The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-08-12

The proposition Is such paradox it
ut first thought. The national park en-
thusiasts of the country would have the national
parks system comprehensive. 1t is already fairly
For example, 1t contains the Grand Canyon. the
most wonderful example In the world Of stream
erosion; the majestic granite peaks of the Con-
tinental divide in Rocky Mountain; the freakish
volcanic activities Of the Yellowstone; the relics
Of prehistoric people In Mesa Verde Crater Lake.
in the crater of prehistoric volcano; Lafayette
on the coast Of Maine, exemplifying the oldest
rock forms In America; Mount Rainier. vast
single peak with % living glaciers; Sequoia with
Its millions Of Big Trees.
This desire for national park system that shall
be Comprehensive Is shown In the movements to
establish the Redwoods National park IN Cali
fornia. the Mississippi Valley National park, the
Mammoth Cave National park in Kentucky. the
Dunes National park In Indiana and the Okefino-
kee National park in Georgia. In the statement
of National Park Policy" made In 1918 by the
late Franklin K Lane as secretary Of the inte-
rior, is found this:
"In studying new park projects you should seek
to find scenery of supreme and distinctive quail
ity or some natural feature extraordinary or
unique to be of national interest and impor-
tance. You should seek distinguished examples
of typical forms of world architecture The
national park system now constituted should
not be lowered In standard dignity and prestige
by the Inclusion Of areas which express In less
than tile standard terms the particular class
kind of exhibit which they represent"
Okefnokee Is without doubt natural wonder.
1t covers nearly seven hundred square miles In
southeastern Georgia. Among the freshwater
swamps east of the Mississippi 1t Is exceeded In
size only by the Everglades Its scenery is first
class of Its kind 1t is refuge for some excep-
tionally rare forms of animal life. 1t is an i'm
portant wintering ground for large numbers of
migratory waterfowl. 1t has extraordinary in
terest floral area. 1t still contains In spite
Of extensive numbering operations, about 500
square miles Of diversified territory in an abso-
lutely primevaI state. This latter fact is i'm
portant inasmuch it Is stated that the Dismal
Swamp and the Everglades have already been
changed by beyond the hope possibility
of preservation In natural state.
So. if there is to be swamp national park, it
would appear to be a case Of Okefinokee or moth
Ing
Even should the destiny of Okefnokee not be
that of national park, 1t is possible and even
probable that some of its area will be preserved
to the nation through the Okefinokee society
This society was organized In 1918, its object be-
ing ito give authentic publicity regarding the Oke-
hnokee swamp; to secure its reservation and pres
ervation for public. educational, scientific and
recreational uses" The society has the hearty
endorsement of the National Park association,
the United States biological survey, the American
Museum of Natural History, the National Associ-
alton Of Audubon societies. the Geological Soci-
ETY. OF America, the American Game Protective
association the State Geological Survey of Georgia,
the Cornell university departments of zoology
lovers throughout the country. The president Of
the society is Professor James G. Needham of
Cornell university. and the secretary DR.. J. F.
Wilson of Waycross Georgia.
One of the first aims of the society is to secure
certain representative portions of the swamp as
the nucleus of a reservation to which additions
may be made as rapidly as opportunity or funds
permit. The society plans. after securing the
for a reservation, to present it to the Uni
led States government, in order that it may be
a,lp1 n Ia wi
life refuge
Okefinokee named by the Indians The
name means "Trembling Earth" 1t is an inspira-
1ion since often it is hard to say where the land
ends and the water begins. Cowhouse Run for
example, is almost solid with water lilies and
s"neverwets (Orontium) yet boat be poled
through 1t between colonnades of cypress TO is
lands covered with long-leaved pine (Pnus palus-
tris) The otter hunter goes about in a fiat
bottomed craft with his hound The Big Water
stretches for miles between shoreless margins
f1anked by cypress; here may discard the
5orked push-pole and take to the paddle. Chase