The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-08-29

there Il not q scenic national park worthy of the
asame between Rocky Mountain n Colorado ana
LAFAYETTE on the coast Of Maine.
SO Indiana Illinois and Michigan want na-
tional park and they have picked out the dunes as
the right place for it.
How they are going to bring about it, esfaphsl-
ment is q big question. The proposed park area
is all under private ownership and Is held at spec
nIatlye prices the chance OF second gary
being built at the head of Lake Michigan Even
at actual values it would cost about $2,5OOOOO 70
buy the 1900 acres most desirable for PARK pur
poses. The scenic parks of the West were taken
from the national forests and the public domain
BY congress. To date there is no precedent Tor
the appropriation by congress of funds TO purchase
national park area. Lafayette was presented to
the government for national park purposes by the
owners Of the property.
Congress has no national park policy. 1t diily-
dailies with national parks 1t does with most
other things. It is now generous with appropria-
tons and again niggardly; for instance, 1t gave
Yellowstone $3S4000 and Yosemite S255,OO0 In
1919 and kept Rocky Mountain. with twice as
niany visitors as both parks. down to $lo,OOo
Politics enters largely into all national park legis
sgaki0n In the Sixty-f0urth congress the interior
stone and the bill to add to Sequoia and change
Its name TO Roosevelt The agricultural depart
1nent 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 viii 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 purp0ses7
This question has been put squarely up to con-
gFess by two bills introduced ct this session. One
calls for the appropriation Of million dollars or
80 for the purchase Of Mammoth cave, Kentucky
and Its environs for national park The other
provides for the establishment OF the Mississippi
Wlley National park both sides Of The Missis-
kinpi IN southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern
Iowa Here the two states own the land under
the river. the federal government controls Its
navigation. part Of the proposed aren Is Wiscon-
sin state park, some Of the land will be donated
and the land to be purchased by the government
hae heen appraised at very moderate price.
Ean congress condemn private holdings for ma
ffonaI park purposes7
Nobody seems TO know. Most lawyers would
say oashand that the state OF Indiana can con-
denim the dunes for state park purposes. And
presumably the state Of Indiana could transfer the
ln1d 70 The federal government. The national park
service has been looking into the question Of con-
tieinnation 4 y advised that the government can
eondefnn private holdings inside Of national park
z,eundaries-in fact. BIN is pending to condemn
100 acres n General Grant National park which
me owner VIII not SELF for q reasonable price Az
% the condemnation Of patented land outside Of
national park the national park service ii Wi
an.leeided. Condemnation Of the dunes has been
advocated nv private individuals and By the press
The creation 81 Lafayette National mark has
established this precedent: The federal govern
scsi} win rcgept suitable land presented To II III
n4iion6l park purposes So. while other Questions
kxf h&inS {kfoshNa oak. the indlAna Illinois and
z[.<Hi*af f<dffHfNns 81 fhe General Federation
81 84z61Hs sH< afe snxsEe4 ii n..znnaian ia