Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-17
RESOURCES or THE
MOUNTAINS OF SOUTH
Wealth Of Hardwood and Water
Power HIddsa In Virginia and
Other States.
GOVERNMENT REPORT ON SUBJECT
Purchaec of 100000 Acres is Rec
ommended-Report of Secretary
Wilson, Submitted to Congress is a
Remarkable Document opportu-
mites oTe ed for Capital.

WASHINGTON Dec. l6.-A truly
wonderful report Is that submitted to
Congress by Secretary Wilson.
OF the department of agriculture. on
the resources of the Southern Appala-
chain mountains. So convinced is he
that the proposed Appalachian park
will prove an entire success that he
recommends the immediate purchase
of 100000 acres OF land in the South
Tor the establishment OF national for
csts. The price 10 be paid for the
land will not exceed $3.50 per acre
These lands, which Secretary Wilson
thinks the government should take
over at once. lie in the Blue Ridge
and Great Smoky mountains of
Virginia, North Carolina and Ten
nessce. South Carolina ana Gcor.
gia. in the Allegheny mountains
of eastern and southern West
Virginia. In the Cumberland
mountains of eastern Kentucky, Ten
neGsee and northern Alabama. ana in
the four main ridges of the White
:noantains, mostly in New Hamp.
shire.
Congress. at It's last session. appro-
priated $4,000 TO make this investi-
CATION, and the Secretary of Agricul
ture, in order TO make the most com
plete and conclusive report. saw to
1t that each OF the several problems
involved was handled by the most
competent man whose services could
be secured. The forest service ue-
tailed to the work its most experi-
enced experts the bureau of soils
made most careful study of the
soils, and agricultural possibilities of
the Southern Appalachians. the geo
logical survey gave the results OF Il
seven year investigation of water
power and navigation. and from Pro-
fesdor l.. c. Glenn, of Vanderbilt. were
secured the results OF three-years
study of soil erosion. and from Philip
w. Ayers. n report on the commercial
Importance of the White mountains.
Secretary Wilson shows that under
right management 75,000.O00 acres of
hardwood producing land in the
Southern Appalachians can produce
each year three billion cubic feet OF
wood about eQnal to the present con-
sumption OF hard wood timber for all
purposes. If the Appalachians are
taken soon enough the Secretary
points out, they can be made to pro-
dnce continuously three fourths of
The hard wood supply of the country
without exhausting the forests, but.
In fact. improving them.
Concerning water power. the report
brings out some entirely now facts.
Based on the lowe5t two weeks in
III year it states that under present
conditions the streams of the South
ern Appalachian afford minimum OF
2.740000 horse power. Development
Of storage facilities OF streams would
increase this from three TO thirty
times. AT least so per cent. of the
minimum horse power is available
for economic development On this
basis the rental of 1.350.00O horse
mower at $50 per annum is worth s27,-
100000 per year. In the Same way,
il there is added the possible reve-
nue. from the 80 per cent. of power
which Is present for only onc-half
The year, the total Is brought to $685.
100000, After pointing out what n
tremendous factor this vast water
power is in tAe future Industrial de-
velopment of the United States. and
how much New England depends IN
on the power given by the streams
which rise in the White mountains,