Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-21
Bourne Would
Make Caves a
National Park

Senator Bourne, busy as he is with
postoffice and post roads matters, has
found time to champion the creation
Of new national park to preserve the
natural feature known as the Oregon
caves
To bring about this consummation
the senator on January 4, introduced
a bill IS. 7945), "to create the Oregon
Caves National park in the state of
Oregon" This bill provides that "the
tract Of land included in township 40
south, range W, Willamette merd-
ian, in the state of Oregon, including
the Oregon Caves" shall be reserved
and withdrawn from settlement, oc-
cupancy or sale, under the laws of the
United States, and dedicated and set
apart forever as public park or pleas
ure grounds for the benefit of peo-
pie Of the United States, to be known
as the Oregon Caves National Park"
1t is also provided that the reserva-
tion to be established shall be under
the control and custody of the secre-
tary Of the interior, who shall estab-
lish rules and regulations, and "cause
adequate measures to be taken for the
preservation Of the natural objects
within said park, and also for the
protection Of the timber from wanton
depreciation, the preservation of all
kinds Of game and fish, punishment
Of trespassers, the removal of unaw-
full occupants and intruders and the
prevention and extinguishment Of for
est fires; also,
"That it shall be unlawful for any
person to establish any settlement or
residence within said reserve, or to
engage in any numbering or other en-
terprise or business occupation there
in for any speculative purpose what
ever, and any person violating the
provisions Of this act, or the rules
and regulations established there
under, shall be punished by a fine of
not moro than $500 or by improson-
ment or not more than one year, and
further be liable for all destruction
of timber or other property of the
United States in consequence of any
such unlawful act; provided, that said
reservation shall be open, under such
regulations as the secretary of the
interior may prescribe, to all scient-
lists, excurslonlsts and pleasure seek
ers, and to the location of mining
claims and the workings Of tho same.
And provided further, that restaurant
and hotel keepers, upon application
to the secretary Of the interior, may
be permitted by him to establish
places Of entertainment within the
Oregon Caves National park for the
accommodation Of visitors at places
and under regulations fixed by the
secretary Of the interior, and not
otherwise.
1t Is further provided in section
of the bill that tho secretary of the
interior may, in his discretion, grant
eases transportation and other priv
ileges covering the occupation and
use Of lands and tho transaction of
business for the accommodation of
tourists within the park. Such other
privileges may be granted by said
secretary as will not be inconsistent
with the objects for which the park
was established and which will not
injure or destroy any OF the forests,
natural wonders or other objects of
interest or resort in the park or pre-
vent access to any such use or the
enjoyment thereof by the people,
Leases or privileges granted sha" run
for a period Of not exceeding twenty
years, but may be renewed or ex.
tended at the expiration thereof; no
exclusive privileges however, shall
be granted within the park except ON
the ground leased"
In section It is provided that.
THE secretary of the interior may
enact such charges as he deems to
be proper for leases, privileges and so
forth, grahted hereunder and all
funds derived thcrerrom, or from any
source Whatsoever connected with
park, shall be covered into the treas
ury Of the United States, to be ex-
pended under the direction the sec /
reaary of the interior in the manage
ment operation and improvements of
the park"