The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-05-28
PARK RESERVOIR
BITTERLY FOUGHT
Eastern Conservation
istsOppose Storage
in Yellowstone

1
! faddists and conservationists appear
ed Tuesday before the house rules
committee in opposition to Represen-
tative Addison T. Smiths bill to per-
NIT the building of storage reser-
voir in the southwest corner of yell
lowstone park to provide ample wa
ter for 10000 settlers in Snake riv-
er valley, Idaho. Not one of the
thirty had ever visited that part of
of the park where the reservoir is
proposed to be built; many of them
had never been west, but one and all
they objected to ''desecrating" ma
tional playground and to CONNER
cializing a pleasure ground belong
ling to all the people"
The rules committee decided to
hold another hearing later at which
western congressman favoring the
bill may be heard in opposition to
the faddists. Representative Smith
was given half an hour to reply to
various criticisms. Director Stephen
T. Mather of the national park SER
vice, who recently reported to con-
gress .favoring the passage of the
bill, reversed himself and now OPP
poses it. He presented letter OPP
posing the bill from the new secre-
tary of the interior.
Representative Smith then pre-
sented strong letters from former
Secretary Franklin X. Lane and from
Director A. P. Davis of the reclama-
ton service advocating the passage
of the bill.
Davis, of all the witnesses on eth
er side, is the only man who has
personally visited the Fall river sec
ton of Yellowstone park.
Representative Mondell, Republi-
can floor leader during the hearing,
held whispered conversations with
various committee members, urging
them to act adversely on the bill,
but when urged by Representative
Smith to state openly the grounds
for his objection, refused to say any
thing for the record.
Several members of the rules COM
mittee gave indication of an inten-
tention to oppose the bill and the
chances for its passage this session
seemed remote, but the Utah con-
gressmen, Chairman Sinnott of the
public lands committee and several
other western members intend to ap-
pear later to urge that favorable &C
ton be taken. They will insist on
legislation of practical benefit as
against sitting of legislation to salts
fy misinformed sentimentalists.
During the hearing former Forest
Or Graves suggested that the Fall
liver swamp section be eliminated
rom Yellowstone park and be added q
% the Targhee national forest, say
ng If this is done the forest SER
vices will quickly sanction the build a
ng up this assurance. Representa-
i've Mondell objected to elimination
If the area from the park.
As an illustration of eastern OBJ Q
ection to the Smith bill one eastern | /
scientist who had never yet been to
he Yellowstone objected to the res !,
srvoir because it would obliterate |,
he swamps. Some day, he said, he
wanted to visit those swamps to n
tudy the bugs that invest the h
wampy areas. Asked if the count =
ess swampss in other localities
would not furnish ample subjects for y
lis studies he insisted the Yellow a
should not be ruined. q
lie might want to visit them any T
ime. !
Director Mather Of the park SER "
ice intimated that this Smith bill
but the first project for CONNER N
ializing Yellowstone park, and he
Iants careful investigation made
I other proposed projects before any II
ction Is taken. He talked of wide te
pread propaganda looking to the Of
Of the park but h,
mitted all details. Western con- "a
expect to be heard in ia h,
or of the bill later this week.
olf "a Tr;hnnn