The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-06-04
Our New National Park
In North Carolina.


The recent decision by the Z. s
forest reservation commission to pur-
chase from Mrs. George w. Wander
bilt $1,000 acres of land near Ashe-
vile, n. c., will soon make the Uni
ted States the owner of a vast and
beautiful forest in the heart of the
southern Appalachian mountains, only
10 hours ride from Washington and
l3 from Atlanta. II is believed that by
next year congress will convert it into
a national park to serve as a play
ground for the thirty five million peo-
pie to whom the railways make it ac-
cessible in days journey. Its CEN
ter is II miles in a southwest direc-
ton from AsheViIle from which its
nearest point is only six miles dis
tant.
Containing 1874 square miles, it
formed the bulk of the land which the
late George w. Vanderbilt acquired in
the past twenty-three years in con-
nection with his prinCely Biltmore
House. the finest country place in Am
erica. "Pisg9h Forest" he called this
cherished possession, and this name
has been adopted by the commission.
Conserved by the first scientific for
estry practiCed in America, it is the
finest and most extensive hardwood
forest in the eastern state, and it will
be the largest area owned by the Uni
ted States east of the Mississippi.
Pisgah Forest is a princely domain
of mighty mountains and crystal
streams. Lacking the barren era ndeur
of the Rockies, ii is a great green gar
den of wooded heights and grassy
glades. penetrable thickets of rhod-
odendron and azalea making masses of
bloom in spring and early summer.
In its bounds are giant peaks, some
grassy ''balds" other balsam- clad
domes and rock capped SUBMITS with
granite preCipices sheltering bear and
wolves, eliminating in the sharp spire
of Pisgah's pyramid 1857 feet above
sea. level.
Abundant rainfall ensures luxuriant
vegetation Noble trees of poplar, oak,
spruce. hemlock. balsam, hickory,
walnut, maple, birch, cover the slopes.
A thousand high placed springs send
their cold waters through ferny dells
to form the Fastening streams. Cas-
cading over rocky bottoms they foam
against great boulders, swirl in dark
pools, spread like a silver curtain on
rock tables and plunge, as at Looking
Glass, sheer down for sixty feet. 1t
Is a land of singing brooks and white
crested streams.
Game and fish abound in the for
est. 1t is estimated that there are
5000 deer, besides bear wolves, foxes,
raccoons, opossums, squirrel, rabbits,
quail wild turkey, native pheasants,
and the descendants Of the Chinese
and English pheasants with which it
was stocked years ago. The clear.
cool water is the native habitat of
the speCkled or mountain trout and
In the larger streams are the rain
bow or California variety. Wardened
religiously for many years the trout
are as plentiful as the most ardent
fisherman could desire.
One may reach the heart or this
wilderness in a two hours ride from
Asheville, and the greater part OF 1t
NAV be overlooked by scenic road
believed TO be unequalled in Ameri-
ca: a road nearly mile in elevation
and an automobile road at that. III
was built by Mr.. Vanderbilt exClu-
sfvely for use by his automobile in
reaching his hunting lodge on one or
the ears of that rat which. as seen
from Asheville, the imagination pic
lures as climbing to the sharp sum
nit of Pisgah.
This road extends from the end OF
the county macadam, 20 miles from
the city, and ascends $500 feet by
steady grade Of 70 per cent mlIeS
to the lodge and then continues 10
miles along Pisgah ridge 1t circles
great peaks, hanging over steep pre-
cipices and Crests heights over ooVo
feet high and then becomes almost
level for several miles. The speeding
car unreels new scenic marvels each
moment. In front, above, belOW, an
ocean Of greenery seems to rise ana
fall as far the eye can see-to the
dim blue of the Appalachian giants, |
ing the Tennessee line, and. nOrthward |
the dark pinnacle of Mt. MITCHELL
highest land east of the Rockies. Far !
below CLEANS the water mirrored face |
of n stone pinnacle that stands SEN |
tinel in the river valley. and through |
the widening vista of enCOmpasSing |
ridges shows the distant escarpment |
of the Blue Ridge, reaching from
Georgia to Virginia,
An extension Of this road Il or Is
miles to Brevard would connect 1t with
the state road to Ashevtlle, affOrdinE
circling so miles ride. From it two
roads lead down to the valleys where
are many miles of we'll graded roads
pense could be converted into automo-
bile highways. 1t is the plan of the
Appalachian Park Association, whose
headquarters are in Asheville. 10 have
the government convert the most
suitab Bile parts of the lands, which like
this, It acquires under the terms of the
Weeks Act for conserving the wa
ter supplies of navigable streams, into
national parks, and to connect these
by automobile roads that they may be
easily accessible to the people. These
roads would link the various reserves
in the mountain sections of the south.
II was the wish of Mr.. Vanderbilt
that the nation should become the
owner of Pisgah Forest and last
spring he offered 1t to the forest re-
Starvation commission. $4,000 acres
priced at 1915 an acre. this tract be
ing subject to a contract which he had
made two years previously with the
carr Lumber Company by which II
could cut trees of a diameter over Is
inches. for which it was to pay him