260 Philosophy of Botany. 



reserve are now generally held in larjje bodies ol from 50,000 to 100,000 

 acres, and tbey can be purchased at prices ranging from $2 to $5 per 

 acre. It is probable that the average price would not exceed $3 per 

 acre. In explanation of the widespread and urgent demand for the es- 

 tablishment in thi.! Southern Appalachian region of a national park, 

 or forest reserves, it may be added that it contains the highest arid 

 largest mountain masses and perhaps the wildest and most picturesque 

 scenery east of the Mississippi River; that it is a region of perfect 

 healthfulness, ali'eady largely used as a health resort both summer and 

 winter; and that it lies within little more than a day's travel of the 

 larger portion of the population of this country. 



The rapid consumption of our timber supplies, the extensive destruc- 

 tion of our forests by fire, and the resulting increase in the irregularity 

 of the flow of water in important streams have served to develop among 

 the people of this country an interest in forest problems which is one 

 of the marked features of the close of the century. In response to this 

 growing interest the government has set aside in the Western forest 

 reserves an area of more than 70,000 square miles. There is not a sin- 

 gle government forest reserve in the Bast. 



I have the lionor to be. 



Very respectfully, 



JAMES WILSON, Secretary. 



APPAIiACHIAN PARK BILL FOR THQ APPROPRIATION OP FIVE 

 MILLION DOLLARS. 



Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 

 of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That the Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture is hereby empowered and directed to purchase land, 

 suited to the purposes of a national forest reserve, in the Appalachian 

 Mountains, within the States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro- 

 lina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, in total extent not to exceed 

 two million acres, and to care for, protect, use, and make accessible the 

 said forest reserve or any part of it when so purchased. 



Sec. 2. That the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby empowered and 

 directed to make such rules and regulations and establish such service 

 as he may deem necessary for the care, protection, and use of such for- 

 est reserve, and to sell such wood and timber as may be removed with- 

 out injury to the forest; provided, that no wood or timber shall be sold 

 otherwise than by public auction, except to actual settlers, and in no 

 case at less than the appraised valus thereof; and provided, further, 

 that the proceeds of such sale shall be covered into the treasury of the 

 United States. 



Sec. 3. That the sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as 

 may be required, is hereby appropriated for the purchase of lands for 

 a national forest reserve, as hereinbefore specified, said reserve to be 

 known as the Southern Appalachian Forest Reserve; and said five mil- 



