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

tOnai parks and popular science: keep members
Informed concerning new books on American
travel exploration. archaeological research, plant
and animal life. and the meaning of scenery: refer
travel and route Inquiries from members to that
governmental or other agency railroad. or auto
mobile association. which will give each inquiry
the kind Of attention 1t needs
The association has prepared elaborate C,nn
OF popuar1zing natural science through universities
and schools. public libraries. writers and lecturers
and artists, and motion picture activities. A Yea
ture Of its work will be the assembling of material
by ntensvely studying the parks, through COM
mittees, separately and system, especially
their history. nomenclature. folklore. geology
fauna and flora; by collecting this material in
ready reference shape as the basis Of q practical
library; by compiling a working photograph. by
park and subject, of material Of every sort avail
able especially in the library Of congress and the
scientific libraries of the government departments
The association will establish volunteer working
committees OF scientists. professors students and
other publicspirited members, and will utilize,
far possible the machinery already established
and In operation by university and school organi-
cations, state and county educational Orgnniza-
lions, state park organizations. scientific nsttu-
lions. the national government philosophical or
ganizatOns of all sorts, automobile and highway
associations, business organizations. like railroads,
automobile manufacturers and national parks con-
cessioners whose business will be helped by the
work of the National Parks association.
The executive committee is assured of SUBJ
scription Of 5000; 1t Is planned to secure Ave-
year pledges amounting to a minimum of $4,000 a
year. 1t also expects at least 5000 members at
So year.
The association already reports results. The
University of the City of New York has prepared
sets of national parks lantern slides. The Uni
versity of Minnesota has been sending study
classes to the national parks for two years Chi
cago sends to Rocky Mountain National park
this summer and Columbia will send one next
Columbia has also included a lecture
on the meaning of scenery in this seasons sum-
film stories to show how glaciers work on Mount
Rainier, how the Grand canyon cut: how
water carved the Yosemite valley, etc.
II we'll handled. the National Parks association.
with a large membership. may do great work !;
1t has large field and great opportunity. 1t
may even succeed in forcing congress to adopt
a consistent park policy. About 100000 people
now visit the national parks every year and the
increase promises to be very large. There is.
therefore, a body of national parks enthusiasts
numbering several millions.
While the association is organized q nonpo-
lItical basis 1t will presumably have to go into
politics to accomplish its ends SINCE the agricul-
tural department IS waging campaign to secure
the control of the national parks from the intero
department and Is setting up the national forests
and :se forest service scenic and recreation
rivals of the national parks and the national parks
service. Also, in its plans to Increase the national
parks system 1t will encounter both the open and
secret opposition of the forest service. the biggest
and smoothest running political machine In the
United States