The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-11
The National Parks,

In Cur National Parks one OF IN"
mos; attractive" outdoor books ever
written MIR JOHN MI-IE declares ii Is
far safer To wander IN Gods WOODS than
To travel on black highways ar TO stay AZ
home Mr. MlIE set the example. for
forty Years 10y roaming tn. SIERRA wilder
hess IN all seasons and all weathcrs
without "A weapon TO protect himself
against its wild creatures. The snake
danger IL s,arrrv worth menl ioning. he
SAYS Bears are "A pcaceablc people
who mind then own business and Ia
whom II IL not easy 10 Obtain an IN
PRODUCTION The Indians. observes MIR
MIIE. are dead or civilized into Useless
Innocence. No American wilderness il
81 dangerous As a city home with all
the modern improvements. He urges
people to go TO the woods for safety.
II Tor nothing else. II might have been
JohN MrIE who inspired the following
passage III that part OF Secretary BAL
LINGERS report devoted to the nat onal
parks and reservations:
>pc1I ,rrr ri'rc and ~ oncy touring abroad with
uthE"wtu= their own country The scenery and
natural wonder, found In oihcr countries IRE
q.cutc g b or people are Insignificant CON paEeI
with those ~ eur great national parks and the
mountain ranges in which rhey are found
TIA. secretary of the Interior seeks
to attract NOR" people TO the nat ional
parks by bringing together in his report
MANY interesting facts in regard to
thr'n he urges liberal appropriations
to increase their accessibility bv roads
and establishments for public conven-
lrnC" and pleasure Glacier Park IN
Montana. which was created AT the last
session OF Congress. ia IN. second in
area oil the parks and reservations
comprising 9Sl .6Si acres The area Of
loscmt" IS 7l9.822 acres, and Yellow
stone extends over 2.lt9 80. Accord
ing TO senator DIXON OF Montana Ola
clrT really stands at the head Of the
list for sublime features, but something
must h. allowed u local pride Mr.
BALLINGFR urges the enactment of IN"
bill now befor" Congress To set Of the
Grand Canon Of the Colorado a. q
national reservation This was pro-
posed by Mr.. JoHS MUIR ten years ago
ON IN" other hand. ,he Secretary recon-
mcnds that Sully Hill National Park in
North Dakota. Wind Cave National
Park in South Dakota and Plat Ma
ttonal Park in Oklahoma be transferred
10 the States IA hardly coming up To-
the standard To b. required If national
INSTITUTIONS In scenery they are not
greatly distinguished and the aSpcndi-
rlre Of considerable sums Of money Ia
make them accessible would therefore
not be justified
More roads are needed Ia facilitate
travel IN Yosemite. Sequoia and General
Grant parks IN California. Mount Rainier
Park in Washington. Crater Lake Park
IN Oregon and Mesa Verde Park IN Colo
RADIO Secretary BALLINGER is of the
opinion that rhe Government should
acquire all private holdings and mining
claims in the parks. The presence OF
other propretors complexities the diff
Guilty Of administration. The Secretary
recommends tho appointment OF civil
ians az superintendents of the parks.
and he would confine military supervi-
sion Ito the enforcement Of regulations
pertaining to public travel and preSer-
vation of game and natural curiosities
n" proposes bureau Of national parks
and resorts, but as this plan would
necessi,ate IN" employment of a large
force of inspectors. guards and other
employees az very considerable expense.
il nav he doubted W hct her Congress will
r. gard il With favor