The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-07-14

f.Yn1 lSf1tfl9 AH1c|iatfVt ~ huII dIIi. 1
July 100.
Nature has provided in the South |
.rn Appalachian mountains a num-
iar If the most and useful
r,turaI parks to be found in this
r,nntry. especially is this true when
l,c.tion. climate, water and scenic
t.auty are taken into account. So
far b1ck as 1899. a number of public
.pirited men of the Southern States
c,IIed A meeting at evil for the
uurpose of formulating plans for
npening up the Southern Appalachian
r,,nntains to the people for pleas
ure and recreation. At this meeting
Tho National Appalachian Park ASso-
r,,tion was organized and among the
moving spirits in this meeting was
Honorable Locke Craig. the present
rood roads Governor of North Caro-
Ina and Honorable Josephus Dan
,.Is. now Secretary Of the Navy. Pub
Jc interest in the movement was
awakened to such an extent that Con-.
press in 1911 passed what is known
a. the Weeks aw authorizing the
requirement OF lands located on the
water sheds of n~avigable streams,
for the purpose of securing the per-
p.tual growth of forests, preventing
Hoods. protection against forest fires.
preservation of water powers. preSer-
ktllttE VI ~ opba GAAA
cities. a continuance Of timber sup
NV and preservation of the beauty
and ,ttractivenesS of these mountain
lands for the recreation and pleasure
of the people.
The National Forest Reservation
Commission. consisting of the Secre-
ilry Of War. the Secretary of the In
terror. the Secretary of Agriculture
and two members of the Senate and
49,. ,,.r,har. Of tho HOUSE Of poppo-
s,.ntativcs. was created to pass upon
such lands as might be recommended
FIR purchase as provided in the
Weeks law. and an appropriation of
ten million dollars was made to carry
out the provisions of this act. Up to
this time the commission has APP
proved for purchase an area of about
ono million acres in the Southern
Appalachian mountains and about
iva hundred thousand acres in the
White mountains. and has proposed
an area of about six million acres in
the southern Appalachian mountains
in which purchases are to be made.
These lands lie in Virginia. North
Carolina. Tennessee, Alabama, GeOr-
STA and South Carolina.
Economically Purchased.
1t Is generally recognized that
these lands have been economically
DuItt.tStu dnu WISELY administered
80 far AS present appropriations Will
permit. and even at this experimental
stage in carrying out the provisions
of he Weeks law the people are be-
ginning to realize that the movement
IS national in its benefits n thai
Congress should make adequate ap.
preparations to enable the commission
ami Forest Service to carry out tn.
full purposes of this act.
within the last year it has com,
To the minds OF those who have beer
Interested in this movement. since it
inception. that provisions should b,
made for the construction of a ::ys
tine OF highways through these ra
uonal forests. to be laid out with
view OF the States and counties con
structing links between the Nationa
Forests. thereby making a s,rea
scenic highway extending from rea
The national capitol along the cres
OF these mountains to the southern
end OF the national forest in Geor
St ma Alabama. With his system
"t roads completed, and trails lead
In; DOWN to the many beautiful
streans. having their source near II.
'reSt OF these mountains, and hotels
cottages, and camps erected on site
ieased from the government, ther
would be made easily accessible on
'he HnoSt DeauClIul ana pictures
gu mountain regions in the wOrlf
rus would attract thousands C
wealthy tourists who now visit tn
mountain regions of Europe. thereb
do1thg To the features {
the Weeks law. These forests woul
De within a days Journey of thirt
mutton people. anon whom al
thousands of teachers. student
clerks and professional men and We
men who would avail themselves {
tht opportunity to spend their Nacs
ZION IN this region. accessible all til
year round. and in reach OF settle
"ehtS where comfortable and chea
communications could always
round. These national
S'"n'c beauty. and other attraction
ar valuable national assets and the
nav" been SO demonstrated in Eur
ptah countries. For inStanc
o"hZertand has one hundred an
nlty million dollars invested in tOu
ht hotels, which is being added
e'ch year and it is understood tn;
the tourist business Ia the chi
splltts eff that an,yntry'. u,oalth