The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-26
APPALACHIAN PARK
CONVENTION HOLDS
MEETING AT ASHEVILLE.
PRESIDENT HAYES PRESIDING.
NATIONAL FOREST RESERVE SUB
JECT OF DISCUSSION.

Address of President Hayes to the
Convention Explains why These
Forest Reserves should BE Main
tained-The Secretary submits n
Summary of the Entire Work of
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Holmes
Advocates Government Ownership
of Forests.
Asheville, N. c.. Oct. 25.-The Ma
tional Appalachian Park convention
was called to order in this city this
afternoon at 3 o'clock. President Ruth
erford P. Hayes, son of for
mer United States President
Hayes, presiding. The open
ing session was devoted to the presi-
dents address, speeches by prominent
men interested in the Appalachian Ma
tional Forest Reserve and the various
reports of the organization.
In his address President Hayes gave
a summary of reasons embraced in the
Presidents message to Congress why
the reserve should be established. He
said
For economic reasons the preserva-
ton of these forests is imperative.
Their existence in good condition is es-
sential to the prosperity of the low
lands through which their waters run.
Maintained in productive condition
they supply Indispensable materials,
and with their management under
practical and conservative forestry will
sustain an increase to resources in
this region and to the nation at large"
Tn a a
Financial action is obviously nee
essary, is fully justified by reason of
public necessity and may be expected
to have most fortunate results"
Secretary Amber then submitted his
report showing a summary of the en-
tire work of the association since 1t
was organized. Other committee re-
ports were read, after which addresses
were made by State Geologist Holmes
of North Carolina and Hon. Joshua w.
Caldwell of Tennessee.
Mr.. Holmes advocated government
ownership of forests. He said:
1.-THE protection and perpetuation of
the forests of this country, especially
of the mountain forests, about the
sources of important streams, must be
recognized as a national problem.
Its Importance is too widespread
and the consequences of its neglect too
being relegated to local or even state
control.
'In addition to the perpetuation Of a
| timber supply. which is of itself a. prob
| lem of national concern, the protection
of the sources of our water supplies
which is intimately associated with the
| protection of the forests, is equally
worthy of the nations concern.
"a nations climate, nations water
| resources and its timber supply are
| matters of too vast. and lasting infiu-
ence to permit of their being left to
| chance or local care.
Furthermore, the perpetuation of
this region as a health and pleasure
resort is of itself worth more to the
nation than all it would cost"
The Appalachian Park convention to-
night drafted the following resolutions
and memorial to Congress:
Resolved, That this convention
heartily approves the action of Con-
gress in establishing the great national
forest reserves in the Western states
and territories, and the more recent ac-
ton of Congress in providing for the
construction of great system of irri-
cation works in these states, and mas
much as the forests and the soils which
these forests protect in the Southern
Appalachian mountain region serve as
the water which falls in excessive rains
in this region, this convention asks the
cooperation of the senators and repre-
sentatives in Congress from the West
ern states in securing the passage of
the Appalachian forest reserve
bill now before Congress-, as
an extension to these Southeast
ern states of the great policy
of natural water storage by the gov
ernment, which has already wisely
been inaugurated in the West. In con-
sideration of the fact of the rapidly in
creasing rate at which the forests on
the slopes of the Southern Appalachian
mountains are being destroyed. the
growing frequency of the floods car
rying away the fertile soils from this
region and depositing the same in nav
igable streams, having recently caused
over $1S,000,000 damage, this conven-
ton urges upon Congress the prompt
passage of the bill now before the
House of Representatives providing for
the establishment of the National Ap-
palachian national forest reserves as
the only possible means of overcoming
nd 81, Is