Newspapers / The Waynesville Mountaineer (Waynesville, … / Jan. 21, 1926, edition 1 / Page 2
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r - . "1 THE WAYNES VILLB MOUNT ATJTOCR THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, MM . J H f he Superior Advantages of a National Forest for the Smokies Wherein An Expert Opinion Is Reviewed : A National Park OR A Smokey National fOREST Study This Opinion. NATIONAL PARKS. United States Department of Agri culture, Forest Service. Washington, D. C, Jan. 2'Jth, 1925. Major Barrington Moore, 233 Broadway, New .York City, bear Major Moore: opment and use of the mountain re sources of the soutn will be secure 1 under the National Forest type of public land administration. There are dozens of small areas all through the Southern Appalchians which have, exceptional value for special scenery, natural beauties, or opportunities for recreation. Under the generalized la response to your letter of Jsn- scneme of Iand uge contemplated by nary ZJnd, I am glad to give you my ; Kationai Forests, these many small viewpoint regarding the proposed Na- areal, can be protected and devoted to tional Parks in the houthern Appa- inspirational and recreational ser accomplishment of the program from ipartmont of Agriculture (let u say lachian Mountains, I am anxious that the study of the condition and future requirements of the Appalachian region may lead to a more definite crystalization, both (n public opinion and in federal policy, vice. At the same time the larger ureas surrounding them which are more valuable for timber, water pow er, and other economic resources, can be developed and used for such form; of public service. The administration of the principles which should govern 0f the White Mountain National For- the applicaUon of the two forms of L,t taj wherein all of these forma federal land management namely, Na- 1 0f public service have been combined tional Parks and National t orests, and more 0r less effectively balanced. An agreement upon these prtdples presents to my mind a picture of the ought to precede a decision as to the Sf)rt 0f development which the South best use of specific areas, not only in ern Appalachians, by and large, re thi region, but in order that our qujr0. Under the policy expressed whole federal land program may be j the Weeks Law the Government oundly executed. jhas acquired approximately 1,800,000 National Forests represent the J acres of forest lands in this region broader and more generalized form of and to complete the original Weeks federal administration of forest lands. ' Law program, should acquire not lesi It is mainly ulitnrian in character, ! than 3,000,000 acres more. In other seeking the fullest practicable utili- words, we have an established and op zation of forest, water, and other eruting federal land policy as to tin economic resources consistent with ' Southern Appalachian, still but par' 'ieir perpetuation. At the same time tially carried out. If this established aims to accomplish the greatest I .ml policy is to he supplemented by I ound public service of federal : second form of specialized ndminis- on the principle that each acre tuition in the form of National Parks, "rve its highest form of use- i: is certainly essential that this pro i accordance with this prin- nose. I development he carefully co- the fiscal standpoint much more du bious. Added to the cost of acquisu tion is the very large expenditure that would be entailed for road con struction to make the Smoky Moun tains accessible for general park purposes. A purchase unit covering the Smoky Mounains was established by the National Forest Reservation Commission many years ago. No purchases in that unit have yet been from the Foits'. Service and the Ei olc.'cal Survey) and two rcprcsenta-t.ve-t from the In:-!rir Ic trliiu-nt us say from the S;:'.vii.-il FniK Service and GujH'gicul S nvcy). To thito departmrr..ai members I wculd add three representatives of the gen eral public, to be designated by the President from names submitted jointly by the secretaries of tho two departments. I would make it the made. The holding of the Little Riv. j function o fthis board to Investigte er Lumber Company would have been acquired by the Commission a numbei of years ago had their land titles no; been so defective. The company ha: now perfected its titles and re-offered its lands to the commission last spring. Action on their offer has been deferred on account of the in terjection of a proposal to acquire this property by the State of Ten nessee, the Forest Service taking the position that since the state desires to acquire the land we would co-operate with the state rather than fol low any course that might interfere with its project. Our future policy as to the Smoky Mountain unit has of course been rendered doubtful by tho National Park proposal. I will not initiate any steps that would fore stall or in any wise block the Na tion may apply to areas of reerea tional value the methods required for their best development, to the extent compatible with other National For est requirements and within the limits set by Congress. 3. The retention under National Forest management of all areas of recreational value, except where Con gress considers that the value so completely transcends all others and is of such public importance as to re quire a special and specialized man' agement. 