44 FOREST FIRES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 



of employing condeinnation proceedings such as are allowed by the State 

 law and as are actually to be put in practice by the Mitchell Peak Park 

 Commission^ if it is found necessary to do so. 



It is true, that in order to secure a clear title to land which is owned 

 by a number of different claimants who have not only expressed a will- 

 ingness to sell, but have agreed upon a price, the Government has in 

 certain cases brought condemnation proceedings in court. These are 

 nothing but friendly suits to determine the real ownership of the lands 

 and the proper share of the price each claimant is entitled to. It is 

 a proceeding all business men are familiar with, and can be objected to 

 by no one. 



It will be noticed that in all dealings with the Federal Government 

 the rights and privileges of the State are jealously guarded. ]^ot only 

 does the State Legislature clearly define the powers which it delegates 

 to the United States, but Congress clearly stipulates in the laAv allowing 

 the purchase of land that no land shall be bought in any State which has 

 not previously given its consent thereto. | 



PROTECTION OF GAME ON NATIONAL FORESTS. 



It is with the same scrupulous care to maintain the most cordial rela- 

 tions with the State of North Carolina and avoid any possible cause of 

 friction that permission was asked by the Federal Government to make 

 and enforce regulations for the protection of animal life on the Ap- 

 palachian [N'ational Forests. It might seem that such power was con- 

 ferred upon Congress by the law allowing the United States to buy 

 lands (page 43), but this was not considered specific enough. In accord- 

 ance, therefore, with its policy, the Government of the United States 

 asked permission to make such rules and regulations as were thought 

 needful ''in respect to game animals, game and nongame birds and fish" 

 on Federal lands in the western part of North Carolina. 



LAW TO ALLOW FKDLKAL PROTECTION OF Will) LIFK. 



The permission requested by the Federal Government was isranted by 

 the General Assembly of 1915 in the following law: 



tSee page 41. 



