The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

acquisition and preservation or the forests
within the limits of the proposed Appala-
chian front reservation VIII not only
be IAN aid 70 the navigability Of
streams. but a necessity TO preserve and
to secure to future generations the "navi-
gabIity" Of the Ohio and Tennessee
rivers, and then 20 show that. II the
measure had no other objects in view
than "the preservation Of stream supply
and the regulation OF stream flow" it
woud nevertheless be within the powers
granted TO the Congress to appropriate
and expend the sum required TO acquire
and preserve the proposed reservation.
Almost every year. sometimes twice
and thrice each year for period OF about
eighteen years prioc 90 1857 was in some
portion OF tho proposed reservation lying
between Asheville. n. c.. and the Virginia
State line, frequently fishing In streams.
hunting I'm the mountains. and occasion
ally accompanying land surveyors.
During this period 1 crossed over the
mountain range from tho Tennessee TO
tho North Carolina side by way o. every
road or bride trail Travelled between
Asheyille, y. c.. and the Virginia state
line; and later 1 visited parts of the
mountain range lying vast OF Asheville
70 the Georgia State line. which Is within
the limits Of the proposed reservation.
Saw Springs and Streams.
Thus I acquired and had during the
period mentioned personal knowledge Of
hundreds Of springs and streams and OF
more than thirty rivers which have their
principal sources IN this range Of noun
tains from the southwestern end Of the
Blue Ridge In the State Of Georgia to
the Virginia state line
These rivers. which flow into Tennessee.
and which give 10 Tennessee River at
least flve-siXths or its volume Of water AZ
the city Of Chattanooga. are. the Ocoee,
Hiwassee. Tellico. Little Tennessee. Lit
tie River, Little Pigeon. Big Pigeon
French Broad. Nolachucky. Watauga.
Doe, North. Middle and South forks Of
the Holston. The Clinch and Powell
have their source, as does the North
and Middle forks OF the HOlStor. IN
the range iu Southwestern Virginia
Some Of the other rivers which have
their sources within this range are:
New River, its sources being IN North
Carolina and Virginia on tho sides of
Grandfather Mountain. the base Of this
nessee, Virginia and North Carolina.
New River flows due north 20 where Il
form a junction with the Greenbrier and
from thence IL is the Great Kenawah until
II flows into the Ohio at Point Pleasant.
Dan Flows Eastward.
The Dan has It's source on the sides OF
the Grandfather also. but flows que east
ward 10 a junction with staunton. In
Virginia. and from thence It is the Roam
oke. continuing eastward until a short
distance from - coast. when Il turns
southwark into LibemarIe Sound.
The Yadkn or Daniel Boone fame.
rises also on the sides OF the Grand
father, but parts company with the Dan
and flows due south. joining the Great
Pedee. whose other sources are In this
Appalachian Range. The Wautaura has
IT'S head springs on the side Of the Grand
father in North Caro.inJ. but leaves the
Nadkin 90 90 on I'm ito southwark course.
the Dan on It's -rstward. and the New on
It's norJhward. the Wautauga starts
due vastward-flur considerable rivers
flowing from the Grandfather Mountain
toward the four points or the compass.
Other rivers having their sources IN this
range and flowing out through North
and South Carolina and Georgia are.
the Great Pedee, Little Pedee. Waters.
Broad, Enoree, Johns. TugaIoo. Sayan-
nah, ChattahoOchee. Etowah, Oestana-
ula, and other lesser ones not necessary
10 mention.
Like Sources Of Amazon.
With the possible exception Of the COM
mon center OF the upper sources Of the
Amazon, the Orinoco and the Plate
rivers, in South America. IL Is believed
that no other area Of Ike size in the
world is the source Of as great a quantity
or volume Of surface water as the pro-
posed area OF the Appalachian forest re-
seTvei and this surface water unlike that
in South America, flows out into the sur
rounding States 70 the four points OF the
compass producing and communicating
moisture in the many valleys through
which it passes to hundreds Of thousands
OF acres of valuable agricultural lands
already under cultivation. and finally
making navigable rivers.
understand from the Associated Press
report Of the action OF the House Judici-
ary Committee on the pending Appala-
chlan forest measure that Substantial
majority Of the committee was Of opln-
ion that the measure would be constitu-
t.Onal ~ forest reserves are an aid TO
the nav.gabillty Of streams"
Very nearly the whole number Of
streams mentioned as having their
sources within the limits OF the pro-
posed reserve give their waters into
Interstate naviCable rivers
ohio Supplies Navigation.
The Ohio supplies navigation for the
States Of Pennsylvania. West Virginia.
Ohio, Indiana. Illinois. and Kentucky.
the Roanoke for Virginia and North Car
ollna; the Savannah FOR the South Caro-
lima and Georgia All the waters coming
from the northwestern summit Of the
Appalachian Range go ultimately through
Tennessee and the Ohio rivers into tba
Mississippi. near Cairo, and they make
up nearly one-third of the volume OF
water leaving Cairo I'm the latter river.
which from thence % the Gulf supplies
navigable water 10 the States Of Mis-
sourl, Tennessee. Arkansas. NTissigsippi.
and Louisiana. All told. these waters.
having their sources within the limits of
the proposed reserve. furnish navigable
streams 90 the citizens Of seventeen
States. or more than one-third Of the
whole number Of States in the Union.
During the period of about eighteen
years prior 10 1887 when had personal
knowledge OF conditions IN the AppalachI-
an Range between Asheville. n. c.. and
the Virginia State line. the range from
base 20 base was almost an unbroken
primeval forest Of giant poplar oaks.
walnut ash cherry. chestnut. beech. &C.
RHvines Full of Timber.
The ravines. gorges. holloWs. and daA
pressions on the sides OF the different
spurs Or the range had lying across
them at many different points trunks OF
fallen and decaying trees. also great
limbs and banks OF fallen leaves and