4. The systematic extension of re creation plans to all areas of National Forest land possessing recreational value. . The continuation of present plans for the establishment upon Na-. tional Forest lands of county, muni cipal, semi-public and private outdooS camps, schools, resorts, hotels, etc 6. The encouragement of simple, inexpensive forma of mass recreation, including the extension and improve ment of public camp grounds upon n is made for the pre aroas having special n-.t iifal interest an-1 I'ion, not as the p ri -"zi'il serviee of the hut as one of their pub!- service in a administrat ion and o...in:ited with that alre-idy under . ay. A - far as the proposed Shenandoah at;.. rial Park by itself is concerned, 1 wouM Ik u.-h co-ordination would not bo dif- F.re., t cult. IleCausp of the very large '. tribution of ownership, the number ' mountain farms, and the high val le of the land, influenced In part by its recreational use under private nus- pic:cs, the forest .Service has never contemplated the establishment of a National Forest in this area. Wn certainly don't want to play the ruin ' aturalmuseum of the dog in the manger; and while I . creational nppor- : m in some doubt as to whether tho gh a highly developed principles of a sound federal land pol- . for that sole purpose, icy would justify making National onnl Parks exclude any and Park of this area, I have been dis- ' . . "f economic resources and posed to waive the point and offer no exist, jlely for the preservation of c bjection to the acquisition of this naiuKii condemns for their inspira- area as a National Park. I have been rks, on the other nem, represent a IK'cialized form of listration designed ly for thu preser- form. This situation illustrates th ne. i for u co-ordinated" nolicv. Un doubtedly portions of the Smokies hould be preserved for their scenic '. alue and devoted to recreation, what ".' i the form of public ownership. My own opinion is that the iequi'i-n1-. nls .f th.s section as a whelj l-er served by .1 National ' '"'e :. : .' ' re wholly prepared to o-op'. -r t'o ., -icrking v. the t'. ( future course on this area if some plan of co-ordination can be establish ed. It is of course imnosstMe to nml all proposed National Park or Na tional Forest extension where possw ble conflict between the two federal land policies may be Involved. This would include park projects or boun dary changes in the west as well as those in the eastern states. Let thi board study each area carefully from all standpoints, using all the data available in the two departments and supplementing it by personal exam inations in the field. Let their find ings be submitted to the secretaries of the departments, who would then National Forest lands, be free to make their own recommend-.! 7- The continuation of the present ations. This would not circumscribe Policy no charge for to ot limit the authority and responsi. 1 creational use of the National Forest bility of the secretaries of Interior ' except where the land is used fos and Agriculture, but would provide j commercial purposes or exclusive uso for a joint and authoritative consid- . of specific tracts or other special priv eration of all projects. I believe that ! ileKes "re granted. tional Park project, as long as it is , it would bring into the study of these 8- Tne continuation of the policy pending in some reasonably definite. projects at their inception, the joint authorized by Congress of issuing viewpoint that is essential to get permits for individual summer homes practical co-ordination. Such a or cabina where they will not inter- seneme doubtless would not bring' lcar wlln more general iorms 01 re about uniformity of departmental creation. recommendations in all c.n " , 'ut it' 9- The encouragement, through re-1 would it Vi: . provide means for ' quitable permit provisions, reasona o dina'ioii or ;. much i.ure ifflTec- LIe rental charges, and minimum re- ltc k ; 11 I 'have. ! .-"s.c . strictions, of the establishment upon Anothri 1 h iv' of 'o-oui'tiali .11 I Forest lands of the various utilities believe to le o sentia', namc'y, tho or forms of service needed for the making 01' all ucha.sv'.: for Xa'ional convenience of the public. Park as well -s National t i: par- 10- The regulation of recreational poses through the National Forest use of Nationul Forest lands to, but Reservation Commission. This com- onlv the extent necessary to pro- mission is a very representative lect puDiic neaitn ana property, w any accurute forecast on the pmnt body, including three members of the secure reasonably full development which you raise, as to whether tho Cabinet and four members of Con- ad utilization of recreational re purchase of National Park areaa gross. It has functioned efficiently sources, and to avoid undue conflict would result in reducing the t'undr thirteen years and has expended over with other uses of the forests. made available for the purchase of $14,000,000 in buying land for federal National Forests and no r..inr,l ik use. It has built un a iara-p mass of rate at which the National Forests '',ira an(i information on land values arc extended. In my judgment, thn ' 'n tne Southern Appalachian