The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-29
DEVELOPlC.PARK
BEAUTY BY Use
Reclamation w o u | d
Beautify Many Miles
of Swamp

by "The American Civic association
would not permit the use Of the
water resources contained within the
boundaries Of the National Parks.
for the storage of water to be let
down to the plains below for irriga-
ton, agricultural and domestic pur-
poses, nor for the development of
hydro-electric power to furnish light,
power and heat to the people Of
neighboring states.
The greatest beauty in the world
is the beauty Of use. With pro-
phetic vision, q poet wrote in 1866
AT evergawater-falls two angels stay
One clothed In rainbows, the other
vei1ed In spray.
The first the beauty Of the scene re-
veals, n
The last revolves the mighty
water wheels.
And there those white robed sisters
ever. stand, =
Utility and beauty, hand in hand"
It is possible in most instances to
Nevelop water powers without, MARI
ing the natural beauty OF nature. At
Niagara Falls some of the power
houses resemble Grecian temples Of
art and are surrounded by beautiful
parks. Thusthe conduits and power
machinery are hidden from view, and
when we enter the power houses and
gaze upon those mighty hydro
electric appliances and ponder upon
their diversified usefulness to man,
we do not think of them as ugly, but
remember only the parks as fitting
surroundings, and the stately power
house structure as a power housing
for a still greater beauty, 'the
beauty of use.' Our imagination
pictures the saving of coal effected,
the hundred cities, towns and vii
lagos lighted, the factory wheels
turned, the street cars operated, the
agricultural communities served, and
the thousand other facilities which
these mighty engines Of use provide
for the comfort and well-being of
man. Nearly always nature herself
quickly repairs the scars necessitated
by hydro-electric installation.
Within a year after the completion
Of the plant, the rocks are covered
with vines, and the only departure
from primitive nature that can be
seen is the red tiled roof of the
power plant nesting in a slight
opening of the forest, or perhaps a
beautiful lake. created for storage
purposes, which but adds to the
beauty of the scene. In issuing
licenses permitting development of
water resources within National
parks, requirements can be made by
government authorities which will
permit of their utilization for the
service of mankind and at the same
time prevent DETACHMENT of the
beauty of the natural surroundings.
AS the poet said, LET beauty and
utility go hand in hand"
While the present boundaries of
the National parks which are located
in the Sierra Nevada mountain range
constitute, but a comparatively small
portion of the total area, yet the en-
largemeht Of the boundaries of the
parks contemplated by bills now be-
fore congress, and the creation of the
proposed great Roosevelt National
park, would bring within their
boundaries water resources the use
of which is imperatively necessary
to the future growth of the states
Of California, Nevada and Arizona.
The American Civic association
are flooding the country with CIR
culars headed, "The National Parks
in Imminent Peril" 1t is rather the
great state of California which is in
imminent peril, for If the area Of the
National parks should be enlarged
as proposed, and the right to utilize
their water resources be denied, then
the further agricultural development
of California would be greatly i'm
peded, for the state derives all it's
irrigation water from the Sierra
Nevada mountains. California has
no coal and her oil is becoming
scarce and high. She depends abso-
lutely upon the water powers Of the
mountains for her electric power;
and If the boundaries of the National
parks were enlarged, as proposed, so
as to take in large part Of the
mountain streams, and the right to
develop power were prohibited, the
state would be placed under terri