The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-06-12

CURED by the federal government. If the forest
service does oppose its establishment, national
park leaders say, it viii be because it opposes all
national park legislation. Again the reason for
this general opposition is plain. The agricultural
department is waging public campaign to get the
control Of the national parks away from the in
terror department and hence is endeavoring to dis
credit the rival department in every way
The forest service was created i'm 1909 Tn take
charge of the national forests which were then
set aside for strictly industrial and commercial
purposes-scfentiic forestry, numbering and graz
lng-and transferred from the interior department
TO the agricultural department Now the forest
service Is developing the recreatonaI possibilities
OIL the national forests and wants to get back na-
uohaI PARK areas which have been taken from ma
hona1 forests by act of congress-
In view of President Merrfcks declaration thar
the Mississippi valley controls % per cent of the
men in congress, the progress of the park bill in
congress will be well worth watching
Middle West Has No Park
The progress of the bill will be well worth
watching for another reason The establishment of
this park involves question of congressional mol
icy for which there is precedent This is IN
doubleday the reason why no action whatever was
taken by the last congress on bill for its estab-
fshment- The question is this: Hitherto congress
has established national parks out of the public
domain; it has never voted an appropriation for
the purchase OF pr1Vately-OWned property for ma
tiOnaI park purposes. Will it make a new depar-
ture in the case Of this national park?
About 2OOOO,O0O people within nights ride
by rail OF the park site Thus the location of the
park is a 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 a 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 tourist travel to the national
parks is now by private automobile The park site
is convenient to the tran sentimental motorist
he 10 he
northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin 1t
totals about $4,000 acres, land and water The
river 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 1871 acres has been
appraised at $50, 755 Another tract on the Wiscon
sin side contains 45S acres and has been an
praised at $141,042. A third tract is a Wisconsin,
state park OF 1851 acres; there is a reasonable
prospect that the legislature would turn this over
125 Iowa acres which form the scenic keystone of
the park. offers to donats this land, appraised at
$4,000. Thus the federal government is asked to
appropriate sob, 1873 for the purchase of abont
1000 acres out of 5000 acres.
This area may be truthfulIy said to have scenic
historic and educational features Of national i'm,
portance. Careful private ownership has protec+e5
the heavy forests. which still practically prf
mevaI. The hills rise abruptly from the river IN
about 500 feet The view from Pixies Peak and
the nearby Pictured Rocks, have more than a local
reputation. The broad sweep of the river is mao
nificent and there attractive islands There
are deep ravines and valleys containing springs
lakes and streams. Many bayous. home OF the wa
ter lilies meaHder from the river.
Indian mounds many In the park site There
is, for example, system of them half mile long