Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-30
THE NATIONAL PARK
PROJECT FOR MT, DE-
SERT LOOKS Coon
(Bar Harbor Letter, Commercian

(Bar Harbor Letter, Commercian
George B. Dorr of Boston and D.,
Harbor has returned from Washinr,o,
where he interviewed President Wn.
son. two weeks ago with reference ;,
the establishment of a National park
on Mt. Desert Island This is ,bs
final step in the huge project wbich
Mr. Dorr and President Emeritr.
Eliot of Harvard have been a, wcrL
upon for several years.
Mr.. Dorr was taken to see the pr..i.
dent by Sen. Johnson of Maine an,
was accompanied by Reps Peters and
Hines.
The establishment of this nars
which Is to be made a free gift to IN.
Nation, will be done through the M.
partment of the Interior, since il call,
for no appropriation. and Sec. Lam.
has given the project his warm an.
proval.
The following is copy of the letter
which Sec. Lane wrote to Presiden,
Wilson in regard to the matter:
Secretary Of Interior,
Washington. D. c. May .. 1915.
My dear Mr.. President:
l am familiar with President Eliots
and Mr.. DORIS very interesting plar
to present to the United States an i'm.
portant tract of land on Mt. Deser,
Island. I have discussed it with Mr.
Dorr and his patriotic project has
my warm approval. The setting aside
of this land as a national monumen.
seems eminently proper and I trust
will be able to lay it before you shortly
in formal shape for your approval
Cordially yours.
(Signed) FRANKLIN X. LANE.
The President.
The White House.
DR.. DORIS project also has the warn
support Of DR.. Charles Walcott. a d..
rector of the great Smithsonian MI.
scum at Washington, as we'll as of the
biological survey and of all interested
in the preservation of bird life L
also has the strong support Of the
Historical society Of
which Sen. Lodge is president. with
reference to the historic interest Of
Mt. Desert Island as the first land upon
our coast to be visited described and
named by Champlain in 1904. when
sailing under De Monts' orders from
the island Of ST. Croix which now
forms the boundary between the Unit
ed States and Canada. he landed upon
these shores.
The study of the title deeds for
this monument is probably the mos
monumental piece, for total explora
ton ever undertaken in the state 0.
Maine. 1t has occupied the firm Of
Deasy & Lyman for over two years and
is embodied in several bound volumes
of typed report, now in the hands oil
the land Office at Washington, where
they regard it as one of the mos,
thorough and convincing pieces Of
work that has ever reached there.
The hearing upon the final DEGREES
which will practically complete the
clearance of the title Of these lands
will be held before Associate Justice
kink, in few days. and if favorab7
decided will remove the last cloud from
the title which is offered to the nation
Not only Secretary Lane, but also
Assistant Secretary Stephen NJ. Math' |
err, who has charge of parks, has taken
up the Mt. Desert matter with warm
est interest and is prepared, in his
turn to do all that he can to further u
OF special interest also is the acton
taken by Brig. Gen. George p Server /
the chairman, Inter Department +
Board for Coastal Communicates
who wrote the following letter to the /
May 6, 1915
My dear Mr.. President:
Mr.. Dorr brought the matter OF tn'
proposed national monument on NOUN
Desert Island, Coast of Maine, 10 ny
two years ago when ne MT.
came on to consult the Department I"
the Interior with regard to 1t. th',
made the statement to him which
now confirm, that the summit OF m'
Mount Desert hills, unique in eleva'lUa
on our coast, and commanding proaus
the entrance to the Boy OF FUN.
and eastern approaches to PenoosoV'
Bay, with a government coaling sN
ton In it's rear and a magnlhcea'
landlocked harbor in the upper oa',
forms a strategic point Of great vai,s
for the nationSto possess particuai.
as a coastal observation station
connection with the operation OF Hu'
Of information, Of aeroplanes' n
other air craft, and of means OF w
Tense generally. AE
ho1iarya he nefor NJ fne
should be accepted. b
Very truly yours.
(Signed), GEO. P. SCRIVEN' +
Brigadier Geners. +
er-Departmental oo~
for Coastal Communications.
The President.
The White House. Washington, "
1t will have special interest from ~
point of view. II 1t snou.
be accepted. as the first park 10
in the east for other ''.
purely historic reasons. whereas
the other hand, many impoi~t
tracts have been set aside in the W.
for similar purposes.
To George B. Dorr. the prime nv. .o.
and leading spirit in this huge ps
|ect, goes the thanks of the peopN II.
Mt. Desert island, and will go
thanks Of the people Of the WIN "sr
country when they realize that vs
through his untiring efforts ana n'
ending labor, has this great GIT W
made possible. 1t has been caiieu
National Monument which is auim
true, but it is also a monume"
George B. Dorr.