New-York tribune., 1901-02-17
APPALACHIAN FOREST RESERTE
PROPOSAL TO SET APART TWO MILLION
ACRES IN SIX SOUTHERN STATES.

Washington. Feb. 10 (SpeciaD.-The Senate Com
mittee on Forest Reservations has reported favor
ably through Mr. Bevertdge. of Indiana Mr. Pritch-
ards bill for the creation OF National forest re-
serve in the Southern Appalachian Mountain re-
gion. The reserve is TO include about two million
acres in the upland portions of Virginia. North
Carolina, South Carolina. Georgia, Alabama aud
Tennessee. and s50OJOs is to be devoted to the
purchase condemnation of the mountain lands
set apart in those six States. In its report the
Senate committee says:
That such forest reserve should be established
In the hardwood regions Of the East is the gem
era conviction of science, experts ia forestry in
tellgent lumbermen and men connected with the
great business interests Of the country. and this
view finds frequent and emphatic expression IN
the technical and general press. Reckless cutting
anu the forest fires which follow are now destroy
ing these hardwood forests at a rate and 10 an
@ extent which are already having serious results
on climate. 1t is causing irregularities in the flow
water power and navigation during the dry seasons
ana during the rainy seasons are washing away
slopes. filling up the stream beds with sediment
lands along the streams both the m3isbn s ovv
of water during the dry season and the deposit OF
periods OF food becoming yearly more danger
Gus to navigation and leading directly In
bors.
The establishment of the proposed National
forest reserve will tend to remedy these serious
and growing evils will protect the sources of many
trained forest experts will serve as a demonstra-
ton or the method OF perpetuating forests and yet
States and individuals to encourage and practise
forest management and restoration on all lands
which are better suited for forest growth than for
agricultural purposes.
The proposed National reserve for the protection
and use of hardwood forests should be located i'm
the Southern Appalachian Mountains for several
That region contains the greatest variety
of hard woods to be found anywhere this con-
tinent. because the Northern and Southern forest
fOras intermingle there. We find there the largest
remaining bodies of these forests In their virgin
condition. the largest and highest mountains east
of Colorado, and the largest mountain masses COW
cred with hardwood forests in the United States.
The slopes OF these mountains contain the sources
of the Tennessee the Savannah, the Broad. the
Catawba and other rivers, and important tribu-
tarfes OF the Ohio. This fact is dOubly significant
because this region has none Of the extensive gla-
Ctal gravel deposits which in the more
Northern states as storage reservoirs for water
and so aid the forests TO maintain uniformity of
flow In the streams. The Legislatures OF the sew
eral States within which the proposed forest re-
serves may be located. with a single exception,
have already conferred upon Congress the neces-
sary authority to acquire lands within their boun-
daries In the case OF the exception resolution
which tndOrses the plan has passed both houses OF
the Legislature and further action may confidently
be expected in due time.
This Is measure which has every consideration
In its favor and in view Of It's Importance and the
benefcent results which will certainly flow from
It's adoption, 1t should commend itself TO the wis
dom OF Congress. as IL must appeal to the patriot
ism OF every citizen.