Evening star., 1908-01-28
forests from fire, and tae general adop-
ton of improved methods of cutting.
Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Southern Appalachian Mountains.
In the southern Appalachians the TIM
Der lands are owned by large companies TO
a less extent than in the White noun
aims, but even here as much as ID per
cent of many localities is under such
ownership. Likewise numbering is going
on less vigorously in the southern Ap-
palacilians than in the White mountains
L lis Is accounted for by the fact that the
southern Appalachian region is large ana
many localities of II are very lndccesslpie
Logs cannot be driven down stream as IN
the north, and ra-IrOads are lacking Con-
sequentIy, the price of timbsr all along
has been and is now lower than in the
north For instance, spruce which IN the
White mountains is worth on an average
about s6 per thousand on the stump Is IN
LIE ngn southern mountains worth only
80 to s3 per thousand
Iimberland owners in the southern ap-
palachians are generally inciin I'd 10 Sill
their lands to the government at rea som
able price. regardless of whether The
lands contain virgin timber or are cut
over. Furthermore, many OF them are
favorable To the transfer OF their landS,
themselves retaining the right to cut ana
remove certain kinds OF lumber above
SpecIfied sizes.
White Mountains.
The timber lands of the White noun
tains are in the main held by few large
companies nearly all of whom are cut
ting extensively the spruce stands for
pulp or lumber manufacture. The plants
of some Of these compa MES represent an
investment OF several hundred thousand
dollars. Manifestly, III negotiating Tor
these lands, in so lar AS they bear uncut
timber. the value OF the plant must enter
INTO TIE confederation. III addition. the
stumpage value of spruce ranges from
$3.50 to ST. or s. per thousand 1his
would give tie best stands a value of SO
TO slo5 or more per acre. 1t is useless
tor the government to attempt the pur-
chase OF virgin stands OF spruce i'll these
mountains. except on small areas sur
rounding points of especial scenic inter
est. THes. III the aggregate VIII not
exceed .l,'ab acres.
Advantages of Reserves.
The advoc ates of the bill argue thus:
ITO farming and fruit growing the ma
tional fo: ests should give material stim-
uius. The protection Of the higher noun
tain slopes would greatly increase the
safely Of farming and fruit growing in
the valleys below. No agricultural lands
should De included. Should il be neces-
sary to purchase small tracts of farming
land in order to obtain large areas of i'm
por1ant mountain land. provision should
be made for reseling OF otherwise ut.liZ-
ing them. The forests need not interfere
in the slightest degree with the settlers
who own and cultivate small areas of
farm land along the mountain streams.
Neither would they stop the use of the
mountains for grazing where there is
proper food for stock. The high noun
tain tops 'balds which sometimes
would be Included, and other good grass
lands. could be grazed without inter-
ferng with the purposes of the forests.
The many other uses which can be
made Of the mountains would be facil-
itated rather than hindered. Such uses
are for power development. hotel and res
dence sites. rights of way and Sawmills.
The forests would not reduce the popula-
tion OF the region: Oh the contrary. they
would increase the population by increas-
ing the demand for labor and making
more stable and permanent the local in
dustrias.
1T has been raised objection
against the proposed forests that they
would reduce the funds of the counties
affected. by cutting down the taxable
property. This should not be the case.
In the west the government returns to the
counties 10 pc" cent o. all revenues re-
ceived from It's forests in them. This
more than compensates for the loss of
taxes. The same should be done in the
east.
Benefit to Nation
National forests would mean the de-
velopment of the southern Appalachian
and White mountain regions beyond any
point which would be possible without
them More and better roads and trails
would have To be- built bridges construct
ed and telephone lines put up. In all OF
this work the government should cooper
ate with the local people just as 1t does
in the vast. During the present year
s.0oG3J will be expended in such improve
ment work on the western national for
ests and more will be required in the flu
tura The east needs similar help from
tile federal government in the develop
ment OF its mountain +orest lands.
THE policy here recommended. If car
led out will with certainty have as its
ultimate effects the conservation. inn
provement and increased use Of the wood.
water and other resources of the Appa-
lachian region. The benefits which
c,re while they will be direct and distinct
for the local region. will be in their
largest degree national. Every section of
the United States will sha~c in them
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