Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
HUGE PLAYGROUND
TRACT GIVEN u. S.
Great Smoky Mountain Park
Project Is Made Reality
in Brief Period.

Within four years, very brief period
considering the msgnihcence of the
vision, the Great Smoky Mountain
project has been translated from a
theoretical conception to an accomplish
ment The first physical transfer of
land to the Federal Government has
been made and gorgeous nature along
the Tennessee-North Carolina border
has taken on the aspects OF what is to
| be one of three great national play
| grounds in the East.
The first concrete step toward con-
summation of a project authorized by
Congress In 926-establishment of the
Great Smoky Mountains, National Park
was taken on February 7, when the
Governors of Tennessee and North
Carolina called at the Interior Depart
ment and on behalf of the people Of
their States conveyed to Secretary
Wilbur title to 100000 acres Of land.
$4,000 Acres Made Available.
An area as big as Rhode Island,
100000 acres, is available for park
purposes in the Great Smoky Mountain
district and under the law complete
title must be vested in the Govern
ment. Half of the remaining land
available, or 277,000 acres must yet be
acquired by the States and presented
to the Government before it will con-
slider the park area adequate and pro-
coed with it's actual development.
Money is available for purchase of the
land, however. and progress has been so
marked recently, as evidenced by the
response that resulted in presentation
of the first tract. that the States expect
to acquire the necessary lands within
another two years. A fund of about
$4,000, 900 has been made available,
half furnished by the States of Ten
nesSee and North Carolina, and an
amount not to exceed 100000 con-
tributed by the Laura Spellman Rookie
Teller Memorial.
The 10000 acres turned over to the
Government will be administered by
the National Park Service until such
time as the minimum acreage set up
by the act of Congress is acquired, and
then will proceed to develop it on
basis comparable to that used at yell
lowstone, Yosemite, and other OF the
great national parks in the West.
Gov. Max o. Gardner of North Caro-
lima and Gov. Henry II. Horton of
Tennessee, with other officers of their
State governments. including members
Of their park commissions, attended the
meeting at the Interior Department at
which title to the lands passed TO the
Federal Government. Actual acquisi-
tons and options on more than half
the required AT 900 acres have been
arranged for, and with the purchase
money provided. the chief problem is
care that deeds are secure and title
guaranteed.
Area Is wilderness Tract.
The Great Smoky Mountain section
extending SO miles along the border of
the two States is the greatest wilderness
area east of the Mississippi, 1.-The roof
top of Eastern America" 1t is eSti-
mated that half the population of the
country lives within 500 miles Of the
area. without names and less known
than the mountains Of india or Tibet,
seven peaks in the Great Smokes rise
to attitudes of more than 5000 feet.
Eleven others are as high, and from
the summit of LIE Conte the climber
looks out upon seven States.
The people of the two States have
responded enthusiastically to the pro-
posal, now being turned to an accom-
plishment, that the area along the Dor
der be converted into a playground for
the East comparable to the famous
parks like Yellowstone. In the Acuui-
sition of such large areas for national
park purposes no laws or precedents
were available to the States. but ade-
quate laws were passed and commits.
sions were quick to stop all timber cut
ting as soon as possible in order that
the forest growth might be preserved.
Anticipating that control of the nec-
essary acreage will be had within two
years, the National Park Service will be
prepared to initiate what is destined to
De one OF the greatest works In the
Eastern United States.