Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1919-08-28

IN, r, Is moi 4 scenic national park worthy Of the
mime between Rocky Mountain n Colorado and
Lafayette On the coa~t Of Maine.
So Indiana. Illinois and Michigan want ma
tlona park aud they have picked cut the dunes ~
the right place for 1t.
How they are going "a bring about liz establish
mcnt d big question. The proposed park area
all under private ownership and Is held AZ spec
ulatNe prices on the chance of second n"lS
being built AZ the head of Lake Mich gan Even
~ actual values il would cost about N's"VVVV 20
buy the 1900 acres most desirable for park pur-
poses. The scenic parks of the West Mere taken
from the national forests and the public domain
by congress To date there is no precedent Tor
the appropriation by congress OF funds 10 purchase
national park area. Lafayette was presented TO
the government for national park purposes by the
owners Of the property.
Congress has no national park policy. II Oily
dallles with national parks us II does win most
other things. Ii is now generous Win approprIa'
lions and nEaln niggarly; for instance, II gave
Yellowstone $}34 900 and Yosemite S23oooo IN
1919 ard kept Rocky Mountain. with twice as
many visitors rs both parks down To Slo'oV'
Politics enters largely into all national park legls-
latlou IN the SiNtyfourth congress the interior
dapartmrnt supported the bill Ia enlarge Yellow
stone ana the bin 10 add TO ScquoH ana change
lis name 10 Roosevelt. The agricultural depart
ment because the proposed additions would pe
control opposed both bills. beating the former in
the senate and the latter In the house So there
,s no telling what congress will or will not do in
the mnitcr Of national park legislation
can congress be induced Ia appropriate money
for the purchase Of private holdings Tor nailohai
park purposes
This question has been put squarcly M 10 con
rress hy two bills introduced NJ THIS session one
cnlls for the appropriation " a million dollars or
ff. I <.tffff.
and rs environs for national park. The other
,.rovi,.s for thc establishment Of the Mississippi
valley National park on both sides of the Missls
ytn,i "a southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern
ro,.o Here the two states own the land under
-. river the federal government controls IFS
noviration pnrt Of the proposed area Is Wiscon
IL, ,,t, pnrA some Of the land Will be donated
and the land to be purchased by the government
has been appraised at a very moderate price
,,on congress condemn private holdings for ma
tionnl park purposes!
>,,lt, seems 10 know Most lawyers would
..,,. ~ hupd That the state Of lndnna can CON
,.,,n thc dunes for state pnrk purposes Ana
.,,,,oll, The state Of Indiana could transfer the
-, q. ,b, fcdernl governments The national park
,i,e has hccn looking into the question Of con
I,,nu,tiun II Is advised that the government can
,ic,nu private holdings inside ~ national PARK
.-tn fact bill is pending TO condemn
q, -" .rr.s IN General Grant National park which
o,,rer will not sell for II reasonable Price As
~ ~. condemnation Of patented land outside of
,a,ional park the national park service Is vet
",dccIdcd. Condemnation of the dunes has been
'a,od by private individuals and by the press.
,,,, cr,ntion Of Lafayette National park has
.,ahlishcd this precedent The federal govern
mcpt viii arcept suitable land presented I" !. lor
,ot,onnl pnrk purposes So WINE o'"r, pu,s''o"S
h"'' -, tbrashed out the Indiana, Illinois ana
MY ','.,,on decorations of the General FederaUon
,,'.,ons Clubs are engaged in Il campaign 10
OF ',,,,cient money by subscription to purchase
,s" dunes and present them to the government lot
n national park