Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-09-24

The national park movement with an army Of
enthusiasts behind it. is of the livest causes
of the times. That is why we have established
since 1872, when the first national park in the
world the Yellowstone was created system Of
nineteen national parks and thirty-1ve national
monuments.
Yet it is true beyond question that in general the
hundreds of thousands of yearly visitors to our
beauty spots of nature thrill with an emotion that
is quite apart from understanding of the scene
before them. America has the noblest scenic mag
ncence that is easily accessible in all the world.
And among the greatest of its manifold values is
the fact that it is the record of America in its
making An appreciation of this magnfcenee and
its values will add to its enjoyment.
To gain this understanding and appreciation is
one of the several motives impeng the activities
of the School of Wild Life Protection and Propaga-
ton at McGregor.
The American frontier is no more. Gone are
the buffalo herds that covered the great plains
Extinct is the passenger pigeon. Civilization and
wild life cannot exist together. The automobile
takes the tourist everywhere. The airpane means
the end of the silent places. In few years the
American will have to go to his national parks
to see the wild animal life of his native land in its
natural surroundings For the national park is the
one sure wild life sanctuary of earth-the one and
only place where wild life is sufficiently free from
moestation to hold its own against man and civili-
zation.
so, TO protect anu propagate WllQ lie Dy Keep
ing inviolate the national parks and by establish
ing more national parks is another purpose exem-
plified in the American school in the area pro-
posed for the Mississippi Valley National park.
This proposed national park lies in the north
east corner of Iowa and the southwest corner of
Wisconsin The Mississippi divides it; the Wis
| consin and Yellow empty into the Mississippi
| from the east and west within the boundaries.
! About $4,000 acres, land and water, including
1000 acres of Mississippi with islands, are under
| consideration. There are 81 acres in the Wis
| consin State park at the mouth of the Wisconsin.
Mrs Martha B. Mum of New York has offered
to give the 125 Iowa acres forming the scenic
keystone 1t is proposed that the federal govern
ment shall purchase for park purposes about
| 5000 acres appraised at about $224,0OO.
Scenically, educatonally ard historically the
| area is worthy of national park honors. Geo
| graphically the is just the place for ma
| tional park. There is no scenic national park
worthy of the name between Rocky Mountain in
Colorado and Lafayette in Maine. Railroads and
| transcontinental automobile highways run close
nv There is river transportation. Big cities sur
round the site. Fully 100000 people within
few hours of the area
| The Mississippi Valley National park project in
all its ramificatons is backed by the General Fed
| Grafton of Women's Clubs, the Mississippi Valley
association and a long list of organizations of
| large variety.
The attitude of the General Federation of Wom-
| ems Clubs is typical The work of this nation