The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-07-12

CURED by the federal government If the forest
serice does oppose its establishment. national
pax leaders say, 1t will be because it opposes all
Maternal park legislation. Again the reason for
this general opposition is plain. The agricultural
department is wagng public campaign to get the
conrol Of the national parks away from the In
terbr department and hence Is endeavOring to dis
credit the rival department in every way.
he forest service was created In 1905 to take
charge Of the national forests which were then
set aside for strictly Industrial and commercial
purposes scientific forestry, numbering and graz
ing-and transferred from the interior department
to he agricultural department. Now the forest
sertce Is developing the recreational possibilities
Of be national forests and wants to get back
toni park areas which have been taken from ma
toni forests by act of congress-
In view of President Merrick's declaration that
the Mississippi valley controls 80 per cent of the
menin congress, the progress of the park bill in
congress will be well worth watching.
Middle West Has No Park.
Tie progress of the bill will be we'll worth
Waiting for another reason: The establishment of
thspark involves question of congressional pol
icy or which there is no precedent This Is IN
doukedly the reason why no action whatever was
tak0 by the last congress on bill for It's estab-
lishaent. The question is this Hitherto congress
hasestablished national parks out Of the public
donain; It has never voted an appropriation for
the burchnse Of privatelyowned property for ma
tioul park purposes. VIII 1t make new depar-
tursin the case Of this national park?
Abut 100000 people are within q nights ride
By MI Of the park site Thus the location Of the
parlis feature of decided interest. There Is no
seem national park worthy of the name between
Rock Mountain in Colorado and Lafayette In
+ Main Yet this proposed park lies in the center
Of acircie trimmed by Chicago, Milwaukee, St
Paul Minneapolis Kansas City, Omaha and St
Lout Several railroads touch it River trans
portion is available.
Tn bulk OF the tourist travel to the national
parkais now by private automobile. The park site
is coEenient to the tran sentimental motorist.
Til selected area lies along the Mississippi in
northastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. 1t
totals about 1900 acres Land and water. The
rivenrea is about 1000 acres; the two states own
the Ind under the river; the federal government
cont5ls its navigation.
or tract of land in Iowa Of 1,67l acres has been
apprised at $50 755. Another tract on the Wiscon-
sin tde contains 1853 acres and has been ap-
praitd at $141,O 42. A third tract is Wisconsin
statspark Of 1861 acres; there is a reasonable
prosect that the legislature would turn this over
MrssIartha Mum Of New York, who owns the
125 Iva acres which form the scenic keystone Of
the hrk, offers to donate this land, appraised at
$125O. thus the federal government is asked to
apprbriate $223. SO for the purchase of about
e,OOacres out Of $4,000 acres
TIA area NAV be truthfully said to have scenic
hlstosc and educational features Of national i'm
portace. Careful private ownership has projected
the hwy forests which are still practically pri.
meya The hills rise abruptly from the river to
about5OO feet The view from Pixies Peak, and
TIE uarby Pictured Rocks, have more than local
repution. The broad sweep Of the river Is mag.
niacM and there are attractive islands There
are len ravines and valleys containing springs,
Lakeland streams. Many bayous. home Of tie wa
! for lGp1 uepander from the river IN -
In6n mounds are many 20 the, PARK site. There
Is, Mexamp,e. SysteMl ~ them bali mile long