Western Carolina University WCU University of North Carolina Asheville UNCA

Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (21) View all
University of North Carolina Asheville (6) View all
WCU - Great Smoky Mountains - A Park for America

Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve

items 3 of 4 items
  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-13770.jpg
Copyright Download
Item 1 - Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-13768.jpg

Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve

NCWRA_019_12_09_02_01
Item 2 - Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-13769.jpg

Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve

NCWRA_019_12_09_02_02
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-13770.jpg

Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve

NCWRA_019_12_09_02_03
Item 4 - Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-13771.jpg

Resolution favoring the proposed National Forest Reserve

NCWRA_019_12_09_02_04
Item
?

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

  • profitable results; and these European forests are now yielding to the several governments, under conditions not radically different from those that we are soon to have in this country, a continuous net annual revenue of from fl.00 to $5.00 per acre. Beside yielding this continuous and satisfactory revenue these government forests render an important public service by regulating the flow of the streams, thus preventing floods and perpetuating waterpowers and navigation facilities. The pro'posed Appalachian Forest Reserve a Public Necessity and a Good Investment.-—In view of the heavy rainfall on the slopes of these southern mountains—the heaviest on the continent except that on the North Pacific coast—and the absence of vigorous grasses, the forest is the only agency that can prevent the rapid washing away of the soils. In view of the absence of lakes from this region the soil, held and covered by these forests, is the only agency that can store the heavy rains in suclr a way as to limit the terribly destructive floods, perpetuate the valuable waterpowers on the upper portions, and the navigation facilities on the lower portions of the numerous streams that have their sources in this region and flow across the several adjacent States. The damages from floods in this region during the past year, due to partial forest destruction, are estimated to have reached nearly $20,000,000.00; and this wi 11 undoubtedly increase as the forest destruction increases. Waterpowers, which, when fully developed, will produce power valued at $20,000,000 per annum, depend on the preservation of these forests. The ten per cent of these waterpowers already developed now operates manufacturing plants valued at over $25,000,000. The establishment of this forest reserve in the hardwood region will prove a good investment. The reserve will be self- sustaining almost at once; and in a few decades the sale of forest products would yield a net revenue to the Government. Long before the end of the present century this Appalachian Reserve will have yielded an aggregate net revenue which will approach that of the European government forests stated above; and meanwhile it will have attained a commercial value many fold that of the present. The Protection of these Hardtcood Mountain Forests is wiser and far Cheaper than, their subsequent Restoration.—As these mountain forests are destroyed and the soils removed by the washing rains, the storms in that region will increase in violence and the floods in the extent of their devastation for hundreds of miles across the half dozen adjacent States. The demand for the restoration of the forests would then everywhere be heard. But while these forest lands can now be purchased and protected, under the provisions of the pending bill, at an average cost of about $2.50 per acre, the restoration of these forests,
Object
?

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

Related items

Part of Collection

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...

View collection Read introduction
panzoom image
wcu_great_smoky_mtns-13770.jpg