Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Secretary of Agriculture report on watersheds

items 39 of 41 items
  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-14419.jpg
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  • APPALACHIAN AND WHITE MOUNTAIN WATERSHEDS. 37 have to be paid by individuals in purchasing the same lands. Some landowners might attempt to charge the Government more, but, on the other hand, there are those who appreciate the advantages of the Government's going into this work, and they would rather sell to the Government than to any other purchaser. To purchase land economically in either region the Government should not limit itself closely either as to time or locality. Purchase should be undertaken in several localities at once, as in this way competition can be induced. There should be no undue anxiety or haste to acquire land in any particular locality. Haste would mean the fixing of too high a standard of prices and result in waste of money, and besides would certainly involve the Government in difficulty with respect to titles, which in both regions present complications. The acquirement of the necessary lands in either region can best be accomplished by a steady process worked out through several years of purchasing those lands which are desirable, which are offered at the most advantageous rates, and to which valid title can be secured. The right to take lands under condemnation proceedings would be helpful, especially, in some instances, to perfect title, but the condemnation right must be handled with the greatest care and judgment and should be used only to clear title and in other cases of extreme necessity. RECOMMENDATIONS. In view of the conditions described on the foregoing pages, it is clear -that the Government should undertake without delay the acquisition of a definitely restricted amount of land in specified watersheds in the White Mountains and in the Southern Appalachians for the establishment of national forests. In the White Mountains it is recommended that the Government acquire an area of not to exceed 600,000 acres within the area designated on the accompanying map and so situated as to embrace as much as possible of the Presidential, Franconia, Sandwich, and Carter-Moriah mountain ranges; that a limit of $6 per acre be fixed as the average price to be paid for cut-over lands; that an appropriation of $1,250,000 be made immediately available for such purchase: furthermore, that $250,000 additional be appropriated for the purchase of the timber in its present condition, surrounding the five important recreation points described on page 30. In the Southern Appalachians it is recommended that areas aggre- tating not more than 5,000,000 acres be purchased within the limits esignated on the accompanying map, and distributed, as may seem advisable, over the higher watersheds of the following rivers: Potomac, James, Roanoke, Yadkin, Catawba, Broad, Saluda, Savannah, Chattahoochee, Coosa, Tennessee, New, Cumberland, Kentucky, Monongahela; that the limit of average price be fixed at $3.50 per acre; and that an appropriation of $3,500,000 be made immediately available to begin the purchases. It is recommended also that the Government adopt in both regions a policy of cooperation with timberland owners in order to bring about the protection of private forests from fire, and the general adoption of improved methods of cutting.
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