The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-08-21

tionnl park movement Is the
iivest cause which is not primarily cause grow
ing out of the great war. Our entrance into war
In i917 caused temporary pOstpOnement OF the
plans then well under way for the organization OF
fhis association. In Its place the National Parks
Educational committee formed to hold the
ground alrendy gained and to Orgl nize the nsso-
citation ut a propitIous time. The committee has
done Its work md the National Parks association
u now doing business. with headquarters in the
Onion Trust building Washington. d. q.
The purpose of the association is splenddly
patriotic Wholly Independent OF the federal gov
ernment. 1t will closely cooperate with the ma
tonai park service, the new bureau of the depart
'pent Of the interior established by congress to
administer the national parks
II IL nOnpolitical and one of its purposes II to
keep politics out OF the national parks.
stands tor the outdoor life. for recreation amid
scenic beauty; for "See America First :" for the
development of the national parks great
economic assets of the nation; for keeping bill
Hons OF American dollars ut home-before the
war something like $500. 100000 year was spent
by American tourists abroad in Sightseeing Of
which Switzerland alone got more than 5000
900.
Yet notwithstanding these many activities the
main purpose of the association is educational 1t
says to the people of the nation who to
these public Fairgrounds:
do you know that our national parks
lures great laboratories and museums-that the
splendid spectaces which national parks
present not only wonders not merely
scenery but also the conspicuous exhibits of q
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
spectncles by comprehending their meaning and
that intelligent study of them will Introduce
you to n new ana wonderful world7 Let us know
America. and let us really know 1t. Let know
its natural well as Its national history. Let
dIfferentiate md distinguish and appreciate.
Then only shall know"
The purposes of the National Parks association
mny therefore be concsey summed up thus:
To interpret the natural sciences which are Illus
trated In the scenic features. fiorn and faunn 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 national
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-
traordinary that they shall make the name
tlonal park American trademark in the compe-
titton for the worlds travel; and the development
Of the national monuments Into system illustra-
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. organizat ions
scboo,s universities. and Institutions in the
Of the national parks and monuments
The National Parks Educational committee con-
s,sted of 25 members. Charles d. Walcott. secre-
tary Of the Smithsonian institution. was chairman
The vice chairman was william Kent, former
congressman from California and the donor OF
Nuir Woods National monument to 'he nation
Hensy B. F. Mcfarland of Washington was chair