The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-06-05

CURED by the federal government II the forest
service does oppose its establishment, national
park leaders say, II will be because 1t 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 created In 1905 to take
charge Of the national forests, which were then
set aside for strictly Industrial and commercial
purposes-scientifc forestry lur.bering and grnz-
ing-and transferred from the interior department
to the agricultural department. Now the forest
service Is developing the recreational possibilities
of the national forests and wants to get back ma
tional park areas which have been taken from na-
tional forests by act of congress-.
In view of President Merrck's declaration that
the Mississippi valley controls 50 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 a question of congressional pol
icy for which there is no precedent This Is
dOubtedly the reason why no action whatever was
taken by the last congress n bill for Its estab-
lishment. The question Is this Hitherto congress
has established national parks out of the public
domain; 1t has never voted an appropriation for
the purchase of privately owned property for ma
tional park purposes VIII 1t make a new depar-
ture in the case Of this national park?
About 2O.OOOOOO people within nights ride
by rnil Of the park site Thus the location of the
park Is 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 1t. 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
The selected area lies along the Mississippi in
northeastern Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin 1t
totals about 1900 acres, land md water. The
river area 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 1911 acres has been
appraised Mt $s2,755. Another tract on the Wscon-
sin side contains 7,45S acres and has been ap-
state park Of 1851 acres; there is a reasonable
prospect that the legislature would turn this over
Mrs. Martha Mum of New York. who owns the
125 Iowa acres which form the scenic keystone of
the park, offers to donate this land appraised at
S12,5OO Thus the federal government Is asked to
appropriate $223 797.53 for the purchase OF about
5000 acres out OF $4,000 acres
This area may be truthfully said to have scenic
historic and educational features of national Inn
portance. Careful private ownership has protected
the heavy forests. which still practically prt
meval. The hills rise abruptly from the river to
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 mag
nifcent and there are attractive islands. There
are deep ravines and valleys containing spring.
lakes and streams Many bayous. home of the wa
ter lilies, meander from the river.
Indian mounds many In the park site There
Is. for example. system Of them half a mile long