The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-25
"p1sGAH FOREST" RESERVE.
A Vast Primal Wild Now an Adjunct
to RiitmOre Estate.

Charlotte Observer.
Raleigh, Feb. 6.-No greater interest
has ever been felt in any hunting pre-
cent one of George w. Vanderbilt,
which is know as "Pisgah Forest and
which embraces a large section Of the
county Of Pennsylvania, in one of the
most exquisite sections of all the noble
mountain country of which Western
North Carolina affords. It is certain
that this park or preserve has had
much to do with the now great move
ment for the national part to be known
as the Appalachian Forest Reserve.
This originated in Vanderbi.t's two
great developing ideas, shown first in
his ~Biltmore estate and next in his
Pisgah Forest. The latter is true
forest, Mr.. Vanderbilt having been so
fortunate as to discover place where
ma ature had been almost unmoleSted ex-
cept by occasional fires, and then to
secure this and gently aid her in work
ing her own sweet will. Everybody
knows about Biltnore, and its chateau,
the finest private residence in all Amer
lea, but few know anything about Pts
gah Forest, and SO this will be story
about the latter, the writer having
lightful manner in the world.
Pisgah Forest is about IS miles long
and embrace something over 100000
acres. It takes it's name from its donli-
mating peak Mount Pisgah, the most
perfect mountain amid the hundred
Of mountains in Western North Caro-
lima, being a true cone, ( landmark
amid all the peaks in the vast, irregu-
lar and lofty plateau between the
Blue Rridge and the great Smoky
Mountains. There are various way Of
getting into Pisgah Forest: one by
Asheville and Biltmore and by very
fine road constructed by Mr.. Wander
bilt to Pisgah Lodge: the other by way
Of Hendersonville and Davidson's riv-
er. up a rather steep and rough road,
but one full Of charms and surprises,
along the French Broad. Davidsons S
river and Avery's creek. To the na-
tives Pisgah Forest is know as Mr..
Vanderbilts place, and it's boundary is
marked by a three-Strand barbed-wire
fence. The best way to see Pisgah
Forest is on foot or horseback, prefer
ably the former, as in this way the full
beauty of tie place can best be seen.
Go where one will there is ever the
sound Of falling water, the rush or the
fall of the mountain streams. which
most of the time is invisible, high over
head or in gorge, perhaps q thousand
feet below. Going by the Davidson
river way, when the crest OF the gap"
in the great mountain wall is reached,
there is glorious view to the south
ward. far into South Carolina, and to
the northward over the Vanderbilt do
main The heart of this great forest
has been known as the Pink Beds
~; laws bo4
mountain region. The origin of the
name is in some dispute but very
probably comes from the color of the
rhododeudron, which is so profuse as
to make the whole region look like a
conservatory during the months of
May and June. The mountaineerS call
the place the Pink Beds and under
this name it appears in the geological
maps 1t is a sort of table land. be-
tween high and nearly parallel ridges.
threaded by streams as bright as
looking glass, all running in beds of
solid stone. literally like flights OF
steps. and which seem like Quicksilver
as they flash or fall from under their
lofty sources
Pissal Forest cost Mr.. Vanderbilt
something like a quarter Of million
dollars. or about $50 per acre. Most
of it he secured at once. and the other
portions We're bought in large or small
tracts. so that now his rangers are the
only denizens of the wide area. There
are five of these. ali picked mountain
GERS, good riders and dead shots. to
whom the mountains are like an open
book. These men have many duties.
They must see that the boundary fence,
500 miles long, is all right; must keep
out poachers. look after the game,
whether in fur or feather, and also
after the trout, and further keep an
eye on timber stealers. Poachers
would come from near and far to get