The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-18
A SURVEY OF FORESTS
Report on the Trees in the South
ern Appalachian Mountains.
The Secretary of Agriculture Recon-
mends the Purchase of Land for
National Reserve in North Caro-
lima - The President Transmits
Mr.. Wilson'S Letter to Congress.

The President has transmitted to Con-
gress letter from the Secretary of
| Agriculture, in which he presents a pre-
liminary report of investiga lions upon
the forests of the southern Appalachian
Mountain region. Upon the basis of the
facts established by this investigation,
| the Secretary OF Agriculture recommends
the purchase of land for a national for
est reserve in western North Carolina,
eastern Tennessee, and adjacent States.
the President commends the matter to
the favorable consideration of Congress.
Secretary Wilson's letter follows:
| THE bill making appropriations for the
Department of Agriculture for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1901. provides that
sum not to exceed 5000 may, in the lis
erection of the Secretary OF Agriculture,
be used to investigate the forest condi-
lions in the southern Appalachian Noun
| tain region OF western North Carolina and
| adjacent States In accordance with this
provision have made thorough inves-
| tigation Of the forests in a portion Of the
! southern Appalachian Mountains, as di-
| rected above including an estimate of the
\ amount and condition of the standing
! timber, an enquiry to the suitability of
| this region for a national park, as pro-
| posed by the Appalachian National Park
! Association, and an examination of the
validity of the reasons advanced by its
advocates for the creation of such park.
In this task | have received generous and
effective cooperation and assistance,
through the United States Geological Sur
vey, from the Department of the Interior,
which recognized in, this way the deep
and widely diffused public interest in the
plan.
The forest investigation was made
to include a study of the character and
distribution of the species of timber
trees, the density and value of forest
growth, the extent to which the timber
has been cut or damaged by fire, the size
and nature of the present holdings, the
prices at which these forest lands can
now be purchased, and the general and
special conditions that affect the prose-
cution of conservative forestry on
large scale.
THE hyds graphic survey of the re-
gion. conducted by the United States
Geological Survey, includes a general
study of its topographic features; of the
relation of the soils. forest cover, and
rainfall; of the quantity of water flow
ing out of 1t through the various streams
during different seasons, and of the in
fiuence exerted on the regularity of this
flow by forest clearings. More than $50
stream measurements have already been
made and much additional data of spe-
cial value has been secured ii'
In addition to these Investigations,
/ have given thorough attention to the
arguments advanced by the movers for
the proposed park and to those Jof their
opponents, and, as a result, I am strong
ly Of opinion that this matter is worthy |
of careful consideration. BIC
Il have the honor to transmit herewith |
a mounted original copy of a large map, |
which shows in detail the mapping of for |
ests accomplished during the past sum |
mer over an area of nearly 5000 square |
miles. full report of the work and |
of its results is now in preparation. and !
will be submitted for your consideration |
at an early date. The following prelim- |
mary statement is made to bring before |
you without delay summary of the facts, |
sufficient to set forth clearly the prin-
cipai features of the region and the plan.
THE movement for the purchase and |
control of large area of forest land in
the East by the Government has chiefly |
contemplated national park. The idea |
of a national park is conservation, not
use; that of a forest reserve, conserva
ton by use. I have therefore to recon-
mend a forest reserve instead of a park.
II is fully shown by the investigation that
such a reserve would be self-supporting
from the sale of timber under wisely di-
rected conservative forestry.
Extensive areas of hardwood forests |
are still In their primitive condition, and
these are among the very best and rich
est hardwood forests of the United
States. The region in general is bet
fol aha cd try for
agricultural purposes. 1t is located
about the headwaters of numerous
streams such as the Ohio, Tennessee, Sa-
yannah, Yadkin, and Roanoke, which are
important both for water power and for
navigation. The general conditions within
the region are exceptionally favorable for
the carrying on OF large operations in
practical forestry, and the weather is
suitable for numbering operations at all
seasons of the year. 1t contains a greater
variety of hardwood trees than any other
region of the United States. since the
northern and southern species here meet.
It is a region of exceptional beauty and
and although 1t would
not be easily accessible to visitors in all
parts at all seasons of the year. by far
the greater portion of its area would be
easily reached and climatically pleasant
throughout the year.
at contains within the forest-covered
areas no large settlements OF large Min
ing operations which would interfere
with the management of such a forest
reserve, and yet there is sufficient popu-
lation for the working and protection of
the forests. Large lumber companies are
rapidly invading the region, and the ear
~ destruction of the more valuable tim
Der is imminent. Lands in this region
suitable for such a forest reserve are
now generally held in large bodies of
from $4,000 to 100000 acres, and they can
be purchased at prices ranging from 81
to s. per acre. 1t is probable that the
average price would not exceed SO per
acre In explanation OF the widespread
and urgent demand for the establishment
in this southern Appalachian region OF
a national park or forest reserve, it may
be added that It contains the highest
and largest mountain masses and per-
haps the widest and most picturesque
scenery east of the Mississippi River;
that it is region of perfect healthful-
ness. already largely used as a health
resort both summer and winter, and that
it lies within little more than a days
travel of the larger portion of the popu-
lation of this country.
THE rapid consumption of our timber
supplies, the extensive destruction of our
forests by fire and the resulting increase
in the irregularity of the flow of water in
important streams have served TO develop
among the people of this country an in
terest In forest problems which is one of
the marked features of the close of the
century. In response to this growing in
terest the Government has set aside in