The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-11-13
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL
Appalachian National Park.
Manufacturers Record.)

Secretary of Agriculture, upon the pro-
posed Appalachian Forest Reserve, is
reproduced as a special feature of this
issue of the Manufacturers Record, to-
gether with a number Of striking illus
trations accompanying the report and
republishing through the courtesy
of the Agricultural Department. The
practical advantages Of the establish
ment Of the reserve are set forth clear
ly in it and are summarized at its con-
cluSion. President Roosevelt, in trans
mitteng the report, said that with those
conclusions he fully agreed, and in ad-
dition wrote:
The report of the Secretary presents
the final results of an investigation
authorized by the last Congress. It's
conclusions point Enthusiastically, in the
judgment of the Secretary and in my
own, to the creation Of a national for
est reserve in certain parts of the
Southern States. The facts ~ascertained
and here presented deserve the careful
consideration Of the Congress-; they
have already received the full atten-
ton OF the scientist and the lumber
They set forth an economic need
of prime Importance to the welfare Of
the South, and hence to that OF the ma
ton as a whole, and they point to the
necessity Of protecting through wise
use a mountain region whose influence
flows far beyond its borders with the
waters Of the rivers to which it gives
rise.
Among the elevations of the eastern
half Of the United States the Southern
Appalachians are Of paramount inter-
est for geographic, photographic and
forest reasons, and as a consequence,
for economic reasons as well. These
great mountains are old in the history
of the continent which has grown up
about them. The hardwood forests
were born on their slopes and have
spread thence over the eastern half Of
the continent. More than once in the
remote geologic past they have disap-
peared before the sea on the east, south
and west, and before the ice on the
north; but here in this Southern APP
palachian region they have lived on to
the present day.
! Under the varying conditions Of
soil, elevation and climate many Of the
Appalachian tree species have develop
ed. Hence it is that in this region oc-
cur that marvellous variety and rich
ness Of plant growth which have led
u ablest business men and scientists
to ask for its preservation by the gov
eminent for the advancement Of SCI
ence, and for the instruction and pleas
ure Of the people of our own and Of
future generations. And it Is the cor
centration here Of so many valuable
species with such favorable conditions
Of growth which. has led forest experts
and lumbermen alike to assert that Of
all the continent this region Is best
suited to the purposes and plans Of q
national forest reserve in the hard
wood region.
At the meeting last Saturday at
Asheyille, N. c., of the Appalachian
National Park Convention it was re-
solved.
That this convention heartily ap-
proves the action Of Congress in estab-
fishing the great national forest re-
serves in the Western States and Ter
ritories and the more recent action of
Congress in providing for the construc-
ton Of a great system of irrigation
works in those States. Inasmuch as the
forests and the soils which these for
ests protect in the Southern Appalach-
Ian mountain region serve as a natural
reservoir for the storage for the water
which falls in excessive rains in this
region, this convention asks the COOP
Grafton Of senators and representatives
in Congress from the Western States
in securing the passage Of the Appa-
lachian Forest Reserve bill now before
Congress as an extension to these
Southeastern States Of the great policy
OF natural water storage by the gov
eminent, which has already wisely
been inaugurated in the West.
In consideration of the fact Of the
rapid and steadily-increasing rate at
which the forests on the slopes of the
Southern Appalachian mountains are
being destroyed. the growing frequency
OF the foods carrying away the fertile
soils from this region and depositing
the same IN %navlganle streams, having
recently caused over SIS, 000, 900 of
damage, this convention urges upon
Congress the prompt passage of the
bill now before the House Of Repre-
eentatives providing for the establish
ment OF the Appalachian National
Forest Reserve as the only possible
means Of overcoming the existing and
increasing evils.
DR.. c. P. Amber, the secretary Of
the association. gave an interesting
sketch Of its purposes and explained
the status Of bills in Congress looking
70 n establishment OF a forest re-
serve in the Southern Appalachian
mountains. One bill, the Burton bill,
has passed the Senate, but with an
amendment by Senator Bate Of Ten
nessee, which practically makes the
bill Of none effect. The House COM
mittee IN agriculture has rejected this
amendment. DR.. Amber said that the
measure did not lack friends in the
Senate and House; that the country