The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-07-10
Appalachian National Park.

Appalachian National Park.
Waynesville, n. c., July 7-secre-
tary of Agriculture Wilson and his
son, acting as his private secretary:
F. Fl. Newell, chief of the hydro
graphic division of the United States
geographical survey w. j.. McGee, of
the national bureau Of ethnology;
Prof: "a; Holmes, State geologist
OF North Carolina, and Congressman
j. NJ. Moody, of this 9th district,
and others form party which have
just concluded tour of looking
over the ground'' and viewing this
grand mountain country in Western
North Carolina, a part of the proposed
site Of the now much mooted Appa-
lachian National Park, in which Sen
ator Pritchard, Of this State, last
winter enlisted the support Of Presi-
dent Mckinley and seversll Of the lead
ing heads of departments at Washing
ton, including Secretary Wilson, and
for the beginning of the work in
which he introduced bill in the last
Congress making an initial appropria-
tion Of several million dollars.
DR.. G. 2. Amber, secretary for the
Appalachian National Park Associa-
tion, who is one Of the party, says
that several days were probably devot
ed to the tour, and that it was not
confined to the line of railroads. The
party left the railroad (the Murphy
branch of the Western North Carolina
Railroad, division Of the Southern
Railway at Andrews and went by pri-
vate conveyance, via Franklin and
Highlands, to the beautiful sapphire
country the most picturesque and
magnifcently grand views to be had
only by this means of exploration at
present. The hundreds of thousands
of Northern visitors to Asheville,
Waynesville and the Hot Springs have
some idea, but no adequate concep
tion, Of this beautiful land Of the
sky, unless they have gone over some
route like this.
It is claimed by travelled critics,
competent to judge and make compari-
sons, that the scenery Of this section
is unsurpassed anywhere in America,
and that national park could be To-
Gated in these mountains and valleys,
with the delightful rivers of the Swan
nanoa and the French Broad rushing
| through it and yielding the finest Of
game fish, such as trout, in abun
dance: with its great forests Of valua-
bic, much of it rare, woods and its
rich minerals and fruits, nuts and
other attractions and inducements,
and, above all, its unsurpassed climat
ic attractions, such as would outstrip
those Of the Yellowstone or either OF
the great Government reservations
now in existence.
It is pointed out that these forests,
within the area under consideration,
should be preserved for obvious natural
reasons as we'll as others: that the.
denudation of forests nearer the rail
roads has alreaddy been carried to
such an extent that several millions Of
dollars of damage was wrought last.
month by floods, which a few years ago
! would have caused little loss or con-
cern, and that national park and
great forest preserve in the control OF
| the Government is the most practica-
ble, if not the only eficacious, means
of accomplishing the ends desired.
- The proposed park would also in
clude portions Of Tennessee, South
Carolina, Virginia and Georga, and all
those States, together1 with North Car
DINA. whch took the initiative, passed
SPECIAL Acts of the Legislature last
winter opening the way for the United
States Government to acquire and hold
the territory in question. Much I'M
portance is attached to the visit of Sec
ratary Wilson and his party and the
report to be subsequently, made as a
result of the tour.
On Saturday Secretary Wilson stated
that he was greatly impressed With
what he had seen: that he did not see
how congress could decline toestablish
this park in the South, when the
other sections Of the country are so
we'll provided, and that he would re-
new his interest and recommendations
and influence to have it established,
adding that he thought an even more
liberal appropriation should be made
bv Congress than the amount asked
! for by the bill introduced by Senator
Pritchard last winter.
Senator Pritchard and Congressman
Kluttz, of the 7th North Carolina dis
trict, accompanied the party on por-
tion. Of the trip also.
The prospect of establishing Of the
park-a matter in which South Carroll
mans should also feel a keen interest
is now considered better than ever and
most excellent.
Maxwell German.
II
The PIaguein China.
Washington. July s.-Consul John