a, Georgia and Mississippi; and HEREAS, Swain County, North Carolina is designated as an economically dised county by the U.S. Government; and HEREAS, Swain County, North Carolina consistently maintains one of the est rates of unemployment in the Tennessee Valley region; and HEREAS, over 83% of the land in Swain County, North Carolina is owned by us agencies of the U.S. Government and, as a result, is exempt from taxation cal government; and HEREAS, this ownership has prohibited economic development similar to that zed by other counties in the Tennessee Valley region; and HEREAS, a portion of the property in Swain County, North Carolina which is ed by the U.S. Government is that commonly known as Lake Fontana, one of argest T.V.A. lakes in the Tennessee Valley region; and HEREAS, although over 40% of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is ed in Swain County, North Carolina, much of this area is designated as wilderarea and, as a result, Swain County, North Carolina has been cut off from n of the "tourist dollars" commonly realized by other counties in the Tennessee ey region; and HEREAS, Lake Fontana was constructed in the early 1940's as part of the U.S. rnment's effort to be victorious in World War II; and HEREAS, in 1943, the U.S. Government, and its agencies, entered into a conwith, among others, Swain County, North Carolina, pursuant to which, in parconsideration for the occupation of the land now known as Lake Fontana, the Government agreed to construct a road from Bryson City, which is the county of Swain County, North Carolina, along the North Shore of Lake Fontana, to Gap, Tennessee; and HEREAS, this Agreement has commonly become known as the "“1943 Agree -"; and HEREAS, although the U.S. Government commenced construction of the abovetioned road, it ceased construction of the road after finishing approximately miles, thereby leaving over 28 miles of the road unconstructed; and HEREAS, the seven mile stretch of the road which was constructed has become nonly known as "The Road to Nowhere"; and HEREAS, much of the Road to Nowhere was constructed in the Great Smoky ntains National Park, thereby prohibiting economic development along the road; HEREAS, at present, the U.S. Government has refused or otherwise failed to lete construction of the above-mentioned road; and HEREAS, at present, the U.S. Government has refused or otherwise failed to e by the terms of the 1943 Agreement; and HEREAS, the failure of the U.S. Government to abide by the terms of the 1943 ement has contributed to the economic stagnation of Swain County, North lina; and HEREAS, in order to aid Swain County and its efforts to regain some economic lity subsequent to the failure of the U.S. Government to comply with the terms e 1943 Agreement, U.S. Representative Charles Taylor has proposed the creof a "Heritage Route" to traverse portions of Western North Carolina, includSwain County, to promote tourism and economic development in this region; IEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Association of Tennessee Valley Govents supports the efforts by the citizens of Swain County, North Carolina to ce the original terms of the 1943 Agreement with the U.S. Government, includbut not necessarily limited to, the construction of the remaining portions of Road to Nowhere" and the compensation of Swain County, North Carolina for economic damages that the citizens of Swain County have incurred as the result e continuing breach of the 1943 Agreement by the U.S. Government. IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Association of Tennessee Valley Governis supports the efforts of U.S. Representative Charles Taylor to create a "Herit MILES MENNELL, Davids [The following petition was received with approxim natures.] CITIZENS FOR THE 1943 NORTH SHORE ROAD ASSOCIAT As a business person in Swain County, I support Senate Bill S. County Settlement Act of 1991. The bill asked that the Federal Government complete the road the 1943 Agreement and pay Swain County $16 million to compe for the destruction of North Carolina Highway 288, and orders th erect an historical marker at Soco Gap to honor the Cherokee natio We also asked that Senator Sanford co-sponsor Senate Bill S. 184 [The following petition was received with approxi natures.] As a business person in Swain County, it is my plea that the S of the Smoky Mountains National Park remain out of wilderness a Agreement be fulfilled as promised. 3 Agree he aboveximately become t Smoky the road; failed to failed to the 1943 y, North economic he terms the cre, includgion; ley Govrolina to , includrtions of olina for e result Governa "Herit о |