Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-01-13

tracts for state parks. PubIc-spirited citizens
have assisted the board in the purchase by over
S1OOOOO. score more of areas under con-
slderation. 1t is the hope of the board to have at
least one park in each of the 90 counties of the
state. Popular opinion is strong for the law
Grand View," pictured herewith is a scene in
one of the prospective parks 1t gives a hint of
Mr.. Harlan's 'fairy lands" with which the Hawk
eye state is abundantly blessed. This delightful
scenic area is near Decorah, Winneshek county.
The deliberations and action of this first nation
al conference on parks should interest the whole
country. 1t is expected that both Secretary Payne
and Director Mather of the national park service
will attend. No program has been announced at
this writing, but the call is broad enough to in
clude all phases of the park movement, of which
the following national park features are attract
ing public attention:
Assaults of commercial interests on the national
parks under the new .waterpower act and neces-
sity Of amendment to exempt national parks. The
Grand Canon scene pictured herewith is at the
west end of the national park, where there are
magnificent waterfalls. Application for power per-
NIT has been filed here, as in Yosemite and Sc
quota.
Irrigation reservoir right of way bill, already
passed by senate, covering Falls River basin in
Yellowstone National park, and the entering wedge
for many other irrigation projects in this and
other parks Diversion of water as proposed would
spoil the Yellowstone falls the crowning glory of
Yellowstone gorge.
Readiustment of national park appropriations.
Example: Rocky Mountain National park with
240966 visitors last summer, had $4,000; Yellow
stone with 1871 had S27S000; Yosemite, with
S. 906 had 100000; Mount Rainier, with 56,491,
had $4,000; Glacier with %, 49, had $4,000. Thus
Rocky Mountain with 1888 more visitors than the
other four parks combined, had an appropriation
of $4,000 against $4,000, with an offset of
about S25O,O00 in revenues produced. On the basis
of the 1922 fiscal year estimates the discrimination
will bn Sti1
next summer as it will have but $150,0O0 as
against $1615,337. Colorado will turn over to the
national park service next season the Fall River
road over the Continental divide, through the
Rocky Mountain National park. 1t has been I'M
der construction by the state during the last
seven years at a cost of approximately $162,OOO.
1t is the crownng touch of a 213mile automobile
highway circuit from Denver, which globe-trotters
declare to be the most magnifcently scenic on
earth. Its importance to the tourist and the ma
tional park cannot be overestimated. The Oldest
part of the Fall River road (shown herewith) is
in deplorabe condition. 1t is unthinkable that it
should not be put in shape early next season. And
the cost of reconstruction will have to come out
of the Rocky Mountain National park appropria-
ton.
The public campaign of the Agricultural depart
ment and the forest service to wreSt control OF
the national parks from the Interior department
and their exploitation of the national forests-cre-
ated for numbering and grazing-as recreational
competitors of the national parks
Federal support of the National Park-to-Park
highway an automobile circuit of 5000 miles con-
meeting the principal national parks.
State parks and local parks of all kinds from
New York to California offer multitude of inter-
esting and important topics, especially if consid-
cred in the spirit of the Iowa plan.
In lust three centuries we have discovered this
land, marched across it and made it ours. The
old days have gone The time has come when
we must give thought to the ways in which we
can get from it the most good. One of these ways
is the creation and development OF a nationwide
system of public national, state and local.