region,' institution of park purchases would aa wp" "s New England and Penn- ! tend to have that result. I base thin sylvanin. It has developed the meth- ! upon the very definite economy pro-' odR ""d machinery for appraisals, op- 1 gram of the administrntion inJ thn I tions. and the examination of titles, ters. Local hoarding houses, hnt.ds tion a nd recritionnl value. It foN influenced by the argument that the I specific goal set up by the President In carrying out its work, for exam- and camps, will be unable to compete lows- m my j i-Igment, that forest emntry should retain at some poini I of accomplishing further reductions P' n experienced organization is with like facilities within the park. PARK WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO INTERESTS OF WAYNES. VILLE. (Continued from first page.) I come now to the root of the mat. mens shouV, be placed in National in the southern mountains a natural Tarks where (heir scenic and inspira- museum of impressive proportions, tional value outwi ghs their utility showing the virgin forests of the re for economic uses and where this jrion in an undisturbed condition. Thin wine is ruffieiently outstanding af.i 1 urea contains an unusually large pro Important to the country as a whob. portion of virgin timber; and Its ac ... u in 01 pun- qr.mlinn tor Park Purposes appar 11c land in the exp-'ditures of the federal gov- nnw functioning under the solicitor The capital investment of the park ernment. In accordance with thi: tne Department of Agriculture and concessionaire will be only the cost of policy, the ISurcau of the Budget is " accordance with the procedure pre- his buildings and his furniture. The compelled to disapprove of curtail scribed by the Department of Jus- capital investment of similar outside most projected expenditures which ''ce, on the determination of titles, enterprises will be the cost of the contemplate an expansion of existing which has proven to be one of the building and furniture, plus the cost federal activities or programs. I see most costly and difficult steps in of the ground. And the higher the prospect of any change in tho buying lands in the Southern Appa cost of the land outside the greater The nvrc I'.ik entitled in order to very titles, vary side the park. But that is not the through rondemntion suits necessary worst of it. The outside enterprks will pay a property tax, a franchise tax, and if they make any money, iV see an : I ing aNn includes genera . '!',' mpl.iting st'l! other Par!, in areas unnamed. !riv-Tru-nt in o'her words, is tak t'.;.' shaoe of a general park 1 -cgram of p s :blv f-.r reaching pro r rtions in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, apparc'ly to be laid down on top of the cv-ting National For est policy without any basis of co-ordination. It is this development of tho Appalachian Park idea which leads the most impnrtnn. quetion in con- me to emphasize the necessity of first nection with the Southern Appalach- agreeing upon the principles which ian development. j should govern the federal land policy From t..e standpoint of c-catin? and then apply these principles an National Parks, the .Southern Appa-j fairly as practicable in co-ordinating lachir.ns present a situation to tally, the park program with the exisitina 1 I administration, organized ontlv would involve less Interference 1 no especially to conserve it and to mak. with industrial uses of the mountains fiscal program of tho government fny 'achians. Our records to date Bhow the disproportion will be.. This on.i ! I'.laMe for public enjoyment. :md needed development of their eco- ' i.-ood many years to come. Hence1'''1"' on the average purchase a cost ' fact alone will have a tendency to resources than would be true ;' seems probable that no large in-; ,,r about 35 cents per acre has been hold down the value of the land out- t other areas. u .-.e in the appropriations for fed. situation has become much "1 land purchases as a whole can complicated however, bv th 1 expected; and that if a new form 'n many cases, nnd secure titles ac proposal it: the revised Temple bill f land purchase for park purposes ceptable to the government. vhtrh cot:'ir-H:itcs second National . Iniinrhcd, the general tendency will 11 would certainly be futile to du- .state income tax. The park enter- he Smo'.y Mount;.;-s , , hp to carry it to the extent it mav plicate this specific organization; ana1 nrises will Dav none of these. Thev i' authorized by reducing the amount i 1 think it would be equally futile to will only be required to pay a nonii that might otherwise be available for -"fit" . new purchasing agency par- nal rental based on their earning' buying National Forests. This is ""d to the National Forest Reser- ability which will be fixed with a viev not an objection to the purchase of vation Commission A duplication to enable the park enterprises to givir National Parks that I am disposed to ;'c; would bo almost certain to their guests the cheapest rates pos- "tress, since I believe that if the '' '"P different policies and different sible. The hotels and boarding houses, public interest requires (he purchase standards of land values, and to re- Will be strictly supervised by Govern- of National Parks as par-, of the suit in a competitive situation be- ; ment agents; their profits will be Federal land policy, nrcvinon should tween forest and park purchases that scrutinized in order that the visitors he made for them no less than lor would not only be unbusiness like, may have the benefit; no rales wil'. National Forests. Of course I would but detrimental to the interests of be raised at overflow times and every hope that the Pi.rk run-hp sp program the government as a land buyer. I guest will be assured of the bes", whatever it may be, v.