The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-31
PLANS FOR BUREAU
 0F NATIONAL PARKS
Wisconsin Congressman Intro
 duces the Measure
CONCENTRATION NEEDED
President Taft Has Recomni ended That Such Bureau be Created for Bet ter Handling of Parks
 and Reservations

| Washington, January 30-tSpeciaI)-At the request of the American Civic asso- lciation, Representative Davidson of Wis consin introduced in the House today a Ibnl for tn establishment of a bureau of national parks. A similar biif has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Shoot.
 The purpose of this bill is to place the control and management of the sev- ! eral national parks and monuments and reservations of like character under one bureau, instead of having. them con- trolled by various bureaus in different de- partments.
 President Taft. in his annual message, recommended the creation of a bureau for this purpose in the following lan- guage: Our national parks have be- come so extensive and involve so much detail of action in their control that it seems to me there ought to be legis- lation creating a bureau for their care and control.''
 The Secretary of the Interior, in his last annual report, after referring to the necessity for an efficient administration 
 doubtless be necessary in the accomplish ment of these propositions to create bureau of national parks and resorts un- der the supervision of a competent com missioner. The creation of such a bu- reau, and the planning under 1t of a consistent and broadly considered scheme for national parks and resorts to fit the future needs of the United States gov ernment. would be in line with the pol iox WI rct planned in 1903 the federal city which now bears his name. without which plan- ming no such civic convenience, beauty, impressiyeness and national dignity as the city of Washington now enjoys would have been possible"
 The government now maintains nine great national parks and several other smaller parks<and reservations, the total area of which is 4,6O6,15 acres. During the last five years $2S1 ,515 were appropri- ated for and $152S71 received in the way of revenue from the nine national parks
 The revenue is derived largely from concessions made to individuals or conl- panies for operating transportation fa- cilfties. hotels, lunch stations, etc During the last five years 446,545 per sons have visited these national parks, and as the people of the United States become more familiar with the mag
 
 beauty spots of the nation and realize, as they will, the beneficial effects of visit to-, or a vacation spent. in these great parks, the number of visitors will very naturally increase. This will necessitate the formation and execution of plans for not only the further Identification of, but the preservation of these parks. the con- struction of roads, sewers and other works, all of which should be done upon a broad comprehensiye plan worked soit by men thoroughly qualified for this great undertaking. a.a
 Congress is urged from time to time to acquire additional lands for park purposes. Such acquisitions should not be made until some one qualified to act iptelligently has investigated and re- ported upon the desirabity of such ac- question. The creation, therefore, of a bureau of national parks, under which all this work can be systematically and intelligently carried forward, is of the greatest importance.
 The bill introduced provides for the appointment of commissioner with such experts and assistants as Congress may, from time to time. authorize, and ap- propriates the sum of $75.00Q for the maintenance of such bureau. | The rights of the public are safeguard cd by section 5 of the bill, which pro- vides that ''all parks, monuments and reservations provided for. shall not at any time be used in any way contrary to the purpose thereof as agencies for promot- | ing public recreation and public health through the use and enjoyment by the people of such parks, monuments ana | reservations. and of the natural scenery and objects of interest therein, or in any way detrimental to the value thereof' for such purpose" -