Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-08-21

tonal parks and popular science; keep members
informed concerning new books on American
travel, exploration archaeological research, plant
and animal life, and the meaning of scenery refer
travel and route inquiries from members to that
governmental or other agency, railroad, auto
mobile association, which win give each inquiry
the kind of attention it needs.
The association has prepared elaborate plan
of popularizmg natural science through universities
and schools. public libraries, writer's and lecturers
and artists, and motion picture activities. fea-
ture of It's work will be the assembling of material
by intensively studying the parks, through com
mittees, separately and a system, especially
their history, nomenclature folklore. geology
fauna and flora; by collecting this material in
ready reference shape as the basis of practical
library by compiling working photograph. by
park aud subject of material Of every sort avail
able especially in the library of congress and the
scientific libraries of the government departments
The association will establish volunteer working
committees Of scientists professors, students and
other publicSpirited members, and win utilize us
far as possible the machinery already established
and in operation by university and school organi-
cations. sta. ana county educational organiza-
tions, state park organizations scientific institu
tious the national government, public-spirited or
carnations of an sorts, automobile and highway
associations, business organizations like railroads.
automobile manufacturers and national parks con-
cessionerS whose business will be helped by the
work Of the National Parks association.
The executive committee is assured of one sub
scription of $1,000; it is planned TO secure five
year pledges amounting to a minimum Of $4,000 a
year. 1t also expects ut least 5000 members at
81 a year
The association already reports results. The
University oe the City of New York has prepared
sets Of national parks lantern slides. The Uni
versity Of Minnesota has been sending study
classes to the national parks for two years; Chi
cugo sends one to Rocky Mountain National park
this summer and Columbia win send one next
year Columbia has also included "A lecture course
on the meaning OF scenery IN this seasons sum
mer school A prominent studio has arranged
film stories 10 show how glaciers work on Mount
Rainier how the Grand canyon was cut how
water carved the Yosemite valley etc.
If well handled, the National Parks association.
with a large membership. may do "a great work
il has a large field and great opportunity. II
may even succeed in forcing congress 10 adopt
consistent park policy, About 100000 people
now visit the national parks every year and the
increase promises 10 be very large. There is.
therefore, body Of national parks enthusiasts
numbering several millions.
While the association is organized on a nonpo-
litical basis. it will presumably have To go into
tural department is vaging d campaign to secure
the control Of the national parks from the interior
department and IS setting up the national forests
and the forest service as scenic and recreation
rivals Of the national parks aad the national parks
service ASo in Its plans 90 increase the national
parSs system t viii encounter both the open and
secret opposition Of the forest service. the biggest
aud smoothe- running political machine in the
United States,