New-York tribune., 1907-12-12
4 APPALACHIAN FORESTS
Immediate Action to PreUent De
structiOn Urged.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Dec. 1.-As result OF one of the
most extensive and thoroughgoins field investlga-
uons which the government has conducted
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson. IN his special re-
port, transmitted to Congress to-day. recommends
that the government acquire area not TO exceed
6c0,oO0 acres in the White Mountains. md areas
aggregating not more than 100000 acres in the
Southern Appalachians, for the establishment 81
national forests. The average price to be paid
per is put at Sc for the White Mountains and
s. 30 for the Southern Appalachians. The lands
which it is recommended that the government take
in the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky
Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee South
Carolina and Georgia, in the Aleghany Mountains
Of Eastern and Southern West Virginia and west
Virginia, in the Cumberland Mountains Of
Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee and Northern Ala
barna, and in the four main ranges of The White
Mountains. mostly in New Hampshire. Immediate
action is urged by the Secretary since the natural
resources OF both regions being seriously I'M
paired by reckless numbering and wasteful use
The report of the Secretary contains the first
complete study of conditions in the Southern Ap-
palachians and White Mountains and gives some
startling facts concerning the amount of water
power available, the dependence of the nation on
the Southern Appalachians for its future hard
wood supply and the enormous reduction IN the
value for water power and navigation OF the
streams which would result from the removal OF
the forests from the mountains. The Secretary
emphasizes the fact that the two regions under
consideration are advancing rapidly toward a con-
diton of barrenness and sterility 1t is estimated
that in the upland country south Of Pennsylvania
not lass than one hundred square miles OF arabic
and fcrestabIe land are absolutely lost each year
through the removal of the WOODS ana 'i'e c'iise
ouent washing OF the SOIL
That part OF the report which deals with the
production of timber brings out strikin6ly tle
fact that the nations future hardwood supply
rests In the control of the Southern Appaachans
In the last seven years the hardwood lumber cut
has fallen off 15 per cent, and this in the race
of an unprecedented demand In the same perlod
the wholesale prices of hardwood lumber advanced
from % to g. per cent. a liberal estimate gives
the remaining stand of hardwoods OF the country
at 400 oO oO0uo feet. enough TO last for only SIX
teen years. The report then points out that II
is the Appalachian region, where loo"'VN acres
are primarily adapted TO the production OF hard-
wood timber 10 which the hardwood using IN
dustres must look for future supplies
Concerning water power, the report brings out
some new facts. Based on the lowest TWO weeks
In the year it states that under present condi-
tons the streams OF the Southern Appalachians
afford minimum of 2.7so.oO horsepower Devel-
opment of the storage facilities of streams would
increase this from three thirty times At least
50 per cent of the minimum horsepower Is aValla-
bic for economic development On this basis. the
report says the rental OF 1350,0g0 horsepower at
so a year is worth S27.000000 year. In the same
way, If there is added the possible revenue from
the 80 per cent of power which IS present for only
half the year. the total is brought to S38,o0oOc0-
Taken as a whole, the report marks q distinct
step forward by outlining definite programme
for preserving for continuous use one Of the ma
tions greatest resources.