Evening star., 1937-10-30
By J. A. O'Leurv.

II y u. n " LtWI y.
INJURED on by the opening up
of Great Smoky Mountain Ma
tional Park and the Federal
- Governments T. V. A. develop
ment. the State of Tennessee is look
ing forward to becoming a more inn
portant sector on the tourist lanes
of Southeastern United States.
AS the seat of government, Wash
ington has always been a magnet
drawing the sightseer to this section
of the country, and a visit to the
Nations Capital usually includes a
pilgrimage into historic Virginia. with
It's hallowed shrineS and recently con-
structed Skyline Drive of the Shenan-
doah.
Now the growing army of motoring
tourists, whether heading northward
toward Washington and New Eng
land or southwark toward the Gulf
Coast, is finding new scenic beauties
In the Great Smokes as well as other
places of historic interest in surround
ing Tennessee.
Meanwhile the National Park Service
has plans under way for the Blue
Ridge connecting parkway that will
link the Shenandoah and the Great
Smokes. further improving the sight
seeing facilities of this section of the
country Virginia and North Caro-
lima are providing the right of way
for the Blue Ridge connecting link
and the National Park Service will
develop the highway.
A THOUGH formal dedication of
the Great Smokes as a national
park awaits acquisition of about $4,000
than 100000 persons visited the
Smokes last year. according to the
National Park Service. Legislation
authorizing approximately s743,000 to
complete the acquisition has passed
the Senate and is likely to be consid-
cred in the House at the next session
of Congress.
The lofty peaks Of the Smokes were
bathed in a rare spectacle of color
last week when more than 100
American Automobile Association club
managers, newspaper men and maga-
zine writer's from all parts of the
country drove into the park. Their
visit was the climax of seven-day
tour Of the State, arranged by Gov.
Gordon w. Browning and sponsored
by motor clubs, chambers of COM
merce and other State organizations.
Nature had painted the usual
autumn picture of vari-colored foliage.
As far as the eye could see the leaves
had been dipped in deep red, dark
brown and delicate shades of yellow,
contrasting sharply with the ever
green hue of the stately pines. AS
the visitors drove out to the park
from Knoxville the only discordant
note was the patter of drizzling rain
from clouds which would shorten the
vista of surrounding States from the
highest peaks.
But even the rain could not dim the
brilliant coloring of the forested
mountain sides, and as the motorcade
slowly made its way up to New Found
Cap and then on to Clingmans Dome,
6,e42 feet in altitude, an unexpected
surprise awaited the Governors tour.
The rain had turned to snow and
scross this highest peak in the
Smokes a mantle of white was adding
4 final touch to the already beautiful
color scheme. The snow had come
earlier than usual, while the foliage
was still at its best.
CLINGMAN'S DOME, from which
~ the Smokes sprawl out into both
North Carolina and Tennessee, is the
highest peak in the park, but there are
1s other peaks more than 5000 feet
high and for 36 consecutive miles the
Great Smoky Mountains are more
than 5000 feet in altitude.
After viewing the grandeur Of this
premature Winter scene, the visitors
sought the warmth of log fire in a
rustic mountain hotel. Some like to
visit the mountains during the win
ter. when twigs and branches sparkle
with coating of frost caused by
clouds floating across the peaks.
When completed, the Great Smoky
Park will cover approximately 100000
acres, or 687 square miles, lying al
most equally in North Carolina and
Tennessee. According to the National
Park Service it contains . greater
variety OF plant life than IN any