Weekly journal-miner., 1921-03-09
From Wednesdays Daily)

ties at national parks and monu- ments is the declaration of J. w. Sullivan, caretaker of the Monte zuma Castle national monument near Camp Verde. Just how much will be spent here is not certain.
 A new road is prepared for the visitors to the ancient cliff dwelling that fills a niche in the lime cliff above Beaver creek. This road en- ables the driver of an automobile to approach to within a few hundred feet of the cliff. A new trail, fol- lowing an irregularity ill the face of the cliff, gives access to the dwell ling from the side and dispenses with the two lower ladders by which the place heretofore has been approached.
 The new approach does away with a walk of nearly a mile over hot and weary cobblerocks in the bed of the creek, and will much i'm prove the curiosity for the visitor
 A generous fund is sought this year to increase the facilities at ma tional parks and the total estimate as submitted will be S2,473,59450 This will be spread over 19 national parks, 24 national monuments, an area of 12,774 square miles or 8,I75,- 360 acres.
 The increase in the estimate of $2,473,59450 submitted over the cur rent appropriation of $973,820 is ad- mittedly large but it should be re- membered that these pleasuring grounds, the property of the people, comprise an area larger than the combined states of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The number of visitors to the national parks and monuments has increased from 356,- 097 visitors in 1916 to 1,058,455 wis itors in 1920. While several of the parks and monuments are open the year round, four months is the average travel season and more than one million people are under the protection of the park rangers in that period. Besides the human life in their care, the wild animal and bird life is dependent on their pro lection and care the year round. Forests of inestimable value must be protected from fire.
 But besides protection there are over 1000 miles of highways ill these parks that must be maintained, several thousands Of miles of trails and several hundreds of miles Of telephone lines. To provide proper sanitation to protect the health of the tourists, and to develop power to provide electricity to light the pub lie camps and hotels are problems the park engineers must meet and solve
 Under wartime conditions prac- tically no new improvement work was authorized or possible because of limited appropriations and the in- creasing cost of labor and materials. But since the arinistice travel has overwhelmingly turned to the na- tional parks and because of their supreme majesty and matchless beauty they have created pride of possession and a desire for use that have found expression in nearly every corner of otr land, and even abroad. Travel increases constantly and provision therefor must be met i Motorists will readily appreciate the ! inadcquacy of only one thousand | miles of park roads in an area equal | to that of Connecticut and Massa- chusctts combined. Many miles of new trail must be constructed to | provide means of travel for the i horseback rider and the hiker. Ade- i quate camp grounds must be de- velopcd and proper sanitation sys- tens installed. The increase in the appropriations asked is to provide | for these.
 The administrative costs of man aging and developing this vast do- main in the interests of all our people are remarkably low and are due to the business policy of Sec rctary Payne and the organizing genius of Stephen T. Mather, dircc- tor of the national park service.
 The fund will be distributed as follows:
 General; Fund for fire fighting in forestcd areas, SlOO,OOO; for ad- ministrative personnel in Washing ton office, $33,64O; distribution of photographs of the parks for pub licity purposes, $l,SO0.
 Yellowstone park, Wyoming, $4o2,3OO
 Yosemite park, California, $575,- 53Z
 Glacier park, Montana, $333,10O. {