The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-03-28
Hy THOMAS j. PENCE.)

Department OIL Agriculture announces
that it Is now ready to begin operations
looking to the purchase of land by
the National Forest Reservation Com
mission created under the Weeks law
that passed the recent session of Con-
gress.
Eleven million dollars was made
available by Congress for the purchase
of land with which to create the Ap-
xalachian Forest Reserve in the south
ern Appalachian mountains and the
White Mountain Forest Reserve in the
New England mountains.
The Department of Agriculture has
decided that the government cannot
AFFORD to buy improved agricultural
land or lan0s bearing heavy stand of
nerchanta bic agricultural timber. A
circular just issued by the department
+.numerates the kind Of lands desired,
and invites farmers to submit offers.
The character of lands that will be
purchased right away are culled and
cut-oyer lands, land covered with
brush that is useful for watershed pro-
lection. burned land and abandoned
farm land.
The circular issued by the Agricul-
tural Department will be sent to farm
ers in the Appalachian and New Eng
land mountain sections. inviting offers
Of lands In North Carolina the areas
within which offers of lands are de-
sired are as follows:
Wilkes. Caldwell, Watagua. Bun
combe. Yancey, Mcdowell. southeast
ern MITCHELL Haywood, Swain, Jack
son, Henderson, Pennsylvania, Macon
Clay, Cherokee and Graham counties
In the Southern Appalachian Re
serve it is proposed to acquire lane
in the States of Maryland, Virginia
West Virginia, Tennessee, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina and Georgia.
The plans Of the Agricultural De
partment for acquiring lands are an
nounced as follows:
This law was passed with specia
reference to the creation Of Natlona
Forests in the Appa lachian and Whit
Mountains. Under it the Secretar!
OF Agriculture is to examine, locate
and recommend to the commission
for purchase such lands as IN M
Judgment may be necessary for regu
lating the flow Of navigable streams
The circular which is now belnt
printed is intended to give informa
ton to the public as to where ant
what kinds of land are wanted. Own
ers Of land the purchase Of Which
will be considered by the government
are expected on the basis Of this in
formation to make known to the fores
service which will conduct the wOr1
for the Department of Agriculture
their desire to sell. Copies of tn
circulars may be obtained by applying
20 the Forest Service.
The law is not restricted to particu
lar regions, except that lands may %
bought only in the States whose legis
latures have consented to the acQuisi
ton of land by the United States fo
the purpose of preserving the naviga
bllity Of streams. The States whic
have already taken the necessary &C
ton are Maine, New Hampshire
Maryland Virginia, West Virginia
North Carolina, Tennessee, South Car
olina and Georgia.
The first lands to be examined fo
purchase will be in the Appaiacnia
and White Mountains, which becaus
Of their altitude. steepness and lac
OF protection are in class by them
selves. The ares, which is believe
TO need protection is much large
than the government can purchas
Much differ nae exists, however, bt