The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-03-11

D. Inc E1gQ6 30 A6Au AOA
the purpose of It's incorporation in q
proposed forest reserve has been con-
ferred upon the General Government
by the Legislatures of the sewers
States interested, and this was done
for the on that IL was anticipated
that in certain cases spectators
whose interests in their own per-
sonal gain being greater than their
interest in the general welfare of
their State, might come into the re-
gion and purchase these forest-oov-
cred mountain slopes, Of their pres
emit owner, at a small price, and then
raise the price Of this land TO an ex-
orbitant figure with a view Of them,
selves receiving the benefits of this
increase in ''value." This policy
might make the forest reserve an
impossibility and in such cases /
think the government would be
amply justified either in ~reaorting TO
condemnation proceedings in order
TO secure suoh lands, or in abandon
ing its efforts TO incorporate such
lands in the Should Is be-
come necessary TO adopt oondemna-
ton proceedings the State law ap-
pliosble in such oase would be fol
lowed. But let us hope that no such
occasion will arise.
g.. As TO the location of the exact
boundaries of the proposed forest re-
serve or park, Ii is a matter concern
ing which no mi oar as yet speak
authoritatively, for the reason that
this is a matter which has not as yet
been definitely considered by the
Secretary of Agriculture, under
whose auspices the purchase of these
lands will be made. If the bill pro.
viding for the establishments of such
a forest reserve passes Congress, the
Secretary will then cause a specific
detailed examination TO be made of
the entire Southern Appalachian
region. After a full consideration
of the whole region ~(extending
through portions of six different
States), and the difficulties shat may
arise in connection with making the
land purchases in each part of this
region, he will reach his decision.
The purchases of land for this
purpose will not be confined TO any
State or any special part of this re-
gion. The Secretary may decide TO
locate the larger part of the eserv
in Georgia, or North Carolina or
West Virginia or Tennessee or Vir-
ginis, wherever the conditions for
securing the land are most favorable,
and he will probably have ten years
within which so make these pur-
ohases 30 that the people of any
county or neighborhood or any State
will have ample time within which
TO see and understand whether or
not they may be willing TO encourage
the establishment of the reserve or
will prefer 20 keep it out of their
region.
I feel perfectly safe in assuming
that the government will not force
this forest reserve into any particu.
lar county or any special region of
any State in opposition to the wishes
of the people of that particular re.
gion. Both the wishes and the rights
of the people will be respected. The
whole purpose of the measure is TO
benefit and not TO injure either the
people or the region. I believe this
result can be accomplished without
friction, and will be satisfactory to
all parties, as soon as the people
rerlize fully the benefioent purposes
and fair and equitable methods to be
followed in it's accomplishments.
1 have tramped through quite a
number of the Western forest re-
serves, and have talked with q num-
Der of people whose lands we're en-
tirely surrounded by the forest re-
serve lands belonging TO the govern.
ment. / have never found a single
osse in which these people we're dis
satisfied with this arrangement
Their privileges in the way of hunt
ing and fishing were fully IS great in
such cases as they had been in the
surrounding lands owned by private
parties, and there was always the
greater security of protection against
forest fires.
Those parties who lived within the
Fo~aaA wosorua ond not ow1a5 ~ &;1o