Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-12-10
STATE FEDERATION
OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
Conservation of Natural Beauties OF
the Scenery of Washington Is
Matter of Great Importance

Thought and conversation dIHonS
washington club women, largely be-
cause of the enthusiasm OF our State
Moderation conservation committee
IN the work and plans they are in
augurating along these lines. We
are pleased to present, this week,
letter from Miss Lulie Nettleton,
press mem Der of this committee.
1.-THE conservation committee of
our State Federation of Women s
Clubs does not interpret conserva-
ton as a tying up of natural re-
sources nor the interference with the
development of this great progress
i've country, but it does feel that it
would not be fulfilling its destiny
if it did not lend it's aid in the pres
eryation of scenery and the creation
of national parks and Fairgrounds
for all the people.
"Our state possesses scenery which
has been pronounced by worldwide
travellers as quite equal in grandeur
to most of the famous scenery abroad
and even eXcelling much of it. But,
in spite of this, fasteners only this
summer really discovered the west,
when forced to remain in America.
They came reluctantly, they saw in
amazement and returned to the At
lantic coast loyal boosters for our
natural beauties.
"Our scenery should be a sacred
trust, and are we doing all that can
be done to preserve it from destruc-
ton? The forest service is doing all
in it's power in the national forests
in trail making and prevention of
devastating fires, but they need the
cooperation of men and women in
this work.
Switzerland has capitalized her
scenery. 1t has been said that AL
pine scenery annually produces up
wards of $4,000 per square mile
Good roads, modern hotels among
the Alps, and exploitation for winter
as we'll as summer Fairgrounds are
some of the plans of the Swiss gov
eminent. The Canadian government
too, is doing much toward the deyel-
opment of it's national parks.
Our own land has now / 4 ma
tional parks and 80 national monu-
ments, each reserved for its sublime
scenery, some of the most magnifi-
cent on earth. but much of this
grandeur is not easy of access and to
the ordinary tourist is impossible be-
cause of lack of transportation and
accom- modations. Yellowstone, Yose-
mite, Glacier Park have already ex-
cellent hotels and transportation.
Rainier National park too is coming
into its own. The past summer has
high in government circles have Wis
tied and seen its needs and realized
its possibilities and wonderful plans
are under way for it's Improvement.
Vast tracts in this state are waiting
Development and the chairman of our
conservation committee, Mrs. w. S.
NORMAN, recently called a meeting
of delegates from the chambers of
commerce and commercial clubs of
the large towns of western Washing
ton to discuss a resolution providing
Tor the change of status of the Olym-
Pic monument to a national park and
such resolution was unanimously
adopted. A bill is being prepared for
Presentation to congress and we are
working for favorable action. If the
grandeur of the Olympic group of
splendid peaks and charming alpine
parks can become known its fame
surely will equal its better known sis
ter parks.
Along this line of thought Enos
Mills has spoken. He says: Our es-
taollshed scenic reservations, or
those which may hereafter be set
aside, are destined to become the
oasis of our large scenic industry.
For a travel industry the
present needs in America are for
cities at once to acquire and develop
INTO parks all nearby scenery; for
each state to develop its best scenic
places as state parks; and for the
nation to make a number of new
national parks, and at once make
tnese scenic reservations ready for
me traveller. Every park
IS place of refuge, a place wherein
"lld life thrives and multiplies. As
hunters are perpetually excluded
IRON all parks, these places will thus
oecome sanctuaries for our vanishing
wid life. All wild life quickly loses
ITS fear and allows itself to be read
ny seen in protected localities. Wild
p