The Appalachian Park Association 



By George S. Powele, Secretary 



TIIK mission of the Appalachian Park Association 

 is to make known more generally the advantages 

 and attractions of the Southern Appalachian 

 Motmtains as a pleasure and recreation resort, to cooper- 

 ate with the National Government in protecting and con- 

 serving the forests and streams of these mountains, an<l 

 aid in developing and encouraging the tourist business. 



We now have an opportunity to greatly further this 

 work by showing the people of the South the importance 

 of getting prompt and favorable action from Congress 

 upon the recommendation of the National Forest Reser- 

 vation Commission, for a further appropriation, pro- 

 viding for continued purchases of lands under the \Veek> 

 law, until 1920, at the current rate of $3,000,000 a year. 



The general condition of the National Forests of the 

 South at this time as to areas and contiguousness, is not 

 such as to warrant the hope for much practical develop- 

 ment along the lines of pleasure and recreation, until 

 these conditions are bettered by additional purchases, 

 making larger contiguous areas, and thereby affording 

 opjiortiniity for development along broader and more 

 economical lines. 



Good roads must, of necessity, be a prime factor in 

 promoting the tourist business in these mountains, and 

 while the expectation of good road construction has aided 

 in securing public endorsement of our purposes, we 

 realize that anything like a connecting system of roads 

 through the National Forests at this time, is not feasible. 

 We should, therefore, direct our efforts for the present, 

 tc additional purchases, and making better known the at- 

 tractions of this region in climate, scenery, water, fish 

 iijg, hunting, trails, etc. 



Secretary Lane, of the Interior Department, estimates 

 that $100,000,000, which, under ordinary circumstances 

 would be spent by American tourists in Europe, this year 

 will be held in the United States. When we take into 

 consideration the magnitude of the tourist business, the 

 large profits derived from it, and the opporunity made 

 by the war in Europe for the United States to secure for 

 at least many years a large part of this business that 

 has heretofore gone abroad, we can understand why our 

 people are urging greater use of tlie National Parks and 

 Forests for pleasure purposes. 



If the Southern Appalachian Mountains were made as 

 accessible by good roads, as the mountains of vSwitzer- 

 land, or even as some of the National Parks of the West, 

 the tourist business would bring more clear profit to the 

 six States bordering on these mountains, namelv : \'ir~ 

 ginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and 

 North Carolina, than probably any crops produced in 

 these States, excepting cotton and corn. 

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With these opportunities for developing so profitable 

 a business at a small cost, it is hoped the newspapers and 

 business organizations of the South will begin an active 

 campaign to secure from Congress favorable action upon 

 the recommendation of the Commission, so that pur- 

 chases under the Weeks law, may be completed and a 

 comprehensive plan of development begun providing for 

 greater use of these forests for pleasure and recreation. 



WORK NOW AGAINST GIPSY AND BROWN- 

 TAIL MOTHS 



]N THE areas infested by the gipsy moth or the brown- 

 tail moth, much effective work can be done in the fall 

 to reduce the damage that these insects are likely to 

 cause the following year, according to entomologists of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture. The 

 \vhich remains on the tips of the twigs and branches 

 during the winter. These webs should be cut and burned 

 so that injury will not be caused by the caterpillars the 

 following summer. Particular attention should be given 

 to webs of this insect on trees which grow around dwell- 

 ings or in orchards. 



The apple, pear, cherry, oak and willow are among 

 the plants which are favored as food by the brown-tail 

 moth caterpillars. In order to minimize the damage 

 which is likely to result, as much time as possible should 

 be devoted to cutting and burning worthless or seedling 

 apple trees and wild cherry trees and brush. If this is 

 done along the roadways and fences, the appearance of 

 the region will be greatly improved. Care should be 

 taken to protect pine and other coniferous trees, and 

 hickory and ash should not be cut, as they are not favored 

 for food either by the caterpillars of the gipsy moth or 

 by those of the brown-tail moth. The oak is a favored 

 food of the brown-tail moth and of the gipsy moth, and 

 where\'er it is possible to eliminate oaks less annoyance 

 from these pests will be experienced. 



FEW FOREST FIRES 



DURING the present year there have been but 14 

 forest fires on the Black Hills National Forest. 

 The total area burned over is about 13^-2 acres. 

 Both records have never before been equaled in this 

 region. The absence of fires is of course primarily due 

 to the excess of moisture and it may indeed be a surprise 

 to tliink that conditions have at any time been such as to 

 even make a forest fire possible. 



Although weather conditions have been very favorable 

 the vigilance of the Forest Officers is not permitted to 

 lag, for danger is ever present and is not finally removed 

 until there is a good mantle of snow throughout the 

 Hills. 



