The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-06-13
The FORESTS
AND FLOODS.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE Ca
TAWBA DISASTER BYA
GOVERNMENT EX-
PERT.


Forest the ChIsf and Crowns T,oub,.
Charlotte Observer.
Mr.. f. w. Myers, Of Chapel Hill,
who Is connected with the United
States Geological Survey, and who
has been detailed to examine the
Catawba river for the purpose OF
making a report on the recent flood,
was in the city last Thursday.
In an interview with an Observer
reporter Mr.. Myers stated that he
had followed the Catawba from its
source in the Swannanoa Gap to
Rock Hill, s. c., and had talked
with the residents who live along
the river for this distance. He ap-
prOximates the damage done by the
flood at $5OO,OOO. The damage along
the river side has been general and
in proportion to the acreage of bot
tom land. In practically all the
wheat fields close to the river the
land has been sanded over for two
or three feet deep and the corn fields
have been completely washed away
down to an unprOductive subsoil
The injury to farming land was
greatest in Burke and Mcdowell
counties, said Mr.. Myers, because in
these counties there is more bottom
land. In Mcdowell the damage is
about 100000, and in Burke it is
between $3.50, 1000 and $500, 900. The
broad bottom lands in the latter
county are simply ruined for dis
tance Of three hundred yards on
either side of the Catawba.
The velocity Of the water, said
Mr.. Myers, was greater than ever
before. At Rock Hill the current
ran about ten miles an hour, which
is terrific and hurtful pace for the
Catawba. And it is universally ad-
mitted that during the recent flood
the river was much higher than
ever before.
The hurtful effects of the velocity
of the water was not due to amount
of rain that fell, for the weather
bureau reports indicate that much
heavier rains have fallen in the past
and the volume of water was carried
off without injurious consequence.
The whole secret of the bad effect
and extent of the flood lies in the
deforestration in the western part of
the state Along the Linville river
and in all parts of western Carolina
the country is being stripped of
trees, and this is followed by the
forest fires which sweep away all
vegetation or underground. When
the rains fall on such land there is
nothing to retard the current of the
water. With great force it strikes
the river; the velocity of the Ca
tawba is increased by the mad vio-
lence of the water and the current
develops a wonderful and dangerous
power. Every man who lives by
the river, said Mr.. Myers, says,
without hesitation, that the cutting
away of the timber is entirely re-
sponsible for the serious food. Gin
the FUTURE" said he, s'the land along
the Catawba will be more at the
mercy Of the river. The last freshet
tore off vegetation along the banks,
made new channels, or cut-offs, and
broke through all the elbows of the
river. So the farm land is much
more unprotected than formerly and
it is in the power of a comparatively
small freshet to do vast injury?"
"What is the remedy?"
"There is no present remedy"
said Mr.. Myers. "This flood sug-
gests no warning to thetimber men
in the western part of the state.
They are more active now than ever
before in the history of the state
and they are cutting down all the
trees they can reach. It is the truth
that as the matter stands there is
plain, though not recognized, war
fare between the timber men and
the farmers. The timber men are
making money, but are running the
farmers along the Catawba. This
question is most vital, but the peo-
pie do not seem to understand or
appreciate the great danger that con-
fronts them. The ultimate and alb
solutely necessary remedy will be
measure that will prevent the wild
and wasteful cutting of timber. This,
together with the establishment of
the Appalachian Park, which will
preserve timber around the source
Of the river, is the only hope"
The Saloon Smasher Says She 10 Coming
to North Carolina.
The Littleton correspondent of
the Morning Post says:
Mr.. J. B. Pearce, an earnest ad-
vocate Of temperance, wrote to Mrs.