-ouM be rc- would not advocate that field exami- i possible treatment at the lowest pos- r-imea as supplemental to the pur-l nations and appraisals, in the ac-1 sible price. These are admirable fea-' of National Forests under the . quisitions of park lands, be made by tures. sure to enlist the enthusiasri the Forest Service. They should b 0f the guests, certain to keep them a . made by the National Park Service, j against an outside rabble, but I pausu But I do believe that the purchase , for somebody to tell me how it will W"b('!-,. hesp elements are not pres ent, the more generalized form of public forest administration, as Na tional i'.o'"Sts should be provi'lc l. Wi'h"ii'' attempting to sot forth in di'nil tip principles which I helicvn should govern the creation of National Parks and National Forests (and you lire of course familiar with U'.'-tn from former discussions), I want to stress the ;:nt that we cannot develop a co-ordinatod public land policy until such principles have been defined and l accepted as its ha sis. Without such a policy, we tire in danger, in the Southern Appalachians, of crc.ting a bad competitive situation between two different and uncooi.iinate 1 federal land programs. I neliev" this to be different from the conditions in ths west where our present National Parks large occur. Aside from th National Forest program. I am in doubt about the Smoky Mountain area. In topography, scenic fact that at least a a-ry large pro- features and wealth of virgin forest. portion of any Park area must be ac quired by purchase, we sre dealing here with an old and well settled re gion, with a large population in moun tain farms, rural communities, and Industrial towns. The commercial value, both actual and intrinsic, of the greater part of the mountain areas is high. Many established in dustries depend upon their timber resurcea. There is a rapidly growing demand for water power. A relaj tively large local population is to a considerable degree dependent upon there mountain areas for economla employment. There is also a growing - and more clearly recognized local, and ! in part national, need for facilities f- tnr outdoor recreation. , I cannot avoid the belief that, in the main the most effective dovel- t is undoubtedly superior to the Shen andoah area and probably as fine a any portion of the Southern Appa-1 lichians. On the other hand its in dustrial values are high, being sur rounded by the most important group of forest industries in the whole re gion. These industries are working up into and towards the Smoky Moun tains at a number of points. There will undoubtedly be a strong future demand for water power develop ments. I am somewhat doubtful whether, on account of this indus trial situation, a National Park in this region could be permanently maintained. Furthermore, the pur chase of the Great Smokies would bo vory expensive, curtailing doubtless for six to eight million dollars; and the inclusion cf this pro)e:t makes the Weeks Law nnd tte Clarke-McNary Law rather than as a substitute. I am more concerned, however, with v.hnt I believe to be the essential point in this whole question, that of a proper co-ordination between the two programs. An attempt to co-ordinate simply upon a written statement of princi ples, however clearly It may be drawn, work for both purposes should be co ordinated, in passing upon option and values, through utilizating the agency already created and fuctionlng effec tively for the particular purposes; and I believe strongly that the title organization already created should cannot be very effective because of be used for park purchases as well as differences in viewpoint in the appli- forest purchases. This would bo a cation of principles to particular distinct economy, sreas. In the last analysis we havo Very sincerely yours, got to get co-ordination by Joint con- (Signed) W. B. GREELEY, sideration of areas. To this end it Forester. would see.m to me desirable to get ' legislative action creating a co-ordi- Tho recognition of recreational noting body, in order at bast to in- USe M 'orm National Forest land sure joint consideration cf conflicting service of great public value and im. projects by men indentinc-l wilh both portance, which shall be systematic federal programs and bri-g to such c"y co-ordinated with other forms joint consideration the viewpoints of land use euch as timber production, and aims contemplated in both pro grams. To be apcci3c, I would sug gest the creation of a National For streamflow protection, and forage pro duction. 