American Forest Congress 441 



the Rocky Mountains. We have what they had years 

 ago, mountains covered with forests. We are getting 

 to have what they have now, bare mountains. The 

 illustrations that are being given of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and the results that are going on there, we can 

 see in all its different states, and we are anxious to 

 have our friends help us to try and save this great 

 region. Looking at it from the economic point, it 

 means the saving of water power, and the transporta- 

 tion of the entire South, from where the Tennessee 

 River enters the Ohio, to the south and east clear 

 around to the Potomac River. 



I have prepared a resolution on the subject of forest 

 reservation and will present it to the Resolutions Com- 

 mittee. We want to have the Government buy this 

 tract of land in the Great Smoky Mountains, the boun- 

 dary between North Carolina and Tennessee, about 

 two hundred miles long and from twenty to forty miles 

 wide, and control it as the forest reserves in the West 

 are controlled. If any one within that territory wishes 

 to retain his property and will manage it on proper 

 forest plans, there will be no reason for interfering 

 with him. There will be rights of way through the 

 forest reserve the same as has been mentioned for the 

 West. This reserve will be within twenty-four hours' 

 ride of three-fourths of the population of the United 

 States, and would be available as a pleasure ground for 

 a large proportion of our country. Of course the 

 Yellowstone Park is the park of the United States, 

 but a forest reserve in the Southern Appalachians, 

 which could be used as a pleasure ground as well, 

 would be of much more immediate interest to our 

 people than one so far away as the other. As I said 

 before, I will prepare a resolution and give it to our 

 Resolutions Committee and hope for your favorable 

 support. 



