The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-06-15
THE IMPENDING DESTRUCTION OF
THE FRENCH BROAD VALLEY

displayed on the first page this news item
''Work on the state prison camp near Calvert
has been stopped temporarily; according to Lloyd
w. Cutting supervisor, pending definite Informal
ton in regard to the proposed Tennessee Valley
Authority dam on the French Broad river. ''''
"Mr Cutting said Wednesday that he expects
TO receive definite word within the next few days
in regard to continuing or stopping the work which
was started ten days ago, plans calling for per-
rlianent camp to house ICE TO 125 prisoners! - ~
"Aerial SURVEY of the French Bread valley was
ordered on June 5th by the IVA and this order
was taken by many people, including officials OF
the state highway department, to mean that this
preliminary work was forerunner of construe-
ton of dam or dams affecting this immediate
section. '" '.'9
"While no direct statement has been secured
from the state highway officials, stopping Of the
prison camp work is looked as being significant
of their belief that program Of some sort will
be started in the county" @-,;Is ,-' ,
In connection with the foregoing news
item, w. e. Breese, one of the leading citi-
zens of Brevard, addressed letter to The
Times, which is herewith reproduced, as
follows:
T. at is apparent that the federal government,
Through The Tennessee Valley Authority, is going
TO take immediate action on the construction o.
dam or dams on the French Broad river and its
tributaries. 81. - "a
"This proposition is vital to the future Of Tran
Syivania county as we'll as to other counties which
may be affected thereby.
SIT has been reported that there Is going TO bt
built 200-foot dam somewhere on the French
Broad river in Henderson county. If this is cor
Frect it would mean the flooding of large part N
Henderson county and large part of Trahsyhaflit
FeouRty 1t has been suggested that this dam is fol
the purpose Of creating storage reservoir, and
Ia storage reservoir is contemplated that would
mean that the water level of the lake would be
lowered approximately fifty feet during the drS
seasons. This would mean mud bank along the
shores of the lake varying from ten feet to nearly
a quarter of mile and would practically destroy
the tourist Business in this county
The government would pay for the land taken
and damaged, full and fair compensation, under
their Condemnation proceedings but this would not
be full payment for the damage sustained. II
the people of Henderson county and TRANSATLANTIC
county will get the cooperation of their senator's
land congressman it is possible that they can Sc
cure the building of two or three power dams OF,
the river and have the storage reservoirs built on
THE streams flowing into the French Broad river
This would mean much TO the county if this could
be done, because power dam would necesstate
the maintenance of constant level in the lakes
and would also give the opportunity for the or:
esifzatOn and operation Of Industries to Utilize
the power generated. AS the writer is informed,
it4sis the purpose Of the government to- generate
electricity and then to provide means by way of
loans to industries to utilize the power at the place
where It Is generated This would mean that Il
these pS%er dams were built in, Henderson Eaild
Tfansylvania counties; that there would hnnnedi-
atefy spring up near and afodnd said dauts thfit-
ing Industrial operations which w6uld give employ.
1nent to many citizens OF both counties
"The inpounding of food waters in the tribu
tary streams and DIP in the Mountains would no,
depreciate the value. d che land adjacent thereto
For instance, snaSapplsing. to fransyvania County
alone, If dam were built atsEnon Shoals, arothei
pne below the mouth 81 Davidson river at Clark
Son H1t another one at Wilson Bridge, 1t Wouls
mean three power dams IN Fransylvania count,
which would develop several thousand horsepower
EACH and the Upper waters Of the French BroaS
could be inpodhded TO maintain constant ieve
in the upper laws which, when it was utilized
would maintain h constant level in the seconi
lake and wren tie watef m the sec6nd lax
was used Daiid pasted through its turbines Q
other equipment, would produce a. constant ievt
in the third lake without causing deanafaw b