Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-27

The movement TO establish great ma
eionaI mark and forest reserve in the re-
zion covering the southern Appalachians
- receiving exc attention Of all thinking
people. and through Senator Pritchard, OF
North Carolina. and Representative
Brovnlow, OF Tennessee. IS kept, constant
Is before the law makers.
This region IS the very dome OF the con-
tinent east OF the Mississippi. writes
rorrespondent 20 the Knoxville Journal
and Tribune. He continues at some
length: The scientific men tell US that
An remote ages Mount Mitchell lowered
1gl,e the Himalayas- After the cravings
81 countless ages. Il Is stil the highest
land east Of the great Rockies IL Is e&-
pected 70 include all the region lying be-
tween the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny
mountains OF North Carolina IT Will lap
over and include a portion OF all the east
ern tier OF counties in Tennessee. IL Will
extend southwark TO the neighborhood OF
Dalton. in Georgia It VIII include the
northwest corner OF South Carolina II
vii extend across the narrow. western
portion Of old Virginia into and Including
q section Of the southern part OF west
Virginia
Guiding four millions OF acres. more or
less. viii prove a feeder, natural reser-
voir for all the streams OF the south AT
iantfc coast. and will AFFECT the now OF
many falling into the gulf OF Mexico anu
fhe great Mississippi Itself
FLOWING 70 the Atlantic are sueh
streams as the Altamaha- Ogeechee' Sa-
vnnrah. Cougaree. Peedee. Cape Fear and
ofhar< fed by such tributaries as the
ISeeowes. Reedy. Pacolet. Broad. Cataw-
ba- the Yadkin and others Flowing into
the Ohio are the Big Sandy and the Kan
au-ha. The great Tennessee river draws
fts very life waters from this region.
There are the Clinch. the Holston' me
Watauga. the Noia Chueky, the Freneh
Broad. the Big and Little Pigeon. the Lat
he river. the Little Tennessee. the Tellico'
and the Hlawassee. Southwark are the
Coosa and others
.sThe integrity OF all these numerous
streams including their countless triou-
taries. depends on the future status OF
This mountain region. II the old process
e. are to continue-the process OF Wlo
and wanton destruction; Of forest hres'
OF denudation; OF deforestationi OF eIos
fon. Of over-grazing OF thoughtless as
count az the future for the misguided
gain Of the present: then all the region
vratered by these streams VIII be ad-
verseIy affected for generations 70 come
z II VIII take centuries 70 repair the damage
that may grow out OF a few years
The movement is timely, not only as 70
fts needs. but as 20 Its oppoftuhilles- -
year Of delay viii increase the dirncuities
81 the great enterprise The government
can acquire the wild lands In this area
now az q nominal figure Ten years hence
they may be double in value
f.srrha- south has entered upon an era OF
manufacturing and her cheapest power Is
found in the swift current - these same
streams. Secretary Wilson. Of the agri-
cultural department. discussed this aspect
81 the matter in a recent talk with your
CORRESPONDENT He thinks that this source
OF wealth for the south Atiantlc - Is.Is
- thfz very moment in gravest peril BOOK
learning. I Judge. counts for something
after an. II II convinces those most inter-