The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-06-06

quired by the federal government If the forest
service does oppose its establishment, national
park leaders say, it will be because it opposes all
national park legislation. Again the reason for
this general opposition is plain The agricultural
department is waging public campaign to get the
control OF the national parks away from the in
terror department and hence is endeavring dis
credit the rival department in every way
The forest service created 1905 to take
charge of the national forests, which were then
set aside for strictly industrial and commercial
purposes-scientifc forestry numbering and graz
fng-and transferred from the Interior department
TO the agricultural department Now the forest
service is developing the recreatonal possibilities
of the national forests and wants to get back ma
tional park areas which have been taken from ma
tional forests by act of congress.
In view of President Merrfcks declaration that
the Mississippi valley controls 81 per cent of the
men in congress. the progress of the park bill in
congress will be well worth watching.
Middle West Has No Park.
The progress of the bill VIII be we'll worth
watching for another reason: The establishment of
this park involves question OF congressional pol
icy for which there is no precedent This Is I'M
doubtedly the reason why no action whatever was
taken by the last congress on q bill for its estab-
lshment. The question is this Hitherto congress
has established national parks of the public
domain; it has never voted appropriation for
the purchase of privately owned property for ma
tional park purposes VIII it make a new depar-
ture in the case of this national park?
About 2O,0OOOO0 people within a nights ride
by rail of the park Site Thus the location of the
park is feature of decided interest. There is no
scenic national park worthy of the name between
Rocky Mountain in Colorado and Lafayette in
Maine. Yet this proposed park lies in the center
of circle trimmed by Chicago, Milwaukee, St
Paul, Minneapolis Kansas City, Omaha and ST.
Louis. Several railroads touch It. River trans
portation is available
The bulk of the tourist travel to the national
parks is now by private automobile The park site
Is convenient to the tran sentimental motorist
Tha los tbo
northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. It
totals about $4,000 acres, Land and water The
river area is about 1000 acres the two states own
the land under the river; the federal government
controls its navigation.
One tract of land in Iowa of gu acres has bean
appraised at 49, 755- Another tract on the Wilson,
sin side contains 7,458 and has been an
praised at $141,O42 third tract is q Wisconsin
state park OF 1851 acres there Is q reasonable
prospect that the legislature would turn this over
Mrs. Martha B Mum of New York, who owns the
125 Iowa acres which form the scenic keystone NJ
the park. offers to donate this land appraised at
S12500. Thus the federal government is asked to
appropriate s223. 1878 for the purchase of about
5000 acres out of $4,000 acres
This may be truthfully said to have scenic
historic and educational features of national i'm,
portanca. Careful private ownership has protected
the heavy forests. which still practically nr,
meva1. The hills rise abruptly from the river to
about 500 feet. The view from Pixies Peak and
the nearby Pictured Rocks, have more than local
reputation The broad sweep of the river is mag.
nificent and there are attractive islands, There
are deep ravnes and valleys containing snrnps
lakes and streams. Many bayous. home of the wa
ter lilies, meander from the river.
Indian mounds many in the park site There
is. for example system of them half mile long