Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-11-10
The Protection to landscapes.

AiInougn the movement for the
protection of landscapes possessing
great natural beauty. against de-
facement by the erection of factories
and other industrial buildings, has
only become an organized endeavor
within the last few years, we are
pleased to note that II Is making
rapid progress. Admittedly, the
advance Is not yet quick enough. for
not a year goes by but that. either
here or there some irrecoverable
beauty spot is forever destroyed.
which, by more judicious architec-
tural style and management of the
industrial erection, might have been
preserved intact. An almost incom-
prehensible shortsightedness of the
auri sacra 'rames! We can live and
thrive well enough. without this or
that new industrial building, but
never without nature, which revives
and rejuvenates us, which soothes,
strengthens and stimulates. Thus II
unfortunately happens that the ef-
forts made TO save the falls of the
Rhine in the vicinity of Lauffen
have miscarried, although conclusive
arguments were brought forward to
prove that the magnificent works
which II is proposed to erect there
could be laid out in such a way as
not TO interfere with the glorious
scehery But the dear old church,
tower clique and the money-bag In
terests carried of the victory. The
efforts on behalf of the Kuhi met
with more success. When II became
known that a plan was on foot TO-
construct a hotel on this historical
spot, the cradle of the Swiss confed-
eracy. II was determined TO mobilize
the whole body of Swiss school chill
dren against this outrageous pro-
ject; they collected a sum sufficient
TO buy up the proposed site OF the
hotel and thus nipped the plan in It's
incipiency.
A similar thing occurred In ole
vano, the charmingly situated little
town in the Sabina hills near Rome.
where the beautiful old oak grove
of the Serpentara was to have been
felled. The German artist settle
ment in Rome took particular in
terest in this sylvan retreat, for they
were long accustomed to hold their
merry annual fete there. They have
bought the Serpentara, and now the
venerable grove is German state
property, and. as such. secure
against similar attempts at demoli-
tion. The movement has also sew
eral important successes TO It's cred
Il in Germany itself. Munich artists
have rescued a neighboring part OF
the beautiful valley OF the lsar from
the builders. and thus secured for
Munich one OF the loyeliest spots In
the vicinity OF that city. Public opin'
ion In Eisenach forced the town
council to buy up the charming
Johannisthal in order to prevent It's
being built upon. Similarly, the
town of Elberfeld has purchased
some lovely wooded spots In the
neighborhood. 10 prevent them fall
ing into the hands OF the builders
The Prussian government has right
ly refused 10 sanction the laying
down OF a cog-wheel railway through
the dark romantic Bodetal In the
Harz district. The prince OF
sehwartzburg acting in similar
spirit. steadfastly sets his face
against any railroad being construct
ed IN the famous Sohwartzatal. and
the Saxon government Is animated
with the same spirit with regard TO
the lovely locality known as the
Saxon Switzerland. II Is thus dem
onstrated that the social and nation
al Importance OF this movement IL
gradually being brought home 20
the authorities. but II must be con-
fessed that the protection OF nature
has yet TO become matter OF mueh
more general interest than IL az
present the ease.-Continental Cor
respondence.
1 a.