Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-03-04
WOMEN WOULD
PROTECT PARKS
General Federation OF WOmen's Clubs
Start Movement to Protect the
National Parks From Sheep
PLENTY OF GRAZING LAND LEFT
Women Claim Invasion of National
Parks Unnecessary With Other
Land Unused.
PLENTY OF GRAZING LAND LEFT
Women Claim Invasion of National

The conservation department of the
General Federation of Women's clubs.
of which Mrs. w. C. Burleson Of this
city is member, is endeavoring to do
it's utmost to prevent an invasion Of
the beautiful national parks through
ont the United States. Sheep owners
want to Craze sheep in the national
PARKS. This would despoil the grounds
without greatly increasing the supply
Of wool and mutton.
The following communication from
| the national chairman OF the cOnserva-
| ton department is being widely cir
culated in an effort to stop the tres
passing:
"'The invasion OF the enemy, is an
expression that need not be limited to
war usuage. 1t exactly fits cond
| ton of internal affairs here in the
United States that is far removed from
battle fields and warning men. The
territories being invaded are the ma
tional parks. If the invasion continues
these regions, which belong to all the
American people, will be monopolized
by few individuals.
I'VE all know that more mutton ami
more wool are needed. and that the
sheep industry should be increased.
| Grazing grounds are essential, but
there is ample opportunity TO-: graz
ing outside of the nationa! parks
1.-THE department of agriculture says,
! There remain practically no lands in
the public domain (unreserved public
lands) that are fit for any other use
than for the grazing of live stock.
They should therefore be used for thai
purpose Does it seem reasonable to
craze sheep in the national parks
when there is government land not in
use that is fitted for that purpose?
"Then there are the national forests,
covering an area of approximately one
hundred and seventy-iiye million
acres OF this, about tive-eighths is
classed as grazing land-and is not
forested as is commonly supposed
| These grazing acres were reserved for
grazing purposes and are being SO
used. But part Of these remain that
are not now being grazed. Would it
not be reasonable to make full use of
this land before even considering the
national parks for grazing?
"a national park is an area that has
been so created by Congress because
it possesses unusual scenic attractions
or features of scientific interest. The
purpose of u national park is recrea
ton, education, enjoyment, and the
general welfare of the men, women
and children Of the land. To Craze
national parks would prevent the use
for which they were created and would
ruin their scenic resources. The grand
total area of the national parks is
small The total grazing area in
national parks is exceedingly limited.
and if all this grazing area were used
it would produce only small per
cent of the wool and mutton needed.
EARLY last summer there was some
doubt in the minds of the people as to
whether or not the national parks
would be open on account of the war.
Secretary Franklin X. Lane emphati-
cally announced that they would be
open as usual, and said, 1T is even
more important now than in times OF
peace that the health and vitality of
the Nations citizenship be conserved,
Rest and recreation must materially
assist in this conservation of human
tissue and energy, and the national
parks offer opportunity for just this
thing During this same summer, the
busy war year of 1917, five hundred
thousand people found much needed
rest and were inspired to greater
patriotism by visiting these matchless
wonderlands.
ut would be national calamity if
the warning enemy could destroy the
natural beauty of the United States.
Grazing cattle and sheep in our ma
tional parks is a distinct step in this
direction"
-W.SS.-