The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-10-04

th.r. ,s MT a scenic national park worthy of the
name between Rocky Mountain n colorado ana
Lafayette on the coast OF Maine
So Indiana Illinois and Michigan want 10
Eonal park, and they have plcRed oui 'he uun's %
Me right place for it.
How they are going to bring about Its estaoiisn-
ment is big question. The proposed park area
Is all under private ownership and is heid al spe
ulative prices the chance OF secoho uai1
being built at the head of Lake Michigan. kVeh
at actual values it would cost about $2'oOoOOO 70
buy the 1900 acres most desirable for PARK pur-
ooses The scenic parks of the West were taken
from the national forests and the pubic DOMAIN
by congress. To date there is no precedent TOT
the appropriation by congress OF funds TO purchase
q national park area Lafayette was presented 10
the government for national park purposes Oy tue
owners of the property.
Congress has national park policy. II Oily
dallies with national parks as 1t does with most
other things. 1t is now generous with apprOprla-
tionS and again niggardly; for instance. 1t gave
Yellowstone 1894 600 and Yosemite $255,OOO IN
1913 and kept Rocky Mountain. with twice as
many visitors as both parks, down to $lO'oOV.
Politics enters largely into all national park legis
lation In the Sxty-fourth congress the interior
department supported the bill to enlarge Yellow
stone and the bill to add to Sequoia and change
its name to Roosevelt. The agricultural depart
ment because the proposed additions would be
taken from national forests and therefore from its
CONTROL opposed both bills, beating the former in
the senate and the latter in the house. So there
is no telling what congress will or will not do In
the matter of national park legislation.
Can congress be induced to appropriate money
for the purchase of private holdings for national
park purposes?
This question has been put squarely up to con-
gress by two bills introduced at this session. One
calls for the appropriation of million dollars or
80 for the purchase of Mammoth cave, Kentucky,
nofic Thor
provides for the establishment Of the Mississippi
Valley National park on both sides of the Missis-
sppi In southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern
Iowa Here the two states own the land under
he river the federal government controls its
avigation part of the proposed area is Wiscon-
in state park. some of the land will be donated
nd the land to be purchased by the government
,os been appraised at a very moderate price.
Can congress condemn private holdings for ma
'onal park purposes?
Nobody seems to know. Most lawyers would
ray off-hand that the state Of Indiana con-
Ienln the dunes for state park purposes. And
presumably the state of Indiana could transfer the
and to the federal government. The national park
ervice has been looking into the question of con-
demnation. 1t is advised that the government can
condemn private holdings inside of national park
boundaries-in fact, bill is pending to condemn
100 acres in General Grant National park which
the owner will not sell for reasonable price. As
to the condemnation OF patented land outside of
4 national park the national park service is yet
undecided Condemnation of the dunes has been
advocated by private individuals and by the press.
The creation of Lafayette National park has
established this precedent: The federal govern
ment will accept suitable land presented to it for
national park purposes. So, while other questions
arc. being thrashed out, the indiana. Illinois and
MICHIGAN declarations Of the General Federation
~ Women's Clubs are engaged in campaign to
valse sufficient money by subscription to purchase
rhe dunes and present them to the government for
1 national park.