The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-04-12
APPALACHIAN PARK.
Origin and n aninx of the Present
Pad Hsv. msnt

sxine.
While travelling In Europe. some .
years ago, the writer on certain oc-
casion met several Americans ! was
introduced as a North Caroiinian 60
gentleman from Ohio. Hts eoantenAnoe
assumed q ynxried. inquiring look. and
l soon learned. tina. ha was making
mental survey Of the map OF his own
country In order 20 locate NORTH Caro-
lima. Presently be seemed TO recall his
early geographical training a "Eareke
like expression Of Intelligence l. up his
face. and IN a self-satisted manner he
said: "Oh. yes, IL Is In Assevillel
North Carolina In Asheyilleg TAink o'
II. We Tar Hteis.
cite this instAhoe 20 sbo- how ht-
tle was known OF North Carolina be-
yond the Atlantic States only twenty
years aso. and how Rip Van Winkle-
ism. until quite recently, ruled In the
Old North State.
But, presto change! Within the last |
twenty years the wand Of progress las |
| touched our State. Within that uno |
/ she has made greater strides IN indus
| trial developments than any oIaef
State in the Union. To-day the wonder
! ful resources and magic developments
/ OF North Carolina are known ana
| talked Of. not only IN every part OF the
| Union. but IN Europe as well. Every
true lover Of our State syells VIII lnst
pride In his heart when he poins 10
these facts.
The timber lands and the beauty OF
tie scenery OF our St2te have attr-e'ea
the people from all paris of tae ci'h-
,zed world. Only three weeks ago. a
- LnOlaCm
American capital.rss bought a portion
OF our timber lands In eastern NoT'n
Carolina for 500 600. goo, which lhnd.
twenty years ago would prooapiy not
have s3id for s40o0 900. While all this
is GRATIFYING. II Is insignificant when
compa.ed with the possibilities of the
"Iand of TIE Sky" There nature has
nut forth her sublimest Efforts. There
! ore s.ands trarsfixed and views Win
awe the grandeur of the scenery. lhere
r1an is inyoluntarily brought TO feel
his own insgniticarce. and TO reaille
e the sulimity OF the Creator and the
' grandeur Of his handiwo-k
Thousands Of fertile vsllies on whose
: bosoms flow painting the erstwhile per
j turbed streams, which tteeming win
: mountain trout SIMPLIFY wind taeir
e wav to the Gulf. The sweet-scenteu
: laurel. the rhododendron, lobelia card
! mails. azaiias, and thousands OF other
d fora skirt these valleys on every side
/ presenting to the tourist a sceene az
e beautiful ard enchanting as the mos'
T. poetical mind could conceive
l. To preserre these grand forests anc
o shield them from the axemans hand
d has. for a ,ong time. been .he wish o.
MANY Of our most thougbuul citizens
IL hut for the want of concerted action
oi no plan had sterialized until recent
d ly. when Judge Day visited frlen'
81 VIII had settled I'm western North Car
"a olina aad being SO much impresse
ID W "a the scenery ane surroundings' IL
re vigora,ed. simulated and exhilirate
a by the ealth-giying ozone. gave IN
II sne 20 theadvisability Of making na
'e tional park for the East. as the 'fel
low Stone" Is fer the West. Shortl
VI thereafter President Mckinley comm
al through Asheville, Judge Day pointe
60 out to him the grandeur OF the scener
nj and the propriety OF having naiions
ne park for the Atlantic side OF IN
IL limited States. and we hope suceeede
"a. fin inspiring him with his views al,
III enlisting his cooperation.
aI The foregoing incident SO encou
ho aged the people OF western North Car
he lima that their long-cheTished wish D.
d. gan TO take shape. The board Of trat
"a of AsheviIle, soon thereafter. called
by convention OF citizens from v2rio'
~ States. which was held at the latt
'iy nlace on November p, 1893. The CO
yention was largely attended by p.oI
n. nent gentlemen from the two Carolina
ab Georgia and Tennessee. Among who
Is were our two Senators. Mr.. BI.ler ,
IA person) and Mr. Pritchard lby lette;
Congressmen Crawford and Richmol
'oh Pearson. Messrs. Josephus DAME
IN Raleigh News and Observer; y.
ei- Gonzales. editor of The State, Colul
lon b.a, S. c.; p A. Stovall, OF The Saya
ihs nah News, Savannah, Ga, and ma
others OF note The meeting was We
harmonious and patriotic, but the
sn developed difference Of opinion as
iop the name. Some held that IL should
o called the Southern National Par
49,, others. southern Park and For
- Preserve" and still others. especta
.Ia the committee appointed for that y
80 pose. held that the word "Southei
:, might have a tendency to localize
~. and thus fail 20 secure the co-ope
- ton of Eastern and Western Congre
-. men. and some that Forest Prese
- wor 4 not give II the national Sc
,,;s ano character SO much desired. He
,,,id the committee, and think very wis
=, recommended the poetic. elptoni
+, name. which was originally Impair
ard to DoSo,o by the Indians as the n
cer- of this Eastern chain OF mounta
able towit: the Appalachian
lily Thus the association OF the App
NO. chfan National Park was organized
,e,e tie election Of Hon. G. s. Powell. pr
zen- dent and DR.. c. p. Nodie-. as Sc
+skc tary and treasurer; with vice pr
en- dents for the various States, the
, of lowing for this State. to-wft:
70 A. II. McQuilkin, NJ. II. Gone. !
we're r. ID. Gilmer, Hugh MeRae. ]. p. c
!. II we'll. Harry Walters. A. B. Andrew
lent Witkowsky and F. r. Hewitt
tha The various committees have
ency at work In their respective sph
acts and a bill for the establishment Of
,em- Appalachian National Park In ives
con- North Carolina has already been In
duced In Congress.
It Is the aim Of the association
have the United States governr
purchase from 400. 900 to 500. 900 a
Iway of land located in part In ives
ert's North Carolina, Georgia and Ten
) for see. Should the park b establish'
would rebound to North Caroli
s.n greatest glory and benefit No 10
tS = would it be possible for an Ohio
: oae to locate North Carolina in Ashe'
as tens of thousands Of tourists,
only from this country, but from
oaa whole civilized world will annl
oies flock to this Mecca OF Health
are wonderland" Soon there woul
dotted hundreds of cottages anc
esons-perhaps not OF as princely
nifceuce as the Vanderbilt Palace,
, and nscertheless. places of elegance
tande sinemeut; and comfort would 81
three np, and instead OF as now e log c
'roce- he.e md there elegant domes "