The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-20
THE SOUTHERN NATIONAL PARK.
The Origin of the Proposed Park in
the Mountains OF Western North
Carolina

j
s. The movement to establish South
ern national park, which now give
-, sucE fine promise of succese, had II
+ origin in hunting ard 6shing tri
. through portion Of the northves
! country, taken last May by Judg
. William r. Day, McKinley's formc
. Secretary of State; DR.. G. p. Amble
! and George II. Smsthers, of Asheville
= The party was riding through the Sap
phire country on horseback. One morn
= Ing while passing near tho White
, rails, Judge Day stopped, enrspturet
oy the scenery. The other two Nom
oers OF the party rode on without no
. ticing him. Presently DR.. Amber
turned back and found the Judge sill
motionleso under the influence of hi,
majestic surroundings.
=" Do you know what was thinking
about ~ finally asked the judge.
No, but would like to-" replied
the doctor.
Well, l was just thinking that
something ought to be dooe to preserye
Gil this sweeping his hand over the
country. Something should be done
TO save 1t from spoliation." The ex-
secretary was lost in admiration of the
scene.
Why shouldn't it be made na-
tional park ?" suggested she doctor.
Judge Day thought the idea magnif-
icent and the doctor thought 90, too.
From that time DR.. Amber began to
agltate the establishment OF national
park. He worked hard and alone st
first, hut soon secured tho cooperation
OF others and presently there was A
call for convention supported by pro-
minent men In all Of the States OF the
southeast. Tbs convention WAS held on
| November 22, and was brilliant suc-
cess. There was good attendance aud
a well directed effort to secure the park
was inaugurated. The necessary com.
mlttees were formed and as expressing
the sense OF the convention and the ob.
Ject OF the movement, the following
| resolution was passed {:
| Whereas, tho West has tho Yellow
| stone national park and there 10 anoth
er on Mackinac island, and the South
has none, and lum oermen are gaining
control of the virgin forests, game IS
becoming extinct and could be restored
by park, mountain trout are diving
| out, several hundred Thousand acres
could be gotten here cheaply, all of
which fs unrivaled for scenery and is
centrally located ; there is a most salu-
brlous climate; this would be suitable
place Tor the national saRitOrium for
sick soldiers, and the head waters of
our streams should be preserved
therefore bo 1t
Resolved, That Congress be asked
20 set nslde forest preserve for the
park"
had worry interesting talk with
Dr.. AMbler, who ns have paid, was
the original mover in the enterprise.
asked him what were considered the
beat locations for the park, aad he re-
piled
Tho several gentlemen here in
Ashsville who have during tho psss
few months promoted the movonent
toward the establishment OF q national
park In tho Southern Appalachian
mountaihe, have rot proposed and do
not now propose to advocate any one
spot In particular. Personally, IL has
been nay good fortune during tho past
10 years, to have boon pretty we'll over
the wild and unfroquented portions OF
western North Carolina, northern
Georgia, east Tennessee and Virginia,
and do not hesitate at all to say that
the most beautiful parts Of this Appa-
lachian range are located In Heetern
North Carolina.
81 believe that If We can got Con.
grcss to appoint commission to In.
vestigate this movement western
North Carolina will have several sites
presented to them as possible locations.
OF course, the location Of largo tract
or land as forest preserve and national
park lie diff1eult thing to do, particu-
larly for the reason that IL must be ST.
tuated away from the thickly Inhabited
districts. 1t should have the virgin
forests Ii should have some natural
advantages and attractions as regards
sconory, and there should be some 10.
cations whore agriculture could be
pursued On small scale II desired.
If the government investigate tho
practicability Of this projoct their at
tention first will undoubtedly be at.
tracted to the Cherokee Indian reser-
walton In the extreme western part of
tho State. This section, indeed, has
many advantages In Its favor. Ada
cent TO this reservation, which pos.
aesses about 5000 acres, thore 10 a
tract Of land between the Little Ton
nessee and the Pigeon river, about 10 by
60 miles la extent, which 10 practically
an unbrokea wilderness covered by for
osts In their natural state. This Soc
tlon has upwards OF 80 mountains OF
over S, 500 feet In elevation, and 80 OF
over 5000 feet, including the famous
Clingman's Dome. The country Ia well
watered and from scenic point OF
Wow there is nothing which I have
seen in the heart OF the Rockies
through Colorado, or Wyoming, that
| can begin to compare with it In beauty.
Another tract of great beauty and
possibilities Is what Is now known as
the Highland section. A park could
undoubtedly be situated In this region,
including tho 2, 300 acres OF tho Tox.
away company, OF unlimited possibili-
ties to It's eastward. Indeed, perhaps
the most feasible and most desirable
thing OF all would be to establish tho
park ct both OF these points, acquiring
small strip Of land along the railroad
west of Wayneeville, and join these
two sections In this way.
Tho third point to be consitl ered Is
what Is known as Blacks, extending
from tho Craggy mountains to the Lin
Vile and embracing tho region already
well known for its beauty and timber.
This region has In 1t the famous Mt.
Mitchell, an altitude of 6, ,767 feet-the
highest point this sue of the Rockies
The country radiating from Mt. Mitch
ell toward the Toe river and then of
In the Linville region would indeed
make a most desirable location for the
national park and forest reservation.
The famous Murchison foundry is To-
cate6 I'm thts reUion "