The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-05-18
EROSION IN THE SOUTHERN AP.
pAlAcHIANs.
United states Geological Report
Shows Extensive Destruction IN
Mountain Areas Constituting the
Head~sters Of important Eastern
Rivers.

Frankfort--A report on an ex-
ploration in the Southern Appalach'
lans, by l.. &. Glenn, professor OF ge-
ology In Vanderbilt university, Just
published by the United States Geo
logical Survey. is timely contribu-
ton to a subject now engaging wide
public attention. II places in the
hands of those Interested In the best
utilization OF the great Appalachian
watershed the most authentic and de
tailed information yet presented ON
the subject. representing as " does
the results of expert field investiga-
ton
A story OF Ruined Lands.
The purpose of Prof Glenn's study
was to note the extent and the effects
and so far as possible the causes 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
to stream valley through the south
ern mountains. noting and recording
with great cNactness hillside and
mountain side wash and wear. soil
removal by outlying and soil burial
by oyervash. stream clogging ana
stream overflow. the filling OF mill
ponds and the wrecking Of dams and
bridges. and numerous other evils
that are attributed by many obserS-
ers. in large part. to reckless defor.
estation and injudicious attempts TO
cultivate slopes that are not adapted
to agriculture
invests cations Made IN Eight States.
Prof Glenn's studies included parts
OF eight neutrality-suspicious.. Viz
ginia. West Virginia. North Carolina.
South Carolina. Georgia, Tennessee,
and Alabama In the course OF the
study IL was noted that steep slopes
formed OF certain rocks could be safe
~ cultivated. but that others. no
sleeper. composed of other different
rocks were cultivated with disastrous
results. Observations were made OF
countless gaping chasms started In
steep hillsides by the drag OF logs
"snaked" down from timbered hill
tops-chasms that cave and throw
down timber and cause the wash OF
masses OF gravel and cobblestones
over fertile valley lands below. BARS
and shadows formed in navigable
streaNs 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.
Agriculture and Forestry Involved.
According TO Prof. Glenn the prob
lens thus studied geologically must
ind their solution I'm methods that re-
late largely to forestry and TO agricul-
ture. The agricultural problem in
wolves the selection OF the areas best
suited for agriculture because Of fer
tility and character OF soil and mod
crate slope OF surface and the study
OF the ways in which such areas may
best be 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.
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 well as prevent the nayi-
gable streams that flow from these
mountains from filling up with the
sand and silt whose removal Is now
costing annually large sums OF
money.
The report is published as Profes-
sional Paper 20 OF the United States
Survey. and can be had
free by applying TO the director OF
the survey NJ Washington. II con
sists OF 1873 pages and IL illustrated