The Washington herald., 1911-01-29
PLEA FOR MORE PARKS.

RaisinG Of Intelligent and Healthy
Citizenship Must Insure Peace.
(By R. B. wATRoUs. Secretary American Civic
Feiesaton.)
While in no way recommending a
change in the present wise policy Of the
government in the maintenance Of its
standing army and the development Of 4
National Guard reserve. the maintenance
OF its navy and the continued construc-
ton of battle ships, and the STRENGTHEN
ing of its coast defenses. one may in
fancy contemplate some of the things
that might be accomplished in other di-
rections with an expenditure Of only a
part OF the millions necessary for our
national defense.
There are great movements well under
way in this and other countries which.
without large expenditures, win eventu-
ally result in bringing about a state of
universal peace between nations because
OF the healthy and intelligent citizenship
that will be developed and will some day
decide and carry out the policies Of the
nations We are a healthier people than
we were 100 years ago, and We are going
to be more healthy because of the grow
ing appreciation of the value Of outdoor
recreation, pure air. good water. and
close contact with Mother Nature
There has been wonderful develop
ment on the part of the cities in the Gre
alton and maintenance Of parks and
Fairgrounds which are recreation centers
for the people of the cities. Just now
there IS hopeful awakening on the part
of several of the States of the nation to
the wisdom of setting aside great reser-
Vatlons which may be known as State
parks and which shall be maintained for
all time to come for recreation purposes
Only few of the States have thus far
oY enactment created commissions which
have in charge the creation and main
tenance of such parks. Every State in
the United States might well take such
action. even at large expenditure of mon
ey, for the benefits would accrue to the
people at large. A healthy citizenship
must be an honest and wise citizen
ship, and 1t may not be an exaggeration
to say that no other one thing now being
done by cities and States is contributing
in larger degree to the molding Of the
right kind of citizenship than is effected
by broad and comprehensive park sys-
TENS
The Federal government has seen the
wisdom in years gone by to set aside
certain great reservations for national
parks Those parks in the past have not
been appreciated as they deserve, but. in
harmony with the spirit Of the times.
their value is growing more and more
appreciated. and there is a constantly
increasing demand that everything pos
sible be done to dignity our national
parks and make them more accessible
to the people at large. Inc President of
the United States has recommended that
a bureau of parks be created which shall
have, as has not been possible heretofore,
the complete general management and
development of the parks already owned
and to be acquired. With the creation of
such a bureau there will open avenues
for larger expenditures Of money than in
the past for national parks, but there
can be no doubt that the present popular
sentiment will approve of such course.
In considering the extension of national
parks, two recent proposals are worthy
of thoughtful attention. a recommended
ton has been made by competent eX-
pertS. after careful consideration of the
problems involved, for national park
along the Niagara River and in connec-
ton with the park maintained by the
State of New York. America has no
greater natural wonder than the falls of
Niagara They belong to the people of
only for their own enjoyment. but for
til, enjoyment Of the world at large I'M
portant steps have been taken for the
of the falls in all their orig
inal beauty. but it is necessary that con-
tinual vigilance be exerted to prevent the
diversion of their waters for commercial
purposes and to an extent that will de-
spoil them of their beauty. national
park at Niagara Falls. maintained and
as such by the Federal govern
ment, would seem to be most natural
step.
Another most worthy suggestion is that
which contemplates a forest park in the
vicinity Of the city of Washington SINH
ar to those which have been maintained
ior many years in foreign countries. not
IDLY France and Germany. The devel-
pment of such a park would involve the.
of millions of dollars, which
however, would be distributed over
ong period of years. because it would
lave to act in cooperation with nature.
md nature is slow in the growing of
rees. Such forest reservation near
and accessible as it would
'e, to millions of people rather than to
he thousands, as in the case of Yellow
tone Park, would stand as an example.
o the nation at large and to the several
'tates composing it, of the wisdom of
'reServing for pleasure and recreation
purposes great areas of territory adapted
" nature for the enjoyment of mankind