The Tomahawk., 1919-08-28

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, railr0nd. or auto
mobile association, which will give each inquiry
the kind of attention 1t needs
The association has prepared an elaborate plan
of pOpularzing natural science through universities
and schools. public libraries, writer's and lecturers
and artists, and motion picture activities A fea-
ture of its work will be the assembling of material
by intensively studying the parks, through COM
mittees, separately and 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 a working photograph. 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 public-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 organiza'
tions state park organizations, scientific institu-
tions the national government, public-spirted or
ranizations Of all sorts, automobile and highway
associations business organizations, like railroads.
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 500
year. It 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 one to Rocky Mountain National park
this summer and Columbia will send one next
wear. Columbia has also included lecture course
on the meaning Of scenery in this seasons sum-
mer school A prominent studio has arranged
film stories to show how glaciers work on Mount
Rainier how the Grand canyon was cut how
water carved the Yosemite valley, etc.
well handled the National Parks association.
with q large membership, may do q great work;
II has a large neld and great opportunity. It
may even succeed in forcing congress to adopt
a consistent park policy. About 100000 people
now visit the national parks every year and the
increase promises to be very large. There II.
therefore. q body Of national parks enthusiasts
numbering several millions.
While the association II organized on q nonpo-
litical basis, It viii presumably have to 90 into
politics to accomplish tts ends since the agricul-
tural department is wBging q 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 and the national parks
service Also In its plans to increase the national
parks system It will encounter both the open and
secret opposition Of the forest service the bigxest
and smoothest running political machine iu tAo
United 0tateA