The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-09-21
THE PARKWAY HEARING

The Asheville Citizen calls the parkway
hearing in Washington a high spot in the
history of this State, and makes this COM
ment on the matter:
Whatever the final outcome of the Scenic Park
way matter-and we supremacy confident tnat
the outcome will be satisfactory-the hearing IN
Washington before Secretary Ickes will long De
high spot in this States history.
This is for North Carolina the most important
matter which the Federal government has had be-
fore it in connection with the recovery program.
North Carolina sensed its Importance. The Cover
nor was there the members of his Council of State
were there, practically all of the Congressman
from North Carolina were there, the members of
the State Highway Commission, of the North Caro-
lima Park Commission, and of the Governors spe-
cial commission on the parkway were present. II
was no ordinary matter which could bring forth
such a show of interest and concern.
"The States official representation was COM
pete; nor was that ALL Scores of the leading citi-
zens of all parts of the State in attendance
bankers, lawyers, newspaper editors, Chamber of
Commerce executives and many others. And moth
ing could have been finer than the manner in which
the whole of Western North Carolina was repre-
u
magnificent. All who came wanted TO help, and
only to help, without regard to the personal equa-
ton.
"The time the thought, the care, the zeal which
have been put into this Parkway effort have been
immense. We, shall not attempt here to single out
for special mention those who have been most ac-
tive in this effort They are known and their work
is appreciated and viii continue to be appreciated.
way. 1t has united our people and it has aroused
them not only as to how much they have at stake
but also as to what can be accomplished through
unified endeayor. ..
"The Citizen, as we have said before, is con-
fdent that the Parkway problem will be worked
out satisfactorily. We are sure that Secretary
Iekes is seeking to do the right thing The presen-
tation Of North Cardinals case would probably
have been shaped somewhat differently had the
spokesman for this State been acquainted with the
text of the Cammerer- Mac Donald Radcliffe report
They had not seen it. Mr. Ickes and the Park Ser
vice believed that they had gotten it at the same
time it was furnished to Tennessee on Monday,
but through misunderstanding or accident
they had not gotten it. This did make for Ger:
tain confusion in one respect.
without going into that now it can be said
with absolute conviction that the hearing served to
emphasize IN the minds of all who attended it that
the Importance of this Parkway has not been .ex-
aggerated. 1t is not just another highway 1t is
to be the main line of travel for those who will
visit the Shenandoah and the Smoky Mountains
parks. Millions of people will use it. Its location
will have more powerful bearing upon the future
of the region about Asheville than anything which
the government has ever DONE. If we are shared
out of its benefits the effects will be deplorable
If We shared in on those benefits the effects
will be immensely stimulating The integrity of
our for just part in this huge government
enterprise is unshakable. We are sure that Mr..
1ckes knows this. We are sure that he will make
his decision accordingly"
North Carolina has now done about all
that can be done to secure Ehe location of
the parkway in this State. The matter lis
IN the hands of Secretary IcRes and his de-
ycision must be awaited. In this section of
the State the people, foreseeing what this
highway will mean for the future sef the
rcountry through which it is constructed,
: are earnestly hoping that North Carolina
plans may be adopted by the federal sey-
, eminent. If the wiews;,of Tennessee pre-
(, vail and the parkway misses Asheville and
HendersOnville by many miles and ira
verses only a comparatively short distance
in this State, we viii de compelled ito
adopt other plans for eapitalizing the de
rvelopment of the Smoky Mountains Park
{ This is something for our people o-take
under ycensidsratioR and AZ matter tina
should have immediate attention. -.
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