SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION. 



169 



States Geological Survey. A preliminary report from the Secretary 

 of Agriculture, transmitted to Congress with a brief commendatory 

 message by the Pi'esident, is herewith included. It is preceded b}^ a 

 letter from the Secretar}^ of Agriculture, which declares his full 

 approval of this bill. The plan to purchase a foi*est reserve or park 

 in the Southern Appalachian Mountains has been favorably considered 

 and is advocated by the National Board of Trade, b_v the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science, by the American Forestry 

 Association, and by numerous similar organizations throughout the 

 United States. Resolutions from the bodies named are presented in 

 the appendix as showing that the movement for the establishment of 

 this forest reserve is based not upon local oi- selfish interests, but 

 upon the widespread, intelligent national appreciation of the impor- 

 tance of prompt and favorable action b}^ Congre&s. 



That such a forest reserve should be established in the hard-wood 

 regions of the East is the general conviction of men of science, experts 

 in forestr}^ intelligent lumbermen, and of men connected with the 

 great business interests of the country; and this view finds frequent 

 and emphatic expression in the technical and general press. Reckless 

 cutting and the forest fires which follow are now destroying these 

 hard-wood forests at a rate and to an extent which is alreadj" having 

 serious results over wide areas. In addition to its probable effect on 

 climate, it is causing irregularities in the How of the streams, which 

 are destroying their value for water power and navigation during the 

 dry seasons, and during the rainy seasons are washing away the soils 

 on the steeper hillsides and mountain slopes, filling up the stream beds 

 with sediment, and destroying the agricultural value of the lowlands 

 along the streams. Both the diminishing How of water during the dry 

 season and the deposit of sediment in the stream beds and harbors 

 during periods of flood are becoming yearW more dangerous to navi- 

 gation and are leading directly to increased annual appropriations for 

 rivers and harbors. 



The establishment of the proposed national forest reserve will tend 

 to remedy these serious and growing evils, will protect the sources of 

 many important streams, and, under the management of ti'ained forest 

 experts, will serve as a demonstration of the method of perpetuating 

 forests and yet making them pay. Such an example will lead both 

 States and individuals to encourage and practice forest management 

 and restoration on all lands which are better suited to forest growth 

 than for agricultural purposes. 



The proposed national reserve for the protection and use of hard- 

 wood forests should be located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains 

 for several reasons. 



That region contains the greatest variety of hard woods to be found 

 anywhere on this continent, because the northern and southern forest 



