The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-27
A National Forest Reserve.

Secretary Wilson has recommended, and
the recommendation has been approved
| by the President, that national forest
reserve shall be purchased in the Appala
[ chan region of western North Carolina.
eastern Tennessee, and adjacent States.
1 1t may be said without qualification that
! this idea is an excellent one and that no
more picturesque or beautiful place for
a national park. except, perhaps, the Vel
lowstone region, can be found IN the
United States.
In a novel published some ten years ago
a speculator interested in the Development
of Asheyille as winter resort was made
TO say that in spite of the jokes about
talking for buncombe, he thought ''the talk
for Buncombe County had not been high
enough yet" The origin of this phrase.
which may not be as generally known as
the expression itself, was the remark of
a Member of Congress from North Caro-
lima, who, seeing the other members leav-
ing the House during long speech of his
in ended for distribution in his district,
assured them that they could all leave
ing for Buncombe." But there is no bun
combe in the proposition of the Secretary
of Agriculture. II is good common sense.
The mountains of North Carolina. and
eastern Tennessee and Kentucky afford
some CT the finest highland scenery east
of the Rocky Mountains, and 1t is the
more fascinating because wholly different
IN, hot A.
Catskills. or the White Mountains. This
great ridge Of rock, shaggy with forest
and SCARED with riyer-channels which
have here and there cut their way through
some crevice in the range, has none of
the ravines, cataracts, and quaint geo.
logical formations characteristic of the
White Mountains, and is deprived of one
great beauty common to the latter-a
beauty which is unfortunately ignored by
two-thirds OF the visitors TO New Hamp-
shire-the glcry of the autumn foliage
There seems to be some peculiar chemical
or atmospheric influence in the White
Mountain region which causes the wood
lands. in early October, to turn as IL by
magic to masses of crimson, scarlet. and
gold, rivaling the marvellous color effects
of mountain sunset. Autumn In South
ern ATTITUDES lacks this particular charm:
but as most people take for their noun
tain tours midsummer instead of autumn.
this especial delight is lost upon travellers
generally.
There are, however, characteristic foa-
lures of the Blue Ridge Mountains which
L.
stand upon one of the peaks and watch
the mist curling up from the river benea h.
while the surrounding mountain tops
arc Islands in grey sea OF fog-to come
upon the scene when wealth of gorgeous
half-tropical flowers covers the banks cf
mountains streams to travel along the !
French Broad. under the shadow of huge
masses OF rock almost precipitous in their |
massiveness-these are experiences Cor |
lovers of nature TO remember 1t is al |
most incredible that so wild region as |
that of the country surrounding Cumber- |
land Gap should so long have remained I
upexplored by travellers. There are caves F!
at this cleft or gap in the mountains, |
which, in some respects, rival the NAM
moth Cave, and from one point in It's
vicinity ii is possible to get view o: Ter
ritory belonging to six States.
This area OF primeval. unspoiled wilder
ness Is not likely to remain untouched
very much longer. The coal mines OF the
Cumberlands have attracted Spectators.
ind there are thriving villages where the
railroad has penetrated. 1t will not take
long to spoil the whole place for the uses
Of the artist and nature-lover, II the
commercialism of the present age fnds
anything valuable there. Thereis grow
ing conviction among the intelligent peo-
pie of this country that where tracts OF
land with unusual features OF natural
beauty exist, the Government should take