Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-03-06

a committee of five experts to make a thorough
investigation Of the Appalachian region and Sc
iect the best suited national park purposes
This committee dsinterested, conscientious
and capable incidentally its members served with
out pay and paid their own expenses. The photo
graph herewith reproduced shows the five on the
slope II Mount MITCHELL North Cardinals most
noter mountain. From left to right, they are:
Gregg. Temple, Smith, Welsh and Kelsey. Chair
man Henry w. Temple is a representative from
pennsylvania, a college man, professor and min
lister. William G. Gregg of New Jersey is lead
er in the National Arts Club Of New York, di-
rector in the National Parks association and
student of recreatonal development through parks.
Glenn S. Smith Is acting chief topographic engl-
neer of the United States Geological survey and
represented Secretary Work on the committee.
Maj William A Welsh Is chief engineer and gen.
eral manager of the Palisades Interstate park of
New York and New Jersey and park expert of
international reputation. Harlan P Kelsey Of
Massachusetts is former president of the APP
palachian club of Boston and a, noted landscape
engineer. The committee spent eight months in
visiting suggested areas in Georgia, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama
and Kentucky The nub Of Its report is this:
We have found many areas which could well be
chosen, but the committee charged with the
responsibility OF selecting the best all things con-
sidered OF these several possible sites the Great
Smoky mountains easily stand first because of the
height of mountains, depth of valleys. ruggedness
of the area and the unexampled variety Of trees,
Mt LeConte Clngma Dome and Gregory Bald
and ray be extended in several directions
clude other splendid mountain regions adjacent
thereto.
The Great Smokes have handicaps which
will make the development of them into a national
park matter of delay; their very ruggedness and
height make road aud other park development a
serious undertaking as to time and expense The
excessive rainfall also mot yet accurately deter
mined) is element for future study and investi-
CATION in relation both the development work,
subsequent administration and recreational use
which had your committees careful study, while
secondary to the Great Smokes in altitude and
some features, constitute in Judgment the
outstanding and logical place for the creation of
the first national park In the Southern Appala-
chans We hope it will be made into national
mark and that its success encourage the con-
gress create second park in the Great Smoky
mountains, which lie some 800 miles distant south
west
It win surprise the American people to learn that
a national park site with fine scenic and recrea-
tional qualities can be found within three-hour
ride of our national capital, and within days ride
OF forty million Of our inhabitants 1t has many
CANYONS and gorges with beautiful cascading
streams 1t has splendid primeval forests
and the opportunity is there to develop an animal
refuge Of national Importance. Along with the
whole Southern Appalachians. this area Is full OF
historic interest; the mountains looking down
the valleys with their many battiehelds Of Revolu-
tionary and Civil periods, and the btrthplaces
of many of the Presidents of the United States.
within easy are the famous caverns Of the
Shenandoah valley.
BILE skyline drive along the mountain top following
a continuous ridge and looking down westerly on
the Shenandoah valley from z,oUV TO 3,oOO Feet be-
low and also commanding view of the Piedmont
plain, stretching easterly to the Washington monu-
inent which landmark OF our national capital may
be seen on q clear day. Few scenic drives In the
world could surpass It,
The care with which the Work committee went
aLout its work is shown BY the following excerpt
from its report:
1t is the opinion OF the committee that park
In the East should be located. If possible. whore 1t
VIII benefit the greatest number and 1t should be
SUFFICIENT size TO meet the needs