The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-05-02
Col. E. J. Watson Spoke on Forest Re-
serve.
NtaahjD1tOD ADril

Washington. April ~.
The various State delegations here
in the interest of the Appalachian for
eat reserve were again heard by the
commlttee on agriculture this morning.
One of the chief features Of the hear
ing was the argument made by Com
missioner T.. j. Watson, of South Caro-
lima, appointed yesterday at q meeting
of tho representatives to discuss the
effect of such a reservation upon the
cotton manufacturing industry and
other allied industries along the west
ern slope of the mountains.
Col. Watson called attention to the
fact that South Carolina was the sec
nnd State in the Union in cotton man
utactnriDg. having now SS2,337 ,0W in
vested in that industry alone, having
increased 1OJ per cent. in the last five
years. He said that of this amount 80
invested, something like 80 per cent.
was owned by Northern and Eastern
capitalists, SO that this question is not
solely Il South Carolina question, nor
II Southern one, but one in which tho
North ana East are interested. iii :i'a;;
pointed out that the agricultural inter
ests in South Carolina closely l!icd
with the cotton manufacturing Indus
try was rapidly developing, the cotton
crop alone amounting to something
like $70,0O0,00 He showed how these
industries were dependent upon the
water power of the State, which water
power was fed by territory outside ut
the State. And tho preservation and
the restoration OF the forests IN the
mountains Of upper South Carolina, of
North Carolina and of Virginia were
necessary to tie regular feeding OF this
power, and the prevention OF destruc-
tive floods. South Carolina at present
even If it had the means OF doing 1t
could not possibly protect itself from
damaging floods because the rivers in
the State on which the shoals are stu
ated drain II 400 square miles in North
Carolina and a small piece Of Virginia.
In South Carolina today the total
10000 horsepower is developed and In
use. In addition to this an enormous
horsepower is being developed on the
Catawba River. At present the cotton
mills in South Carolina which are de-
pendent on this water power represent
913,000,000 and 1.000.000 epindles. A
large portion of these mills are 30 stu
ated aud constructed as to be run by
the direr; drive of the water. Col. Wat
son cal el attention to the Spartanb burg
floods IL which a4,500,0 600 worth of mill
OF the great loss to farmeIp, great and
small, In the destruction of their grow
ing crops and their lands. Floods
about the same time did damage in all
amounting to about S18,000.000. He
laid particular stress also on the great
damage to water falls and dams. All
this he said was due to irregular rain
fall in territory outeide of South Caro-
lima, territory which 1t Is proposed to
put into the hands of the Federal gov
ernment which will prevent the de-
stEOyin Of the forests.
Col. Watson further told the COM
mittee of the deterioration Of bottom
lands In South Carolina, in consequence
Of the destruction of forests in North
Carolina and Virginia, citing several
instances where before the destruction
Of these forests lands we're highly pro-
ductive and of immense vaiue. Now,
since the changed conditions and the
frequency of floods. the lands are to q
great extent abandoned and almost
valueless. He pointed out, too, that
the floods affected the rivers In the
lower part of the State aud 30 Injured
navigation and commerce, both do
mestic and foreign. and that furniture
factories in the Piedmont were unable
to get woods for their work on account
Of wanton destruction Of forests. The
State.