LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Department of the Interior, 

 United States Geological Survey, 



Washington, D. C, March 7, 1901^. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith, for publication as a professional 

 paper, a report upon the examination of the forest conditions of a large area 

 in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, made in 1900 and 1901, by Messrs. H. B. 

 Ayers and W. W. Ashe. 



This examination was made at the joint expense and under the joint super- 

 vision of the Geological Survey of North Carolina, represented by Prof. J. A. 

 Holmes, State geologist, of the Bureau of Forestry of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, represented by Mr. Gifford Pinchot, and of this office. While the three 

 offices named share the responsibility for the matter of the report, the form of 

 its presentation is due to this office alone. 

 Very respectfully, 



Henry Gannett, 



Geographer. 



Hon. Charles D, Walcott, 



Director United States Geological Survey. 



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