2. The recognition of recreation e- t nd National Puk board, cntain-1 management within the National For- 1 est as a function of the Forest Ser- jrti' two representatives from the De vice, which in discharging that funci ebody redound to the benefit cf our hotels and boarding house. The tax hand icap alone is sufficient to give the inside hotels and boarding houses a heavy advantage, but when it is further considered that the inside fa cilities will be in the park itself (the one gate- Wouldn't it be a great joke on us if the Government made only one entrance and that on the Ten nessee side. Anything is possible in politics and I point out the fact that Tennessee went Republican in 1920. Make your own deductions. But I will be reasonable, or at least hopeful, and after looking- at the map, I will assume that the Gov ernment will open a gate near Bryson City. Now, if I shall prove to be mistaken in my argument, and the nearby towns do profit instead of los ing, I predict that Bryson City will be the chief beneficiary if not the only one. As far as Haywood county is concerned, all the little toads and trails that now lead into the area which we propose to cede will be forever closed, except to moonshiners and poachers, of whom more hereaf ter. There is a real tragedy in the thought that we shall raise a wall in our own county against ourselves. And not a day; not for a year; not for a century; but forever. Think of it, forever removed from productive enterprise) forever barred, to entcanco. except to trespassers. Even a cem tery is more hospitable. One of the main talking points of the park proponents is that it will preserve the trees and conserve the watershed. Some of them talk as if the forests were the cause of rain and not the result of it. They actu ally confuse the effect with the cause. High mountains dry the clouds as they pass over them. That is the reason why the west side of the Sierras is wooded and the east side entirely barren. That is why the clouds, as they come up from the south, are gradually dried as they pass over the mountains from High lands to Asheville producing in the former twice as much rain as they do in the latter. That is why Sylva has 25 more rain than Waynesville. This condition will not be changed by anything we can do. The rains will still fall. But forests do pre vent the water from running off too speedily, and the proposed park will conserve the watershed. But conserve for whom? For the outside towns? Not on your ife; it will conserve for the park, and the very moment that vast area is ceded for park purposes we will be deprived of any opportu nity to use the Great Smokies to col lect water for municipal purposes. But this is a question of more inter est to other sections than it is to us. We could not use the proposed area for a watershed whether there is a park or no park. And besides that, we do not need to do so. The park will be a game preserve in which "the birds to their nests and the beasts to their lairs may slink" in perfect safety. It will be patrolled by rangers whose principal duty it will be to protect the game, and this they will do with vengeance. Every farmers boy, who in the arder of the chase, inadvertently pursues a rabbit across the long and invisible bound-i ary line, if caught, be taken to Ashe; ville and there tried before an august Federal judge. But there is some balm in Gilead after all. The park should be a moonshiner's paradise. In those deep solitudes, amidst the thick primeval woods, where no little deputy sheriff, or constable, or policeman, moy pur sue him, the moonshiner should bo able to brew a better brew with a more contented mind. Even if he is taken by the rangers he will be cer tain of a lighter sentence than in the State court, and in no event will ha have to work the roads. JOS. E. JOHNSON. SNAP JUDGMENT. A luncheon club in Tampa led the way in asking the City Health Officer and the newspapers to suppress news about less than two score cases of smallpox in the city. It was most likely snap judgment by the member: of the club, a question brought up on the spur of the moment and voted on with little time for consideration cr supposed attraction); that they will debate. Later one of tha commission probably be under one ownership with j ers asked his associate to join him in all the advantage that concentrated nrjng Dr u fo, conductinjf .n power has over scattered power; that , the concessionaire will be required to 0pen camPaiKn vsccmatlon. furnish quarters to fit the poorest as j Very Probably the club and the we)l as the fattest pocket book, 1 1 commissioner ,did not represent ma think I am safe in saying that outside jority opinion in Tampa. At any concerns will not be able to compete ' rate, the news was not suppressed and withtheins.de. Tsmpa Health Department ha. The Government requires visitors, . r to its parks to come In by the front '. 0)6 ,mallPo situation well nnder rate so that they can be properb i contro1- Civic clubs everywhere are counted, and ticketed, and otherwise messed up. This means that there becoming wary about adopting res olu'ions affecting the pubUo welfare will probably be no more than twa ! without plenty of time for dalibera entrancea ana" there may be only one.) tion. It is a wise rule to let such Some of the parks now have only questions go over to tht next meeting. , - -!'''
The Waynesville Mountaineer (Waynesville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 21, 1926, edition 1
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