The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-21
The Appalachian Forest Reserva'


There is q bill pending before Congress fol
the preservation Of the Appalachian Forest
The importance of this measure does mo-
strik9 the casual observer, but q little re
Election will convince one that It means per
haps more to this State and the states Dor
deripg on the great Appalachian range, thar
any single measure pending before Congress
Time was when the lands along the banks
Of all the rivers and branches were not SUD-
ject 10 constant overflow, and when the9
yielded q splendid annual harvest. This wal
before the hills were denuded and robbed o.
humus deposits, natures reservoir. From
this humus the water was deposited gradual
ly into the streams, slowly feeding them, and
vet not allowipg them to overflow at any
time.
The many advantages OF large areas o.
woodland need not be discussed. 1t ID con-
coded that the sections OF the world.that are
best wooded are best watered, and that those
sections that are without woodland are rain
less.
Man, In his avarice,! has cut away the prime
val forest, until the question OF IRE wood has
become a serious one. UP TO the very foot
hills OF the beautiful blue mountains the
giants OF the centuries have been laid low
n now the spcliation OF the mountains has
begun, in fact II has progressed 10 an alarm.
ing degree.
The individual looking for q profitable lun.
Der busin ess sees only the present He does
not know that every tree cut from the noun
tain side affects the States entire area. II
every tree was cut from the surface Of South
,z.1,I- --l - ~a1.-tat~o loff hoyo the
State would be nothing but a desert waste
The streams which turn thousands OF wheels
of industry would be dried up, and water
would be as scarce as on the plains OF Texas
and the West. This 10 putting the PROPOSE
ton in the extreme form for the purpose OF
impressing the lesson.
Trees, with their shade and humus deposits,
coquet with the clouds. 1t is the old princi-
pie Of like attracting like. Moisture attracts
moisture. Clouds hang about and shower
their benefaction where they find copgenial
affinity.
Man has marked the earth with his vandal
tread. He has left scars and deep incisions
where nature crowned with virgin green.
VIII he be permitted to Invade the noun
tain, all that Is left Of natures reservoir?
South Carolina is unique in the possession
of more water power, developed and unde-
veloped. than any State in the Union. This
Is natures gift. This accounts for the State
venturing prematurely into manufacturing;
It is a basis Of a large part Of the States re-
GENTLY developed wealth. 1t is destined, II
preserved, to constitute the States main
source OF revenue; and yet, year by year, by
laying bare the mountains and hillsides
natures richest gift is being destroyed.
O The denuded mountains and hillsides are
washed by the winter torrents, and unob.
structed, the deposits Of silt are carried into
the waite ways 10 choke the wheels OF in.
dustry.
There 10 q pleasure in the painless wood
There is beauty in the azure Of the noun.
tain II there are still those who love the
ha UNITS OF nature. and II there are those who
sppre ciate natures benefaction. from q
comm ercial point OF view, let them join
hands TO arrest the axe-man OF the mountain.
whose every blow wounds deeply the vital
interests ofthe State.
South Carolina is not alone in this fight.
The co ndition here Ia the condition Of practi.
oally all the Atlantic and Gulf States. Our
representative in Congress has already rem.
dered valuable service in behalf OF a bill pro-
tecting the Appalachian range Of mountains.
AL the representatives of the State should be
interested, and should join hands with other
sta tes bordering the mountain range. A bill
should be passed authorizing the purchase OF
90 much of the mountain range ss affects the
sources Of our principal rivers, and the
reser vations should be turned into National
parks. This will mean economy in the end
It will mean the preservation OF the indus
trial life of one of the most favored sections
OF the United States.