Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-13
SMOKY MOUNTAIN
PARK FURTHERED
Governors of Two States Fa'
vorabIe to Funding Ma
tionaI Project.

While the Shenandoah National
Park project is still marking time,
plans for establishment of another
great Appalachian national park
| that in the Great Smoky Mountain
areas of North Carolina and tennessee
moved swiftly forward yesterday;
Virtual agreement was reached Dy
Governors A. w. Mclean OF Nortn
Carlina and Austin Peay of Tennessee
at conferences with Secretary OF In
terror Work and with their State ad-
visors, on a program of State co-opera-
ton in expenditures which will insure
early establishment of the park.
AT the same time the Federal Gov
eminent took a long step toward
actual completion of the park project
when Secretary Work promised the
governors he would instruct engineers
Of the National Park Service to go into
the Great Smoky area las soon as
weather permits" to make survey
of the approximate 42S,000 acres
deemed necessary by the Government
for the proposed park area.
Issue Progress Statements"
Although secrecy surrounded the
departure of the two governors from
their home States Friday. and no in
formation was given out at the 1nte'
rior Department in advance of the
conference. the State executives both
issued progress statements after
| their meeting and were frank in de-
claring that harmony will rule the re-
latlons between the States in their
efforts to secure the park as a heri-
tage for the American people. The
statements Of the two governors
follows:
Gov. Mclean said:
Il was present at a conference with
Secretary Of Interior Work and Gov,
Peay of Tennessee in regard to the
proposed Smoky Mountain National
Park. My purpose in attending the
conference was to obtain all informa-
ton possible as to what is involved
in the project so far as North Caro-
lima Is concerned in order that I may
be able to answer intelligently ques-
lions asked me by members of our
General Assembly as to whether or
not the interests Of the State will be
Safeguarded In the event the General
Assembly acts favorably upon the pro-
posal now pending before 1t to make
a $2.000,000 appropriation to the park
project.
1.-THE requirements of the Federal
Government We're explained very fully
by Secretary Work and the status of
the matter in Tennessee was eX-
planned by Gov. Peay. Obviously,
did not attempt to come to any definite
conclusion as I realize very fully that
the matter Is one for the General
Assembly to determine and not the
governor, especially as it involves an
appropriation which only the General
Assembly can make"
Gov. Peay's Statement.
Gov. Peay made the following state.
ment: "At a conference with Secre
tary of the Interior Work, with Gov.
Mclean of North Carolina and others
interested in reference to the proposed
Great Smokes National Park, the
Secretary indicated the purpose of his
department to have the described
area of the park under the terms of
the legislation laid off as soon as
the weather will permit. Other de-
tails Of the project were discussed.
Another purpose of the conference
was to obtain as far as possible uni
formity Of procedure between the two
States. The plans seem to be work
ing out as well as might be expected
and the outlook Is satisfactory.
Secretary Work explained that
100000 acres must be secured by the
two States or by one of the States
to serve as O. binder for the deal to
give the area to the Federal Govern
ment for park purposes. With this
area reserved and protected by fire
rangers, the States can then proceed