The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-26

of the Rocky Mountains except in West
em North Carolina. Every visitor TO
ASheville who goes into the heart OF
the meuiAtRin country returns 10 this
plaee delighted with the suipass ng beau
iii and grandeur az the mountains that
here kiss the skies These visitors liy-
ing All over the world. will be delighted
Is hear that at last there is an ofganiza-
;ien. headed by influential and practical
nlyn, who intend 60 leave no stone nm
turned lit their effort to induce Congress
a. establish a Maternal Park hero.
in his eloquent address az welcome TO
The convention, Hon, Locke Craig gave
slowing word pictures OF the mountain
country aud the reasons for the estab-
liSlnpeut OF National Park. In part,
he said
1T has been the policy Of the govern.
ment to establish parks from time to
time. and II is remarkable that this
mountain region of the South has here
telarc been overlooked; for above all
ether sections il Is nh ideal country for
IA park 1t has not the snow-clad alu-
tudes OF the Rockies nor the sterile
grandeur of the Sierra Nevadas; but
here is great country of undulating
table lands and mighty mountain ranges
whose soil is us productive as the prairies
OF Illinois; here are peaks whore Vulcan
might forge his thunderbolts and where
the Gods or Olympus might sit in coun-
ell above the clouds: here are fertile
valleys sleeping peacefully beneath the
giant cliffs OF mountains that rise in
majestic grandeur above the storms,
watered by crystal streams that break
in everlasting melody fresh from the
granite OF eternal hills; here is a region
whore winter fingers not; the mountains
swell with life at the breath OF early
spring and clothe themselves in gar
ments or emerald leaf and many tinted
flowers; summer sunshine wraps the
earth in lustrous woodland, changing to
royal robes Of autumn splendors of pur-
nle and crimson and cloth of gold; trans
Parent waters Of creeks and rivers glide
and dance and foam over their rocky
beds, above them as an arch, the arms
OF the giants Of the forests, on their
banks the honeysuckle the violet, the
figer-lily, the ivy and the laurel breathe
perfume as sweet as the odors of the
lilies of eternal peace
This magnificent productive country
was made to produce the highest types
if enlightened men and women. 1t was
designed for peaceful, prosperous home
steads. for fields Of golden grain and the
happy sons Of reapers. Man was not
made for the forests bit the forests
we're made for men, While this is true
/ would be reckless stupidity, negligence
of the grossest kind. IL portion of this
grand and picturesque region be not
preserved in its original natural condi-
ton for the enjoyment and welfare Of
tho people. There Is only enc feasible
way to accomplish this and that is by
government ownership. These large
areas can now be purchased at nominal
sums. The timber alone. even at pres
ent prices, is worth mare than the price
asked for the fee simple title. The lum-
ber supply of the United States is rapid
y diminishing, the value of timber is
rapidly advancing. Within a few years
every timber tree to the tops of our re-
| hottest mountains will be valuable for
| lumber and will be cut down. The for
ests will be destroyed unless something
| be done for their protection. The own
ers of these lands may appreciate their
natural beauty and the irreparable loss
from sentimental standpoint, but we
| cannot expect the individual in this age
| Of money making to sacrifice to senti-
mental considerations his material well
fare and opportunity to better his condi-
ton. The government must preserve
this Invaluable gift of nature for the
benefit Of the people and now is the ae-
eepted time, now is the day OF salvation.
| To-day the men Of the best blood of
the North are turning their faces toward
the South The Yanderbilts and the
| Roebings. men Of that type. men OF
| large means and large intellects and large
| patriotic hearts: honest, industrious,
| thrifty tradesmen, farmers, and arti-
sans and professional men OF the high
est talent are making their homes among
1 us, bringing here their Lares and Pen
ates. They constitute n most valued
element OF our citizenship. All these.
1 whether rich or poor, we hail with a
most cordial greeting and stretch ont
/ 10 them the right fand of welcome and
brofherly love- We esteem their money,
/ but prize their manhood more.
What shall hinder our getting this
park? TO the men who have fnus far
labored so earnestly and diligently for
/ 1t. is due all praise and thanks If the
work continue in the same spirit, with
The same zeal and energy the reaiiza-
ton Of our hopes is assured. Other sec
tions have their parks, why not the
/ south? She pays more than her pro
rata part OF the revenues of this gov
1 efnment. In many Of its advantages she
does not participate. 70 the millions
Of pension money for the soldiers tlaJ
fought for the Union she cheerfully con-
| tributes, but asks not one dollar for the
soldiers OF the armies of the storm
1 Graded nation that fell Every Child
of Dixie is loyal to the Republic. She
| has heard upon her bosom the tramp of
| enlbattled hosts. She was smitten and
/ sinitten again by the cruel. relentless
/ hand of civil war; she felt to the quick
| the seourge of ayenging armies. The
| arguments Of Calhoun were answered by
the logic of the sword; her honest pur-
pose was foiled, her brave armies were
destroyed. She accepted the decree OF
| the Almighty viii. In the travail of her
| sorrow and desolafion. from the depths
of her being, she cried, Amen In the
| darkest hour, bleeding and crushed
| there came the dawn Of "a nobler life
| With never faltering faith, we believe
| that the Lord of Hosts shed upon hel