The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-06-06


be the sacrifice, by single mercenary act of desc
Grafton, of a priceless heritage-of the far-fung
valleys convergng in an amphitheater of unrivaled
nobility and loneliness, of the natural wholesome
ness of soil conditions, of atmospheric integrity
all going to the makeup of a climate famed the
world over for its salubriousness, its healing balm
and all to be sacrificed to greater or less de-
gree in the more or less reasonable hope that the
huge investment may realize pecuniary profit.
at is not the least distinction of the Roosevelt
New Deal that is dearly loves experiment. This
scribe very reverently prays that the brain trust
may do some experimenting with the very respect
ably supported theory that electric current can be
more economically produced at properly located
steam plants than by water-power.
owed all be happy yet, you bet, you bet? If
only such experimentation could be carried on in
the sadly distraught coal region of Eastern Ken
lucky or in some other equally favored locality
provided, of course, such experimental operations
would be effective in the eXoneratlon of Natures
extravaganza of bounteous beauty, that illimtably
overspreads the continent waters of Mills River and
the French Broad, from the ruin that seems to
impend."
The foregoing is something for the peo-
pie Of Henderson and Pennsylvania coun-
ties to take under serious consideration at
once. Perhaps nothing can be done to
head off this calamity. On the other hand
it may be possible that something can be
done to preserve for the people of this
section one of the most beautiful and fer
tile areas of Western North Carolina.
1t is a certainty that if this dam is con-
structed and the valleys of Henderson and
Pennsylvania counties are flooded, as
pointed out by Judge Carter, the two coun-
ties will be practically destroyed. The sub
merging of the lowlands along the French
Broad and Mills rivers and along the trib-
utary streams, will be one Of the smallest
of the problems thrust upon this section
by this experiment of the federal govern
ment. The relocation and building of
highways, the construction of bridges and
causeways to make Hendersonville and
other points in the two counties accessible
to the outside world, will cost millions OF
dollars The topography of the section is
such that railway and highway communi-
cation lines will be destroyed by the flood
ing of large part of the two counties;
and railroads and highways will have to
be relocated; and in some cases this will
be difficult and expensive work.
The flooding of this extensive area will
take off the tax books large amount OF
the assessed valuation of the two counties.
It will leave only the hill and mountain
sections of the counties for taxation and
will destroy the finest farms in Henderson
and Transatlantic counties. 1t will isolate
Hendersonville and Brevard to such an eX-
tent that all future prospects for the
growth of these places will be eliminated;
and these towns in the course of few
wears will become only landing places for
fishing boats on the shores of an extensive
lake.
These are but few of the serious OBJ
jections which Immediately appear when
this fantastic project is taken under con-
sideration. There are many others. How
ever il is beginning to be made clear to
the people of this section that they must
face something of this sort of alleged de-
velopment in the near future. The pity of
it is that a great section of country may
be destroyed as an experimentation Presi-
dent Roosevelt himself admits that his gil
gantic and expensive Tennessee valley de-
velopment is nothing more than an expert
ment. The Times-NewS believes it is an
unsound economic experiment and that in
many of it's features it is Socialistic in the
extreme. .-.-..