The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-27
Hoods SaadabMM
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this was absolutely necessary in some
districts. and he cited his own as an ex-
ample, telling of most aggravating cir
cumstances there. Mr. Blythe bore out
Mr. Zachary's statements in regard to
that district.
The committee took up the bill to en-
courage the establishment of pulp and
paper mills in the counties Of Haywood.
jackson and Swain. No definite action
was taken on the bill, as the representa-
tives from those counties had not yet
made up their minds how they would
vote.
Mr.. George Fl. Smathers, of Haywood,
was present to oppose the bill. He said 1t
smacked as loudly of class legislation as
any measure that had come before the
Assembly. A tannery had been estab-
lished on Richland creek, just above
Waynesville, and horses will not drink
the water of the creek now. 1t was said
that cattle have been poisoned by this
water. but of that he had not personal
knowledge. These mills would be apt to
locate near the sources of the streams.
for the wood they want is spruce pine.
balsam and fir. Thus they would pollute
the streams at their sources. A pulp
mill. he said, took timber of all sizes, and
so destroyed the forests. They were
moving down here because they had al
ready destroyed the timber in Northern
States. II they came. let it be without
extraordinary legislation. The people
were trying to preserve the forests and
fish and game. The North Hominy river,
he said, headed in Haywood county and
flowed into the French Broad which
flows through Buncombe into the Tonnes
see.
Capt. Jas. w. Terrell of Haywood, one
of the oldest citizens of the county, spoke
on the advisabiity of preserving the
forests. He was strongly in favor of the
forestry reserves, as the United States
government would take care of the timber
growth. The pulp manufactures would
cut any size timber and would cause
great destruction to valuable wood. If
the streams were polluted. it would seri-
ously affect the stock and the fish.
Judge Allen suggested that the trout
carried man- dollar into that part OF
the country.
ITO denude a country of trees con :
tinued Capt, Terrell, dries up the coun-
try. and then when the rain comes ii
washes off the land Moreover, my obser-
walton has been that it is not so much
the mountains that stop winds as the
trees"
Representative Collins, of Haywood
said he had no evidence that these mills
poisoned the water, but he agreed with
Judge Conner that the asking for special
legislation looked supicious.
Mr.. Spainhour thought there was more
in the matter than the simple establish
ment of 100000 industry. He wanted
to know more about the question before
he voted for any special legislation for
Yankees; they we're smart enough to get
advantages. anyhow. He proposed to
postpone the bill until Mr. Collins, Mr..
Burnett and Speaker Moore. could con-
fer with their constituents and come TO
some decision.
Mr.. Burnett said that he had had the
State Chemist an alyse some of the acid
used by these mills in bleaching the pulp.
He had given as his opinion that there
was no doubt about the acid being poison
Gus, but that it would diffuse itself in
the water to some extent. Mr.. Burnett
said the three counties in question had
statutes against throwing sawdust into
streams, and that no concern would start
business when they would be violating a
criminal statute every day in doing SO.
He was inclined to favor the bill for his
county, on account of the money it would
bring into the county.
Mr.. Mauney of Graham, thought the
companies asked too much, although he
favored the bill for some reasons. on
account of the business it would bring.
Senator Gambler. of Jackson, said the
pollution of the strains would affect the
stock IN his county very materially
1t seems that Messrs. Jones and Furger-
son. of Haywood, are urging the bill very
strongly.
The committee finally referred the mat
ter to Messrs. Ebbs, Wright and Simme.
A RAGING. ROARING FLOOD