The Elbert County tribune., 1919-08-22

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
trnyel and route Inquiries from members to that
governmental or other agency. railroad. or auto
mobile association. which will give each inquiry
the kind of attention 1t needs.
The association has prepared an elaborate Elan
OF popuarizing natural science through universities
ana schools, public libraries. writer's and lecturers
and artists, and motion picture activities. fea-
ture of its work will be the assembling of material
by intensivey studying the parks through COM
mittees, separately and as system, especially
their history, nomenclature, folklore, geology.
fauna and flora; by collecting this material in
ready reference shape the basis Of practical
library; by compiling a working bbograph. by
park and 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 pubc-spirited members and will utilize, as
far as possible, the machinery already established
and in operation by university and school organi-
cations. state and county educational organza-
tons, state park organizations, scientific insttu-
tons, the national government. public-sprited or
ganizatons of all Sorts automobile and highway
associations. business organizations, like railroads,
automobile manufacturers and national parks con-
cessoners, 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; 1t is planned to secure five
year pledges amounting to minimum of $4,000
year. 1t also expects at least 5000 members at
So year
The association already reports results. The
University of 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
cago sends to Rocky Mountain National park
this summer and Columbia will send one next
Coumbin also included n
on the meaning of scenery in this seasons sum-
film stories to 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 u large membership, may do a great work :;
it has large field and great opportunity 1t
may even succeed in forcing congress to adopt
n consistent park policy. About 100000 people
now visit the national parks every year and the
increase promises to be very large. There is
therefore, body of national parks enthusiasts
numbering several millions.
, While the association is organized on n nonpo-
litcal basis 1t will presumably have to go into
politics accomplish its ends since the agricul-
tural department is waging n campaign to secure
the control of the national parks from the interior
department and is setting up the national forests
and he forest service as scenic and recreation
rivals of the national parks and the national parks
service. Also, in its plans to increase the national
parks system 1t will encounter both the omen and
secret opposition of the forest service the hpge.t
and smoothest running political machine in the
United States.