The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-07
NATIONAL PARK
The Movement to Build a Park In
tho Mountains OF Western North


| Ahe MOVcmcnt 10 btlIu aih III
tho Mountains OF Western North
| Carolina.
J. G. Darlington in Spartanburg Herald.
ASHEvILLE, Nov. 2S.-Tne conven-
tion just held hero to set on foot a
movement to build q park in the noun
tains OF Western North Caroiina, or
more properly speaking, to secure the
consent Of Congress TO preserve the
original forests and streams and noun
tain crags as nature has designed d
them, WAS attended by owe sixty men
from all Of the Southern States. These
mon feel suro that when tho real bcne
| Its to the people which this park and
! forest reservation will become is set
forth, that Congress will not hesit To
to make the experiment. Leading
torcStcr5 In evury part OF the United
States give active aid to She move
ment. They point out that the health
OF tho community, the rivers, creeks
and branches, demand that the inrOads
upon the forests at the head waters Of
these streHms shail stop. 1t Is easier
and cheaper to preserve these forests
now than to rcplant them later, as
| European countries nave been forced
| to do.
From tho enthusius with which
| the movement has been undertaken
and the fact that the government has
four national parks, rot one Ut which
Is In the South, there Is every reason
to hope that Congress will at an early
| date vcquire the wildly pictures que
mountain regions OF This section and
stay the hunters hand and the destruc.
tion which follows In the wake of &C qui.
| Sitjon nv lnm Spr prtnpopjes
ever to be done, now is the time
The convention, which met at the
Battery Park, WAS earnest, thought
! ful and determin I'd. Every phase OF
the question was discussed, but the ut
most harmony prevailed and perma-
nent organization elected which will
present the matter to Congress and ar
range prellminaries.
Geo. 5. Powell, a retired merchant
and capitalist, OF Asheville, was
elected president OF the association.
( DR.. Amber Of Asheviie, who has
done valiant work already in work.n .ns,
up popular enthusiasm in the enter.
prise, was elected secretary and treas
urer.
Twenty-Five vice presidents were
chosen from North Carolina, South
Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia,
Georgia, Tcnnc,s &C and Kentucky. This
list includes men promiDeEt in pro-
noting sucn work, governors and sena-
tors. South Carolina Is represented
among tie vice preside nts by MIR. John
b. Cleveland, Gen. Edward McCrady y
rectors OF the association, Mr.. j. &.
Darlington represents South Carolina
Edi.Cr Gonzales of tho COlumbi
State was chair man Of the convention,
and proved himself an able parliamen
tartan, rs we'll ~ foremost editOria!
writer IN the Sout... But uuucr lh,
circumstances 1t WAS most amusing tt
sec Editor Gonzales introduce Marion
Butler to the convention, and few
moments later read letter from his
Rarticularl C: aversion, Benjamin RJar
Tlllman. Ti.is letter from Senator
Tillman, which MIR. Gonzales read
ought to be preserved. Nothing like
IL, / aIu sure, was ever writer
before. Like a hundred other pro
minent men, Senator Tillman vas
invited to the convention ant
Maj. Nick ssick of the Batter,
, Park hotel aided the enterprise BY
.. asking a number OF them to BE- hi:
personal guests. Senator Tillman dc
clined TO come, on the ground tha
mat!cfS on MS larm uCmand his per
sonal attention, but Significantly added
that he hoped to bo able 10 accept
Maj. McKlssick's invitation solEe time
in the near future. Chairman Con
zales read his letter with ghoulist
gloe, and when tho clause lntimati ne
that the senator night accept the
invitation and spend the summer
at the Battery Park was read, the
convention saw the point and gave
hearty laugh. There was not the
slightest intilnatiOn from Senator TIL
man rs to how he stands on the Ap
palachian Park project, though it Il
certain that he duly appreciates the
Battery Park.
After the work OF tho convention
was completed the people OF Asheville
took the delegates in hand ard gave
them a delightful drive over the Van
derbilt grounds. 1t would take 9
week to tell all that Is to bo seen or
these 142. 900 acres.
Maj. McKissick comp, ;nentrd hi.
friends, Elitors Gonz llca, Stoynl anc
Darlington, with mag iiccnt stag
dinner last night, c0vers being laid fOl
II. 1t lie not at nii necessary to SAY
that Mai. McKissick added to the sue
cess OF tho convention by tho roya
manner In which he entertained tn,
delegates, for that is taken for granted
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