The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-07-07

forestry has arrived in the Southern
Appalachians. The market lords a
demand for such a variety OF odu
that close utilization is usually posslolaS
and prices are such that with gooo
Management reasonable profits can be
obtained. Certain cumberland owners
in making timber contracts are al
ready following the examples OF the
government in limiting the cut so as
TO save the young trees, in requiring
clean utilization SO as TO leave the
stand in good growing condition and
in providing fire protection. These
are the fundamentals of forestry.
Other owners will fall into line as
soon as they find it pays to do so. for
on the contrary nothing is more GER
tain than the appropriateness OF
holding cut-over timberlands where
no attempt at forestry is made.
A hird direction in which it ap-
pears that government ownership and
management of extensive forest areas
in the A~ppalachians may influence
benefcially the conditions OF the re-
gion is in providing leadership for
the mountain people, in setting up
standards and in giving stimulus to
cooperative and individual endeavor.
The governments undertaking is such
that its representatives must mingle
largely with the mountain people and
have constant dealings with them. OF
some we are buying land, others are
employed in constructing trails and
telephones, or as forest guards. Still
others are becoming timber contrac-
tors, buying small quantities Of tim
Der and cutting it under government
supervision. Before long hundreds Of
men in remote mountain districts will
be in direct contact with the govern
ment in one way or another and
whether it is through a timber Oper-
alton, employment on Improvement or
protection WORT, a grazing permit or
what not they are required to meet
better standards of work than those to
which they have been accustomed.
Do Q imagine that these people
shun this touch with the government?
On the contrary government employ
ment is popular. We have constantly
more applications than places. Our
men feel hat the mountain people are
fast becoming true friends.
Much Of the governments work
calls for local cooperation as for in
! stance in the putting in Of telephone
lines. Here we have to appeal direct
to the people for cooperative aid,
and for the acceptance of standards
better than of their own accord they
would employ. We have found a
more ready response than we expected.
Still another opportunity arises for
the government to aid the
people. The ann in which the
government forests will b. handled
will call for numerous small timber
contractors living near at hand and
working at the timber business dur
inc a good portion Of the year. It ap-
pears advantageous to have them live
as far as practicable or government
land. The government will aid them
in putting up suitable houses and give
i thom nn6Qr Cnac;o1 uco narn,itc a.
use Of small fields where such are
available iand can be used perma-
nently foN growing grain and hay for
their stock. 1t may be possible to
cooperate with them in securing
grass and clover seed and possibly
lime and fertilizers for the lane and
IN putting into effect a system of til
lage that will increase rather than di-
minish the productiveness of tA land,
BY so doing we may j in the build
ing up Of thriving forest communities.
1t is the community rather than the
single family that we shall aim to
encourage.
Some will be ready to suggest an
other way by which the government
may aid in the development of the
Appalachian region, namely by the
construction Of trunk highways for
: automobile travel so that great num-
; bers Of people may go through the re-
l g1On and along the principal mountain
; ranges by motor car. If we explain
l that the mountains are made accessi-
! BILE by trails we are met with the re-
? ply that the great body of the public
does not travel on foot or on horse
pack but in automobiles. That they
l do not camp in the woods at night Out
t lodge at hotels and their desire is tic
cover long distances in a day. This
. desire to open the Appalachians tc
: automobile travel is very deep-rooted
: in the minds of man. and l understand
e that it more than any other consider
. alton has prompted numerous com
: mercial organizations recently to pas:
i resolutions urging that the lands be.
e ing acquired by the government be
opened to the public for recreation
pleasure and health. This movemen
is not likely to cease until its aims
I are accomplished but a way to the &C,
complishments has not as yet beer
IN %0,,rj T. &c DIN -.