Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-05
JONES To HELP
NEW MEXICO GET
NATIONAL PARK
Assistant Secretary of Depart
ment of Interior Speaks at
Enthusiastic Gathering in.
Santa Fe; Pledges Support.

/ ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO MORNING JOURNAL
Santa Fe, Feb. 4.--Assistant Secre-
tary of the Interior Alpheus A. Jones
met this forenoon at the Palace of the
Governors with the state chamber OF
commerce and the National Parks AS
ISOLATION of New Mexico, to listen to
plea for the creation of the Pajarl-
to National park in Sandoval county
and Immediately tributary to Albu-
querque and Las Vegas.
DR.. +. f. Mera presided. w. 3.
Douglas, secretary of the park asso-
citation, explained the status and gave
the reasons for the creation of a ma
tional park. He enumerated the
features that made the Pajarito park
a world wonder, a region distinctive
from any other region in the world,
a wonderland that belongs to all the
people of the United States. He
made a plea for the preservation OF
the thousands of prehistoric ruins in
New Mexico and pointed out why a
national park is so much more de-
sirable than a national monument.
The national monuments are neglect
ed, unknown. New Mexico has sew
eral of them but few people know at
all about them while the national
parks are world renowned
Mr.. Jones Speaks.
Mr.. Jones then addressed the as
sembly which crowded the historic
reception room. He took the view
that in securing national legislation.
1T is necessary to get the national
viewpoint, to go beyond the merely
local attitude. He explained that
there are pending pleas for three ma
tional parks in New Mexico, the Pa
jarito. the Mescalero and the Pecos
and minated that only one can be n
probability at this time.
He emphasized the interest of the
department of the interior in the ma
tional parks declaring that Secretary
Mather to the secretary of the inter-
Tor, was appointed almost solely be-
cause of his interest and knowledge
of the national parks, and that Mr.
Mather is even spending his own per-
Stittt inNoho W Aui liiti TIC louSt VI
the national parks. Mr.. Mathers
dream was represented to be the Gre
alton of at least one national park in
each western state and to link all
these parks together with one SUI
perb highway. 1t is Mr.. Mather's
idea that the national parks should
be national recreation grounds and
that sections more noteworthy for
their scientific interest are more
national monuments. How
ever, said Mr.. Jones "congenial study
is recreation TO any one of an in
what you can do to get congress to
develop these parks"
What would you do he asked
'if you were not a resident of New
Mexico and the question would come
up to you in Washington ?" The
the importance of the Pajarito park
and the necessity of doing something
without delay TO preserve it as a
heritage for the nation, pledging his
undivided and enthusiastic support |
for the preservation of the cliff |
dwellings. He assured his hearers
that the department of the interior
desires to do only the right thing |
when the right thing is ascertained.
1t was evident from the address OF |
Mr. Jones, which was roundly APP !
plauded, that he favors the creation |
of a national monument in the Pa
jarito park and of a national park out /
Of portions of the Pecos national
forest. However he stated that the
national parks are entirely out of his
and entirely within that
Of Mr.. Mather.
Mr.. Douglas argued at length in
favor of a national park as against
a national monument and Judge John
r. McFie, as well as Secretary W. i.
Holt, supported the argument. Judge
McFie pointed out that If the cave
dwellings, of the Pajarito park We're
placed side by side, they would make
I line of prehistoric habitations ten
miles long.