Bisbee daily review., 1913-07-24
FOR THE WHOLE SOUTHWEST.

SOUTHWEST.
 MescaleFo national park can be made a reality this very year, if E Paso, New Mexico. Arizona and Texas will unite their forces at Washington for short. sharp, winning campaign Every branch of the government al Washington is now favorable to the project, or at least Dot hostile. Bills in congress have met with informal ap proyal We have friends in many of. cial positions where influence must be enlisted A New Mexican is as. sistant secretary of interior; a Texan is indian Commissioner. an Arizonan is Indian commissioner, an Arizonan in the cabinet. all three of the south. western states have powerful and pop ilar representation in congress. and the situation is ripe for immediate - ton, at the very beginning of the
 t session says the Fl Paso Herald.
 There is no disposition to deprive the Indians of the reservation Of any, thing that is theirs. or anything they need and can use to advantage, The bills now before congress provide that agricultural land shall be apportioned to the Indians, and that proceeds of the sale of mature timber shall go to the fund of the Indians The only de- sire on the part of those who favor the national park idea, is that the whole Sacramento and White mount ain country shall be conserved for all time as a park, a playground for all the people, a game and bird preserve. and made available to public use un- der suitable restrictions.
 If the national forest and the res ervation be opened 10 numbering, even under forestry restrictions, the beauty of the park will he spoiled. IT the park be established, there may still be some numbering carried on, but the idea of conserving the beauty of the park drives and trails, and safeguard ing the wild life of the mountains win always be kept to the front.
 If the national park should be es. tabIshed the government would open up the mountain country with suitable roads, and the peoples playground would be made available in every part for proper. use and recreation There are many streams that could be stocked with fish and made popu lar resorts for vacation parties. The splendid forests would be cared foi and all wild life protected. without in any way interfering with the legiti mate use of the lands by the Indians to whom they have been dedicated by the presidents order
 within 800 or 500 miles of Fl PasC there is no other playground to com pare with the Sacramento for beauty charm, and summer climate. The peo pie of the whole state of Texas. o Oklahoma and Kansas, and Of at leasi half Of New Mexico and Arizona. need this Mescalero national summer re creation. If the movement be no carried to success this year. there il no telling what obstacles may aris' to thwart the whole plan It would b' easy to spoil the reserve for park ana playground purpose, if the project O general numbering be once entere' upon under contracts that could no be avoided
 It is time to begin now to enlist fl the cooperation of all the people O the aocky Mountain Southwest il this project, and Of all their offcla representstiFes at Washington. T. insure success; tiie york of prspsrs ton and information must he starte very soon, and every effort made t secure the active gid or ali southwest ern communities in the project. E Paso, naturally. must take the lead.