The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-09
a National Park South.

On the ga Of last November, a meeting
OF prominent Southern men was held at
AsheviHe. y. c. The result was the or
ganizstion OF the Appalachian National
Park Association, and the inauguration OF
a movement which, u Is hoped, will cul-
nitrate in the establishment by Congress
OF 4 great national park somewhere in the
Blue Ridge. or Smoky Mountains, OF
Western North Carolina. The meeting
was both harmonious and enthusiastic,
and one is bound TO admit, after perusal
OF the report OF the proceedings and an
examination OF the arguments OF such
speakers as Senator Marion Butler, Hon.
Richmond Pearson. and Hon. Locke Craig
that there IS a great deal to be said In
favor OF the project.
For one thing. the region selected by the
association is VIGOROUSLY the most beau
tiful in this country. II has not the
rugged majesty OF :he Rockies. but II has
grace and picturesque loneliness, and It is
blessed with a climate so mild and yet so
invigorating, 50 wholesome, so health
giving, that its equal Is hardly to be found
in the whole civilized world Western
North Carolina, the sapphire land" is
both winter and summer resort II is
refuge from the asperities of ice and
snow and relief from the intense heat OF
less favored localities. Years ago its rep
utation as a sanitarium was established
Seekers after pleasure are going there In
annually increasing numbers And, finally,
1t possesses what the Yellowstone Park
does no;-the quality OF accessibility
being within twenty-four hours travel of
Boston. New Orleans. st. Louis. and Chi
cago, and, therefore. occupying a genu-
inely central position.
DR.. c. A. sehenck, Phi. D., forester Of
the Vanderbilt estate near Asheville. SAYS
Of the scheme:
THE establishment Of such a Southern
national park somewhere in the Blue
Ridge or Great Smoky Mountains would
mean the care OF the forests and a slim
ulation OF their growth and regulating
the cutting Of the trees at maturity. The
Building of good roads through what are
now inaccessible woods and mountain
heights. The building Of inns and hotels
at convenient points inducing a vastly
Increased travel from the North and
South on the part of tourists and others
The more or less permanent residence OF
wealthy citizens who would be disposed 70
build homes in various localities in this
region as they are already doing to some
extent. The perpetuatiOn of the beauty
and healthfulness of the region and its
elaboration in the way of making its most
beautiful localities more accessible 10 the
great mass OF the people"
Whether an object lesson in forestry
would seriously arrest the wholesale de-
struction now in progress, We do not I'M
dertake to say; hut it seems quite safe to
assume that such an object lesson, taken
in connection with the police work Of the
Interior Department, would have a most
beneficent educational effect. There seems
10 be no question that our forests are In
danger of extinction through a combina-
ton OF stupidity and avarice Surely II is
conceivable that if the government would
in addition TO its efforts to punish depre-
dalton, proceed to illustrate the advan-
tages and the pecuniary profits attendant
upon scientific forestry, the result would
be signally beneficent.
In any event, the location in Western
North Carolina of a great national park
would be cause of more pleasure and
benefit TO more people than any other
public institution We can think of at this
moment. There, beyond all controversy,
is the most beautiful. the most healthy,
and the most picturesque region in the
United States.