The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-02-05

forest of the United States as
. an addition to our group OF
national forests-not a play
forest or a park" but the big Pisgah
tract of 10000 acres in North Caro-
lima, formerly owned by the late
George w. Vanderbilt. and during the
past rs years transformed by him from
a wild and partly denuded area into
a highly productive, commercial forest,
writes Guy Elliott Mitchell in the Utica
Globe.
II scientific forestry, including prac'
tical numbering, timber reproduction.
fire fighting and prevention OF denu'
dation and erosion were an entirely
new science in America, Uncle Sam
could have no better example OF g
these things actually worked out thai
in this magnificent Pisgah forest
The area was purchased from Nh.
Vanderbilt at the nominal figure %
IS an acre. which may be conM-
cred a gift to the American people
from Mrs. Vanderbilt Of 0O.OO0-the
difference between the purchase plice
and that at which the Pisgah forest
was offered to the government by il.
Vanderbilt. This is by far the finest
forest yet acquired under the Weeks
national forest act, yet the cost Is less,
thanks to Mrs. Vanderbilt's generosity,
than the average of all the other tractc
purchased by the government, which
aggregate nearly a million acres.
Precipitous and Lofty Area.
The Pisgah forest area, which Is IN
outlying section of the famous Van
derbilt Biltmore estate. was critically
examined by the United States govern.
ment in 1912 with view to possible
purchase, in conformity with the pro-
visions of the Weeks law, whici r.
Quires the United States geological
survey to report on all areas before
purchase, with respect to the effects
Of their forest cover on the nayiga-
bility of the streams, or their tribu-
taries flowing through. These inves-
legations proved the value of the noun.
tain forests as a preventer Of erosion
and a retarder of the run-off storm
waters that feed the French Broad
river, which unites with the Holston
river at Knoxville, to form the navig.
able Tennessee river.
Overlooking the valleys, this area Il
one of the most precipitous and lofty
in the eastern United States, a dozen
or more submits Of the great Pheah
range rising above 5000 feet. The
rainfall is heavy and the creeks and
streams flow with swift currents which
erode and rapidly gully out the steer
unprotected slopes. carrying down Into
the streams great quantities Of sol
and sediment from such areas as have
been wastefully numbered, cleared q
burnt over. The protection Of ii,
forest cover. therefore, becomes q Vita
factor In the navigability of the larg,
rivers, as we'll as in the preseryatio,
OF their valuable water powers.
One Of Gods Beauty Spots.
Shortly after the formal reports q
the forest service and the geologiea
survey, the Pisgah area was visited i,
Secretary of Interior Lane, Secretar,
Of Agriculture Houston and Repreaer
, tative Hawley Of Oregon and Renre
i sentative Lee Of Georgia, members !
the national forest reservation cam
> mittee. in company with Forest 8
Henry S. Graves and George an
], Smith, director Of the geological n,
y vey. The party made three AZ
Q trip by autos and wagons, and eysry
8 ones opinion was that not ONLY a;
n blltmore constitute perfection v
h mountain-woodland estate, but stha
, rlsgah forest area was one Of IA,
IF own beauty spots.
e Long before finishing their m .,
# ton OF the Pisgah forest the ~
. Ders OF the party were agreed til 4,
sanderbilt's method Of lumberl = ],