H A R a W-O-e^ -RECORD 



35 



and belonged to them as much as to anyone. Hence they resent the 

 incursions of lumbermen, and the attempts to protect the remaining 

 stand of trees. They set fire to the mountain sides in early spring, 

 and destroy not only the young growth but injure the mature trees, 

 for the sake of securing a little early grass to feed their dozen or 

 or score of half starved cattle; or for revenge for some real or 

 fancied injury set tires wantonly. They pay no heed to laws for 

 closed seasons for hunting and fishing. This attitude is brought 

 about through ignorance rather than an inherent malignant disposi- 

 tion. Very few can read or write, and school houses are almost 

 unknown. 



It is practically an impossibility for lumbermen to safely practice 

 re-forestry or forest conservation on this property. Under existing 

 state of affairs they are only warranted in entering upon their hold- 

 ings, taking out the most valuable timber quickly, and with as much 

 profit as possible, and then letting the region become fire-swept and 

 devastated. Eepeated eit'orts on the part of big broad-gauged and 

 public spirited business men have been made to lumber their proper- 

 ties by taking out only the mature trees and leaving the young 

 growth for future cutting, but their attempts thus far have been 

 marked by failure. In many instances these lumbermen have also 

 had iniquitous taxation to fight; local administrations, figuring that 

 these men were located in this country for only a brief period, 

 have made them pay smartly for their residence. 



Hence, as evidenced by the present situation, there is no hope of 

 commercial success in re-forestry pursuits in the lower Appalachians 

 by the individual, but when the government of the United States 

 steps in and purchases two million acres of it, puts into practice strict 

 laws governing the setting of fires, strict laws preventing trespass, 

 makes closed seasons for the protection of game and fish, then there 

 will come a time when the protection of two million acres of the total 



A MOUNTAINEER'S GRIST MILL, SWAIN COUNTY. NORTH CAROLINA 



WATER POWER SAWMILL, BLOUNT COUNTY, TENNESSEE 



of five million will insure the protection of the entire area. Of neces- 

 sity fire prevention laws will be enacted that shall apply to the 

 entire state in which these properties are situated, and the enforce- 

 ment of this regulation in the government 's park alone wUl secure 

 fire immunity in the entire region, and fire protection is about all 

 this section needs to prevent erosion and stream and land destruction. 



Pactoks op Timber Growth 



Apropos of this park project it is pertinent to analyze the factors 

 that contribute to tree growth. The essentials to this end are suitable 

 soil, rainfall and proper latitude or compensating altitude. These 

 factors, combined with the proximity to market, constitute the basis 

 for analyzing and determining timber-land values. The evidence pre- 

 sented in this article points beyond question to the fact that the soil 

 of the lower Appalachian region is remarkably fertile, and especially 

 adapted for the gi'owing of the widest variety of forest trees that 

 exist on the American continent. The data presented shows beyond 

 peradventure that this region has a heavier rainfull than any other 

 section of the United States save the Pacific Northwest. Its mean 

 altitude places it in the same temperate zone as the northern portion 

 of the United States. Its geographical location is within three hun- 

 dred mUes of the center of population of this country, and good 

 markets are close at hand. Considered as a pleasure and health 

 resort, it is within twenty-four hours rail journey from the principal 

 cities east of the Mississippi. 



The experts of the Forest Service, who for years have made tree 

 measurements for the purpose of ascertaining the yearly accretion of 

 tree growth in the forests of the country, generally agree on the 

 proposition that it is safe to count on an annual accumulation of 

 wood fiber in growing forests of one hundred feet per acre per 

 annuui. If this be true of the average forest, and the estimate is 

 undeniably low, it is very safe to assume that if the mature trees 

 are carefully taken out of the existing timber area in the lower 

 Appalachians, an annual accretion of a minimum of two hundred 

 feet per acre can safely be calculated on. 



The history of stumpage values during the last quai'ter of a 

 century in the United States, makes it equally safe to estimate a 

 probable increase in the annual value of timber of eight per cent. 

 Assuming then that the United States in its purchase of these lands 

 for the Appalachian Park secures only a thousand feet of timber 

 per acre, when as a matter of fact it will secure three times 

 that ciuantity, it is a sane proposition to figure that the park purchase 

 means, outside of the original idea embraced in the bill (the protection 

 of the streams covering a large area of the country), it will be an 

 immensely profitable undertaking. Figuring stumpage values at even 

 five dollars a thousand feet, two hundred feet annual accretion means 

 twenty per cent annual profit on the cost of the property. Further- 

 more it is reasonably certain that stumpage, owing to the dimunition 

 of timber supply, will keep up its record of increased value of eight 

 per cent annually. ' This makes a total gross profit on the investment 



