The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-02-27

RALEIGH. Feb. Eth posi-
bilities Of economic and social
results, the forestry feature Of
President elect ROos eVel is
scheme for the development Of
the Tennessee river basin will be
among the most far-reaching OF
it's phases, according to a belief
expressed by Colonel J. w. Har-
selson. director of the depart
ment of conservation and de-
velopment, today.
Of the total area consisting OF
about 10000 square miles in the
Tennessee river basin, some $3.50
acres or about 1872 per cent
are in North Carolina, the direc-
tor pointed out. The French
Broad and Little Tennessee river
drainage areas constitute a geat-
er part Of the area in the state,
with the Hiwassee and Watauga
basins containing the remainder.
An intensive forestry program
within these areas, Director Har-
relson continued, would probably
involve extensive reforeStatiOn
of the key watersheds and prob
ably a more general reforesta-
ton program.
The portion of North Carolina
within the Tennessee river water
shed, the director asserted, con-
tains a greater part Of the more
than 100000 acres III national
forests located within the state;
and the prosecution of the pro-
gram would intensity the for
estry program in that area.
A large-scale forestry program
in the basin, he continued, would
serve as a means of flood con-
troll and enable engineers, for
esters, and others to prove more
definitely the value Of forests as
an instrument in controlling
floods and erosion. The return
of denuded areas to timber pro-
duction is viewed as an invest
ment. with scientific forestry as
surfing a permanent yield through
fire control and selective cut
ting. along with other phases Of
such a policy. An added adyan-
tage was pointed out as an in
crease in attractiveness Of the
territory affected as recreation
al ground to which thousands in
the country are already turning.
Should the project extend as
far as seeking to adjust farming
operations by encouraging the
abandonment of badly eroded
and infertile areas for refores-
tation and the direction of set
Element to more productive lands
in the area, the results would be
of tremendous national signifi-
canoe. Director Harrelson be-
lieves. Erosion is looked upon
as being one Of the most i'm
portant land utilization prob
lens in the country today, and
students of conditions have d.
rected attention to the fact that
thousands of farmers throughout
the country are struggling
| against almost insurmountablc
odds of wrestling a living from
impoverished soils.
The possibilities through an ax-
ample of efficient land utiEza-
ton such as would be expected
of the Tennessee project would
be tremendous to the state and
the rest Of the country, Director
Harrison feels. He pointed out
that with 20,5S6,0OO acres Of
forest lands in North Carolina
much of which is now idle or HI
lprodctive, the problem of max
| ing the best use of this area Is
one of the most important which
the state faces.
at is my firm belief" COM
mented Director HARRISON, Chat
if this suggestion or proposal for
the development of the Tennes-
see basin gets further than mere
talk and publicity, it will be
necessary to inform our gov
ernors and members of congress-
of its value and organize them
INTO a fighting bloc for this de-
iVelopment. And why not: in
view of huge expenditures on
certain central and ,vac+o,.o 10