The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-18
EROSION IN THE SOUTHERN AP-
PALACHIANS.
United States Geological Report Shows
Extensive Destruction i'm Mountain
Areas Constituting the Hcadwatcrs
of Important Eastern Rivers.

report on an exploration in the
southern Appalachians, by l.. c.
Glenn, professor of geology in Van
derbilt University, just published by
the United States Geological Survey.
is timely contribution to a subject
now engaging wide public attention.
1t places in the hands of those inter-
ested in the best utilization of the
great Appalachian watershed the most
authetic and detailed information Yet
presented on the subject representing
as it does the results Of expert field
! investigation.
The purpose Of Prof Glenn's study
was to note the extent and the effects,
and so far as possible the cause, Of
erosion in the region examined and to
determine the means of preventing
the widespread evil results Of unWise
agriculture and numbering. Accord
ingly, he travelled from stream valley
|
mountains, noting and recording with
great eXactness hillside and mountain
side wash and wear soil removal by
outlying and soil burial by overwash,
stream clogging and stream overflow,
the filling Of mill ponds and the
wrecking Of dams and bridges, and
numerous other evils that are attribu-
ted by many observers, in large, to
reckless deforestation and injudicious
attempts to cultivate slopes that are
not adapted to agriculture.
Prof. Glenns studies include parts
Of eight States-Pennsylvan Vir-
ginia, West Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee,
and Alabama. In the course of the
study it was noted that steep slopes
formed Of certain rocks could be safe
ly cultivated but that others, no
sleeper, composed of other, different
results. Observation were made of
of countless gaping cnasms started in
steep hillsides by the drag of logs
''snaked" down from timbercd hill
tOps-chasms that cave and throw
down timber and cause the wash of
masses of gravel and cobblestoncs
over fertile valley lands below. Bars
and shadows formed in navigable
streams by sand and gravel loosened
far upstream by agricultural and for
estry malpractice were noted at hun
dreds Of places and are specifically
mentioned in the report.
According to Prof. GGlenn the
problems thus studied geologically
must find their solution in method.
that relate largely to forestry and to
agriculture. The agricultural prob
lem involves the selection of the areas
best suited for agriculture because Cf
fertility and character Of soil and
moderate slope of surface and the
study of the ways in which such areas
may best lc handled TO prevent their
own destruction through erosion, as
well as the destruction of other lands
and property by the waste material
| they deposit and the floods they help
to generate.
Much of the area is not properly
agricultural land and should not be
cleared and forced into agricultural
use, because that forcing means quick
destruction both Of the area itself and
of the lower-lying areas on the same
streamways. Such misuse means also
slower but none the less sure inter
ference with navigation on the more
remote parts of the major stream
systems.
The forester would protect steep
slopes by keeping them clothed with
timber, coax back tree growth on de-
nuded areas, keep down forest fires.
protect and perpetuate the supply Of
hard wood, protect the game and fish
and enhance the beauty and charm Of
| the region as a health and pleasure
resort, as we'll as prevent the navi-
gable streams that flow from these
mountains from filling up with the
sand and silt whose removal is now
costing annually large sums of mon
| ey.
Prof. Glenn gives also an account Of
a study made in the basin of Monon-
gahela River in West Virginia and
Pennsylvania soon after the great
flood OF March, 1907, which destroy
ed millions Of dollars worth Of prop
erty
The report is published as Profess
/ lonal Paper y OF the United States
Geological Survey, and can be had