36 APPALACHIAN AND WHITE MOUNTAIN WATEBSHEDS. 



The question of the acquirement of timberlands by the Govem- 

 ment has been considered with the principal owners of the region. 

 While unwilling to dispose of their virgin timberlands except at very 

 high prices, they are willing to consider the sale of their cut-over lands, 

 the lands lying too high for lumbering, and the mountain tops. 



A careful study of the situation leads to the conclusion that most of 

 the lands of these classes can be bought at an average price of $6 per 

 acre. 



Although it may be necessary to make cut-over lands the basis of 

 purchase, so far as possible purchase should be made of uncut lands 

 under an arrangement whereby the owner may cut the timber under 

 the regulations of the Department of Agriculture. This would leave 

 the land in far better condition than the average cut-over land, and the 

 Government could well afford to pay a higher price for land under this 

 management. 



SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. 



In the Southern Appalachians the timberlands are owned by large 

 companies to a less extent than in the White Mountains, but even 

 here as much as 50 per cent of many localities is under such ownership. 

 Likewise lumbering is going on less vigorously ia the Southern Appa- 

 lachians than in the White Mountains. This is accounted for by the 

 fact that the Southern Appalachian region is large and many localities 

 of it are very inaccessible. Lo^s can not be driven downstream as in 

 the Xorth, and railroads are lacking. Consequently, the price of tim- 

 ber all along has been and is now lower than in the North. For 

 instance, spruce which in the White Mountains is worth on an average 

 about $6 per thousand on the stump is in the high southern mountains 

 worth only $2.50 to $3 per thousand. 



Timberland owners in the Southern Appalachians are generally 

 inclined to sell their lands to the Government at a reasonable price, 

 regardless of whether the lands contain virgin timber or are cut over. 

 Furthermore, -many of them are favorable to the transfer of their lands, 

 themselves retaining the right to cut and remove certain kinds of tim- 

 ber above specified sizes. 



In considBring the practicability of the Government's purchasing 

 land for national forests in the Southern Appalachians conference has 

 been freely had with timberland owners, lumbermen, real estate deal- 

 ers, and title examiners. Moreover, attention has been paid to the 

 sales which have been made during the past two years and the prices 

 which have been paid. 



The price of virgin hardwood land varies from $5 to $12 per acre 

 depending on accessibility and kind and quality of timber. Cut- 

 over lands are worth from $2 to S5 per acre, their value likewise 

 depending upon their location and the condition of the timber growth 

 upon them. 



In the Southern Appalachians, as in the White Mountains, it will 

 be inadvisable for the Government as a rule to attempt the purchase 

 of virgin forest lands. It should make cut-over lands the basis of 

 purchase, and for such lands it should not exceed an average price 

 of $3.50 per acre. 



Neither in the White Mountains nor Southern Appalachians is it 

 true that the Government will have to pay higher prices than would 



