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Secretary of Agriculture report on watersheds

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  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-14414.jpg
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  • 32 APPALACHIAN AND WHITE MOUNTAIN WATERSHEDS. While the lands shown on the map are all in need of protection, they are not all of equal importance when all economic points of view are considered. The lands to be classed as of first importance include the mountain ridges mainly, but extend considerable distances down the slopes in those localities where the soil is particularly subject to erosion and on the watersheds of streams of greatest importance for water power or navigation. The area of such lands does not exceed 5,000,000 acres. The same class of land for the White Mountain region is shown in Map II. It lies in both New Hampshire and Maine. Excluding the numerous bodies of water, their area in New Hampshire is 1,457,000 acres, and in Maine 700,000 acres, making a total of 2,157,000 acres. The proportion in which this falls in the five water systems included is as follows: Acres. Connecticut 429,000 Merrimac 264. 000 Saco 332,000 Androscoggin 1, 002, 000 Kennebec 130, 000 . Total 2,157, 000 There is also shown on this map an area embracing only the four main ranges of the White Mountains. A few thousand acres of this area lie in Maine. All the rest is in New Hampshire. This principal White Mountain area covers 668,000 acres, and, considering all economic points of view, is the most important part of the region. TREATMENT OF THE REGION. The areas indicated in the preceding section, 23,310,000 acres in the Southern Appalachians and 2,157,000 acres in the White Mountains, do not include all the mountainous timberlands of the Appalachians. As is discussed under the heading " Importance of Appalachian forests for hardwood supply," there are probably 75,000,000 acres in this mountain system more important for timber production than for any other purpose. This area will have to be given protection before the hardwood supply is on a safe footing and before the watersheds of the important streams are adequately safeguarded. It is an enormous undertaking to bring this immense area of 75,000,000 acres under proper conditions of protection and use. If the Government owned the land, the problem would be a comparatively simple one under our present forest policy. The Government owns almost none of it, and it can not be expected to undertake the purchase of such an area which at present prices would amount to many millions of dollars. The land is owned by individuals or companies whose chief interest is immediate profit. Considering past and present conditions one is forced to the conclusion that the individual holders are not going to manage, these lands in a way commensurate with public welfare. On account of the difficulty of protecting them from fire, and on account of the high tax rates which are common on cut-over timberlands, the owners consider that it does not pay them to do so.
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