The times., 1899-12-31
A GREAT EASTERN PARK.
Why should Sot the Government Es-
fnblish Ii.
From the Hartford Couranl.)

(tfcm lae Hartford CourJni.)
The widest and most naturally beautiful
part of this country east OF the Rocky
Mountains is that region where North Car
olina, Tennessee. Virginia South Care. ina
and Georgia approach each ether. It is q
mountain country with an average e,eva-
tiOu Of 4.0C0 feet, and peaks running up
thousands Of feet higher. The tal.esJ
mountain east OF the Rockies is in North
Carolina
This wild region abouHds in timb-r. ana
is stiu q natural and UHbrOken wilderness
except as the lumbermen invade it's quiet
They have come. Already traffic iu forest
land Is active ard the railroads OF the
vicinity are loaded with lumber for market
Let the American psOple sit by with their
accustomed optimistic apathy, and before
long the forests viii be gone. the water
courses left TO dry up. the bears, deer. and
other wild animals killed OF and nsthTg
but d fading memory remain OF what is
row great natural park
The General Government ought 70 step
in. before IL is too late and take possess
sion OF the whole region The Yellowstone
Park, far away and to all but a few inac-
cessible. should be supplemented by this
national reservation. which is easily reach
ed by the great majority Of the people OF
the United States. Take your map ana
you viii find that from Boston on the east
around by Buffalo. Cleveland. Cincinnati
Chicago, and St Louis to New Orleans.
Jacksonville, and so on up 10 Washington,
every city on the imaginary circuit hat
railroad facilities bringing iJ within one
nights ride of AsheviIe. the central p0inl
in the Blue Ridge and Great smoky coun-
try Establish a park there and people
from every large city this side Of the Mis-
sissippi would be visiting it in large num-
beTs at all seasons o. the year. As an Op-
pOrtunity for cOnferTing on the citizens
OF the country a means OF great enjoyment
this chance for Congressional action is
unique But thar really would be only an
incident OF the work. In this elevated land
are multitudes OF clear sweet streams, de-
livering water 20 the Atlantic coast and TO
The Mississippi River The divide is in
the possible park. &c the timber IS all
stripped from these hills the streams viii
dry up and the ultimate loss viii be seri-
Gus and widespread Leading citizens OF
North Carolina and other States adjoining
have recently held a meeting and formed
themselves into the Appalachian National
Park Association. to push the park project.
It ought to 20 without much pushing All
that Is needed is TO set people thinking
about IT,
Look at what the Government might do.
and at what on the contrary will be done
II LAe NdtlOAdi tfofct Ll-lls-iit No7a I'- ,e-A-o
in and protect nature there Once done,
the mischief could never be undOne- The
less would not be local but national.
Everybody who fails to see the North
Carolina mountains suffers a direct loss.
whether he knows it or not Open the
region to the whole country and let these
sights be assured and available at all
times. and the park would be one Of the
most popular resorts Of the United States.
Congress ought to jump at the chance to
get possession Of the great tract. at least
500. 600 acres. said 10 be purchasable now
at hardly more than nominal figures % he
cost Of a single battIeship would give Us
this park. available for future generations
as well as for ourselves. Tt is to BE- hoped
the committee viii set the work going
early and carry it TO the success that the
American people viii wish for it and for
themselves.