The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-06-16
THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY
DEVELOPMENT

LEV ELOT NlGNl
In talk to the Hendersonville Kiwanis
Club, on the subject of dam building and
water conservation and power develop
ment in the French Broad Valley, S. P.
Werner Of Brevard stated that his views as
to what should be done are shared by En-
gineers J. c.. Wike and r. H. Morrow of
Brevard and the plan had been endorsed
by Capt. T. S. Boswell, one Of the most dis
tinguished engineers in this country. Rob-
ert L. Cash of Brevard, visitor to Hen
Jacksonville, Thursday, in discussing the
matter, stated that twenty years ago or
more plans similar to those proposed by
Mr.. Werner were prepared by engineers of
the government.
Speaking to the Kiwanians, Mr.. Werner
said that he did not claim the credit of
originality for the plan, but had come into.
the public discussion of the project by rea-
son of having called the matter to the at
tcntion of Congressman Weaver, to whom
he furnished an outline of the plan.
The plan proposed by Mr.. Werner, pre-
viOusly outlined in The Times-News, is that
of building several dams near the head
waters of streams in Pennsylvania and
Henderson counties, instead of building
one large dam at Long Shoals.
The big dam would flood all the low
lands of the two counties. The other plan
would create several small and medium|
sized lakes in the mountain coves, and
,,,o,,lJ moi flood q lovcro arao of va1ua bla
land, destroy large number. Of home
steadS, cover many miles of highways ana
railroads with water, and cost the federal
government millions of dollars of unneceS-
sary expense.
In fact, if the plan favored by Mr.. Yer
ner and others is adopted, three or four.
dams would be constructed in PiSgah For
est on aforementioned land and the
government would not have to pay out a
dollar for the purchase of land at these
points. Two of these dams would be To-
Gated in Pennsylvania county and two i'll
Henderson county. These dams would be
located on Davidson and Mills rivers.
Others would be constructed on the French
Broad, Little River and, perhaps, at other
points in the two counties.
In a conversation with a representative
of The Times-News, Mr.. Werner said that
there is practically no opposition to this
plan in Pennsylvania county. By adopting
it the. ends sought by the government in
the Tennessee Valley development can be
secured without destroying large area Of
fine mountain country and all the benefits
that can possibly come to this section
through the development will be made
available to the counties of BuncOmbe,
Henderson and Pennsylvania.
Mr. Werner stated to the Kiwanis Club
that the only reason a resident of the
French Broad valley could possibly have
for fayoring the Long Shoals dam would
be the desire to sell land to the govern
ment. If any of the land owners have the
idea that they will be able to unload their
land on the government at high prices, if
this development is made, they are mis-
taken, Mr.. Werner said. In such cases the
government never pays the value of the
land to the owner, and the people OF the
beautiful valleys of the three counties
would sbsodeprived of their lands for a
L so ,#r-ss ~