Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-06

What are our national parks for--to
he enjoyed by people or to be despoIled
by cattle and sheep?
The invasion of the enemy" lis an
expression that need not be limited to
war usage II exactly fits a condition
of internal affairs here in the United
States that is far removed from battle
fields and warning men. The territories
being invaded arc the national parks
II the invasion continues these regions
which belong to all the American people
will he monopolizcd by few individuals
Certain interests, individuals and col
lcctIve. arc constantly endeavoring to
use these parks for their own commercial
benefit. The friends of the people S
Fairgrounds have again and again
thwarted efforts that were being made
10 Use these wonderlands for stock pas
ture. Now there are people who are TAX
ing advantage of the present need for
increased food production, to secure per-
mission to grazc cattle and sheep in our
national parks
Last summer certain stock men seized
the opportunity offered BY the urgent
national need of food and undertook 10
get tho Federal government To permit
grazing IN parks. In California the friends
of parks acted quickly and saved most Of
Yosemite The stock men did succeed
IN getting possession of two comparatively
small areas Increased efforts arc being
made Ia pasture he parks IN 1918.
VIC all know that moro mutton> and
morc WOOL an needed and hat tho sheep
industry should br increased Grazing
grounds are essential. hut there Is ample
opportunity for grazing outside Of the
national parks
l'hr Department ot tguculturr saws,
Ghtr, remain pra ttcallv no lands IN the
public domain uup,~ervCd public lands
that are ht for any other USE than for
GRAZING ~ i've stock They should there
ior,' l'c used Tor that purpose Docs
il seem reasonable to grazC sheep IN the
national parks when there is government
land not IN Isc that IS fitted for that p,Ir-
pusc
Then there are the national forests,
covering an area Of approximately l75.-
Ol0 600 acres Of this, about tive-cighths
> claSsei as grazing land and is not for
cstci as Is commonly supposed These
grazing acres were reserved for grazing
purposes and arc hclng SO used But
part OF these remain that are not now
l.eing grazed Would II not be reasonable
10 make full uSf Of this land before even
opnSidcnng the national parks for grazing
wHArrsA NArToNAL1ARK2
A national park Is an area that has
becn 80 created bv Congress because II
Possesses unusual scenic attractions or
features of scientific interest The pur-
pose of national park Is recreation.
education enjoyment and the gen raj
welfare at the men. women and children
81 the land The statesmen who created
thcsc parks did - because They realized
that grazing or other commcrcIaiizatIon
would spoil thcm for use hv the people
10 graaC national parks would prevent
,hc use for hIch thcv were created and
would rum Their scenic resources. The
grand totsl arca ol tho national parks is
smal, The total grazing area IN national
park, l. exceedingly limited. and II all
rms grazing area were used u would pro
duo, onl, q small per cent Of the wool
and mutton needed.
LARGE AVAILABLE AREAS
By encouraging the grazing OF sheep IN
available sections east Of the Mississippi
River and m the extensive unused lands
IN the south. large increase IN sheep
production would result By making the
fullest use OF the public domain. utilizing
the national fOrcsts-which are mostly
grazing land, and increasing sheep pro-
durtIon east OF the Mississippi and in
the Stulthern states there will bc ample