34 



SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN EEGION. 



in northern Georgia to 71 inches in western North Caro- 

 lina. The precipitation for the year 1898 in western 

 North Carolina at Higlilands was 105.2-1: inches; at Horse 

 Cove, 1)9.97 inches; Flat Rock, 78.89 inches, and Linville, 

 71.06 inches. The rainfall in the warm seasons is often 

 torrential, while in the spring and autumn the rains often 

 continue over several days in succession. During May 21 , 

 1901, the rainfall in twenty-four hours was, at Highlands, 

 N. C, 4.03 inches; at Hendersonville, N. C, 4.91 inches; 

 at Flat Rock, N. C, 6.12 inches; at Marion, N. C, 7.25 

 inches; and at Patterson, N. C, 8.3 inches. Near Roan 

 Mountain, North Carolina, a rainfall of 8 inches in eleven 

 hours has been recorded. In August of 1901 the total rain- 

 fall for the month at Highlands, N. C, was 30.74 inches, 

 ic^eatures'™'^' "^^^ tables which accompan}^ Professor Henry's paper 

 show the temperatures, rainfall, and other weather condi- 

 tions at practicall}" all of the stations established within 

 this region. They emphasize two facts of special impor- 

 tance in connection with the present discussion, namely, 

 that the climate is such as to permit travel and lumbering 

 operations in all portions of this region throughout the 

 entire year, while the rainfall, being heavy in the aggre- 

 gate and often excessive within short periods, i-enders it 

 necessary to protect the forests in order to limit floods and 

 prevent the washing away of the land. 



HOW CAN THESE FORESTS BE PRESERVED? 



controf tSroniy Having given what I believe to be a fair statement of 

 practical solu- conditions existing in the Southern Appalachian region, 

 and considered the danger growing out of the policy' and 

 practice now in force, I pass on to inquire through what 

 agency these forests can be preserved. After careful 

 consideration I am able to suggest but one way to solve 

 the problem, and that is for the Federal Government to 

 purchase these forest-covered mountain slopes and make 

 them into a national forest reserve. 

 these*foreste be- Certainly, the lumbermen and the native farmers, who 

 of "priyate^fnd?- pushing the destruction of these forests, can not 

 viduais. expected of themselves to bring about their pi'eserva 



tion. Nor can the perpetuation of forest conditions, upon 

 which depend so many national interests, be left to the 

 caprice of private capital, which has no interest beyond 

 the profits in the lumber industry. The restoration of 

 forests already injured, and the reforesting of the steep 



