the great luinbe*" industry of our South Atlantic States. The hardwoods above them have as yet. scarcely been touched, but with the diminishing supply of hard woods on the central plain from the Mississippi eastward, lumbermen are beginning to look to the mountains. The question is whether this large source of supply shall also be depleted or whether, by the methods of scientific forestry, the timber shall be renewed, so that later generations, as well as ourselves, may- have the benefit of it. These forests can be protected only by Government regulation, and if the States do not take steps to conserve these large sources of wealth the question whether the National Government should not acquire the right to do so at a time when it is asserted it maybe cheaply acquired is certainly worthy of serious consideration. [The New York Times] One of the most interesting matters now before Congress, and one which should attract general attention, is the proposition for the establishment of the Appalachian forest reserve, for which a bill was introduced in Congress a few days ago. This proposed measure directs the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase not to exceed 2,000,000 acres. [The Wilmington (Del.) Slur.] The efforts of the Appalachian National Park Association are succeeding far beyond the anticipation of the most urgent supporters of this great movement. * * * Prominent and influential men in everypart of the country have given their aid, numerous newspapers have advocated the project, and as yet no adverse or unfavorable criticism has been heard or written, and it seems practically certain that with a united movement the park can be secured.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).