The Elbert County tribune., 1919-08-22


uonal park movement is the
lvest cause which Is not primarily grow
ing out of the great war Our entrance into war
in 1917 caused temporary postponemcnt of the
plans then well under way for the organization of
this association. In its place the National Parks
Educationnl committee formed to hold the
ground nready gained and to orga nize the
citation at propitious time. The committee has
done It's work and the National Parks association
ID now doing business, with headquarters In the
Union Trust building Washington, d. q.
The purpose of the association Is splendidly
patriotic Wholly Independent of the federal gov
ernhient, 1t will closely cooperate with the
fionni park SERVICE the new bureau of the depart
meni OF the interior established by congress to
administer the national parks.
II In nonpoliticnl and of its purposes is to
keep politics out of the national parks.
1t stands for the outdoor life, for recreation amid
scenic beauty; for "See Amercn First :" for the
development of the national parks as great
economic assets of the nation; for keeping bill
lions of American dollars at home-before the
war something like $500 100000 a year was spent
by American tourists abroad in sightseeing, of
which Switzerland alone got more than $500 OOO
600.
Yet Notwithstanding these many activities the
main purpose of the association is educational. 1t
says to the people of the nation who nre to use
these public Fairgrounds:
"Do you know that our national parks are na.
lures great laboratories and museums-that the
splendid spectacles which our national parks
present not only wonders not merely
seer cry but also the conspicuous exhibits of
passing stage in the eternal progress of creation
that they show us, upon mighty scale, the proc
esses by which she has been and is making Amer
ica-that you may double your pleasure In these
spectaces by comprehending their meaning and
that an intelligent study of them Will Introduce
you to new and wonderful world? Let us know
America and let us really know 1t. Let us know
its natural as well as its national history. Let us
dIfferentinte and distinguish and appreciate
Then only shall we know
The purposes of the National Parks association
may therefore be concisely summed up thus:
To interpret the natural sciences which are Illus
trated in the scenic features, fora and fauna of
the national parks and monuments, and circulate
popular information concerning them in text and
picture.
To encourage the popular study of the history.
exploration, tradition and folk lore of the nutiona
parks and monuments
To encourage art with national parks subjects
and the literature of national parks travel wild
life and wilderness living and the Interpretation
of scenery.
To encourage the extension of the national parks
system to represent by consistently great examples
the full range of American scenery. fora and
fauna. yet confined to areas of Significance so ex
traordnary that they shall make the name ma
tional park an American trademark In the compe-
tition for the worlds travel; and the development
of the national monuments into n system iliustra
tive of the range of prehistoric civilization early
exploration and history. land forms, American
forest type wild life, etc.
To enlist the personal services of individuals
and the cooperation of societies. organizations
schooIs universities, and institutions in the cause
of the national parks and monuments.
The National Parks Educational committee con-
sisted of 25 members Charles ID. Walcott secre-
terv of the Smithsonian institution, was chairman
The vice charmap was william Kent former
congressman from California and the donor of
Muir Woods National monument to the nation.
Henry B. f. Macfnrand of Washington chair.