The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-06-06

ouirad by the federal government IL the forest
service does oppose its establishment, natiOnai
park leaders say it will be because 1t opposes al
national park legislation Again the reason Tor
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 endeayorng to dis
credit the rival department in every way.
The forest service was created in 1905 to take
charge of the national forests, which were. then
set aside for strictly Industrial and commercial
purposes-scentiic forestry, numbering and graz
ing-and transferred from the interior department
to the agricultural department Now the forest
service Is developing the recreGt0nai possibilities
of the national forests and wants to get back an
tional park areas which have been taken from ma
fional forests by act of congress.
In view of President Merrick's declaration that
the Mississippi valley controls 50 per cent OF the
men in congress- the progress OF the park bin q
congress will be well worth watching
Middle West Has No Park
The progress Of the bill win be well worth
watching for another reason The establishment Of
this park involves question of congressional pol
icy for which there is no precedent This is un-
doubtedly the reason why no action whatever was
taken by the last congress bill for its estab-
Iishment The question is this: Hitherto congress
has established national parks out OF the publke
domain It has never voted an appropriation for
the purchase OF privately 0wned property for ma
tional park purposes VIII it make new depar-
ture in the case of this national park?
About 2OOOO0OO people are within a nights ride
BY rail of the park site Thus the location Of the
park is feature of decided interest. There - M
scenic national park worthy OF the name between
Rocky Mountain in Colorado and Lafayette ia
Maine Yet this proposed park lies In the center
Of d 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 tours travel to the national
parks Is now By private automobile. The park site
Is convenient to the transcontinental motorist
The selected area HES along the Mississippi I'm
northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin, IL
totals about 1900 acres. land and water. The
river area Is about 1000 acres the two states cwn
The land under the river; the federal governments
controls its navigation.
one tract Of land in Iowa OF 1911 acres has been
appraised at $50 1856 Another tract On the WIscon-
sin side contains 7458 acres and has been ap-
praised at S14I,042. A third tract is d Wisconsin,
state park Of 1851 acres; there Is reasonable
prospect that the legislature would turn this over
Mrs. Martha b. Mum OF New York, who OWES the
los Iowa acres which form the scenic Keystone Of
the park Offers TO donate this land appraised pf
S125Oo Thus the federal government IS asked 60
appropriate s22S 1878 for the purchase Of abosf
1900 acres out OF 1900 acres
This area may be truthfully said to have scenic.
historic and educational features OF national Inn.
nortance Careful private ownership has protected
the heavy forests. which are still practically mi.
mevai. The hills rise abrupt from the river "a
about 500 feet Tie view from Pixies Peak, and
he nearby Pictured Rocks have more, than local
reputaton The broad sweep Of the river II mag.
niicent and there are attractive islands. Therr
are deep rayines and valleys continuing springs
aa,es and streams. Many hayous. home OF tie wm
Ter lilies. meander from the river.