42 FOREST FIRES IX XORTH CAROLINA. 



Fire Protection Needed. 



It Avill be seen that this bill provides only for the purchase of the 

 land. Its weakness seems to be that no provision is made for the pro- 

 tection of the land from fire both during and subsequent to its acquisition. 

 Since logging operations commenced two years ago, the forest areas 

 which it is planned to buy have been constantly threatened with de- 

 struction, and several times fire has come upon the southern slope of the 

 mountain. Fires at any time are liable to destroy hundreds of acres of 

 these spruce forests, and, once destroyed, the beauties of the park would 

 be gone. There is immediate need for some adequate system of fire pro- 

 tection for the Mount Mitchell State Park. Fortunately, special ar- 

 rangements are now under consideration, and it is hoped that before fall 

 effective protection can be given at least the part of this mountain which 

 is to be purchased by the State. It would be most appropriate that the 

 very first State protection furnished by North Carolina should be given 

 to historic Mount Mitchell. 



71ie Commission. 



The Mitchell Peak Park Commission provided for by tliis law was 

 appointed by the Governor on March 31. It consists of the following 

 gentlemen, all of them from regions vitally concerned in the purchase of 

 the park, and all but one from Yancey, the county in which ]\Iount 

 Mitchell is situated : 



Mr. T. E. Blackstock, Asheville, N". C. 



Mr. G. P. Deyton, Green Mountain, ]^. C. 



Mr. E. F. Watson, Burnsville, N. C. 



Mr. M. C. Honeycutt, Burnsville, W. C. 



Mr. Wilson Hensley, Bald Creek, N. C. 



This commission mot in Burnsville Saturday, April ]Oth, and organ- 

 ized by electing Mr. T. E. Blackstock chairman and Mr. M. C. Honey- 

 cutt secretary. A second meeting was planned to take place in May 

 on the top of Mount Mitchell, with the object of securing local informa- 

 tion in regard to the different properties which are being considered for 

 purchase under the l;i\v. 



APPALACHIAN NATIONAL FORESTS. 



The Federal Goveninu'iit cannot [)ur('liase or acquii'e control of laud 

 in any State without the permission of that State. It was therefore 

 necessary, when the people were asking that National forests or parks 

 be established in western North Carolina, that the State grant the Gov- 

 ernment the right to make such purchases. The following law was 



