Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1924-05-01
GORGE AS
NATIONAL PARK
GORGE IDEAL AS
NATIONAL PARK SITE
Would Not Interfere With the De-
velopment of Necessary Resources.
By Joseph Hyde Pratt, President of
Western North Carolina, Inc.


Since the appointment by Secre-
tary Work of a committee to con-
slider and recommend a location for a
National Park in the Southern APP
palachian region, several locations
have been suggested in Pennsylvania
Virginia, North Carolina and Tenne-
ssee, and some of these come up to
the specifications of the National Park
as laid down in the original law Gre
ating National Parks much better
than ours.
There has been some little cOnfu-
sion in the minds of some people in re
gard to the difference and distinction
between a National Forest and Ma
tional Park.
AS far as l can ascertain very
careful consideration was given by
Congress and those interested in the
establishment of National Parks, not
to have included in such areas known
resources whose development was
absolutely necessary to the economic
welfare of the country. These parks
are supposed to contain certain nat
ural attractions and peculiar physical
phenomena that are considered so
unique that they should be preserv-
ed in their entirety for the enjoyment
of generations to come.
The National Forests are areas of
forested land on the headwaters of
our streams which have an influence
on stream flow and which can grow
trees and thus be source of our
future supply of timber. The Nation
al Forest can also be developed eco
nomically> through grazing, produc-
tion of minerals, development of wa
ter power, and cutting of mature tim
ber along forestry methods.
Some have suggested as sites for
a. National Park, in the Southern Ap-
palachian Regions portions of land
that are already within the National
Forest areas and are National For
ests. AS rule these areas are sim
ply high mountains covered with
timber and are much better adapted
in every way for National Forests
than for National Parks.
There is no necessity in the desire
for the National Park to interfere in
any way with the extension of the
National Forests in the Southern
Appalachian Region The establish
ment of National Forests in these
regions has been very satisfactory
and but a portion of the area ap-
proved for the purchase of additional
thus far been procured. There has
been an increased appropriation ap-
proved for the purchase of additional
lands for National Forests in the
Southern Appalachian Region, and
this work should continue without in
terruption until the area desired and
needed as National forests for the
protection for the flow Of streams and
as source of future supply of tim
Der is secured.
Of the areas suggested for Ma
tional Parks one stands out very
prominently as an area that fulfills
in every particular the specifications
and requirements for National
Park. This is the Linville Gorge
area, including Linville Falls, Lin
Vile Gorge, Table Rock Mountain,
Hawksbill Mountain, Shortoff Noun
tain, Dotson Mountain and Linville
Mountain; Grandfather Mountain
and Grandmother Mountain.
Linville Gorge is unique in this
country, and it would be more than
matter of Statewide concern
should the wild and rugged beauty
of this gorge be destroyed. 1t is SO
unique that it becomes national in
importance. Its scenic value lies not
only in the deep sculpturing of the
Gorge, with the water falls and the
rapids, but also in the forestation OF
it's limiting mountain slopes anc
ridges which is entirely different
from the gorges and canons of the
fWest. At the present time it il
wild and unspoiled throughout it:
entire length, and the peculiar forma
tions resulting in Hawksbill and Ia
BILE Rock Mountains, together will
Dotson Mountain and Linville Noun
tain are practically uninhabited Th'
rea would make National Park will
every element of romantic charm.
The Gorge is about twenty mile
long and up to a quarter of mill
Deep, having been formed by tn
Linville River which emerges from
the Gorge and enters the broad plail
below Shortoff Mountain after