The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1919-07-17
Old UzZNGRAYT UeAN

quired by the federal government If the forest
service does oppose its establishment, national
park leaders say, it Will be because It opposes all
national park legislation. Again the reason for
this general opposition is plain. The agricultural
department is waging a public campaign to get the
control of the national parks away from the in
terror department and hence IS endeavoring 10 dis
credit the rival department in every way.
The forest service created in 1905 TO take
charge of the national forests, which were then
set aside for strictly Industrial and commercial
purposes-seientte forestry numbering and graz.
inS-and transferred from the interior department
10 the agricultural department. Now the forest
service is developing the recreational possibilities
Of the national forests and wants to get back ma
tional park areas which have been taken from ma
uonal forests by act of congress.
In view of President Merrick's declaration that
the Mississippi valley controls 81 per cent of the
men in congress- the progress of the park bill in
congress will be We'll worth watching.
Middle West Has No Park
The progress of the bin will be well worth
watching for another reason The estabishmentsof
this park involves question of congressional pol
icy for which there is no precedent This is un-
doubtediy the reason why no action whatever was
taken by the last congress bill for its estab-
lishment. The question is this: Hitherto congress
has established national parks out of the public
domain; it has never voted appropriation for
the purchase Of privately-owned property for ma
ture in the of this national park?
About 20.oOo,oo0 people are within nights ride
by rail of the park site. Thus the location of the
park is 4 feature of decided interest There Is no
scenic national park worthy of the name between
Rocky Mountain in Colorado and Lafayette in
Maine. Yet this proposed park lies in the center
of circle trimmed by Chicago, Milwaukee, St
Paul Minneapolis, Kansas City Omaha and St
Louis Several railroads touch it. River trans
portation is available.
The bulk of the touINns tvavel to the national
parks is now by private automobile The park site
is convenient to the tranSeontlnental motorist
The selected lies along the Mississippi in
northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. 1t
totals about 1000 acres, land and water The
river area is about 1000 acres; the two states own
the land under the river; the federal government
controls its navigation.
one tract of land in Iowa of 1,6Il acres has been
appraised at $50, 755 Another tract the Wiscon-
sin side contains 1853 and has been mp
praised ut $141, 042. a third tract is Wisconsin
state park OF 651 acres; there is a reasonable
prospect that the legislature would turn this over
Mrs Martha Mum of New York who owns the
1o5 Iowa acres which form the scenic keystone of
the park offers donate this land, appraised at
SO 700 Thus the federal government Is asked to
onnropriate S223 1853 for the purchase of about
5000 acres out of 10000 acres.
This area may be truthfully said to have scenic
b,storic and educational features of national i'm
portance Careful private ownership has protected
Tho heoyy forests. which still practically prl.
noeyal The hills rise abruptly from the river to
ohout 700 feet The view from Pixies Peak and
tho nearby Pictured Rocks, have more than a local
renutaton The broad sweep of the river is mag
tfcant and there are attractive islands. There
are deep ravines and valleys containing springs
lakes and streams Many bayous home of the wa
tor lilies meander from the river.
indian mounds are many in the park site. There
10 for example 4 system of them half mile long