Evening star., 1921-12-09
NEWR0ADS URGED
IN FEDERAL PARKS
National Reservation Head
Cites Worthwhile Diver
sions, Says Report.
THOUSANDS ENJOY VIEWS
Director Stephen T. Mather Advo'
Gates Touring Division to Slim
ulste Interest. -

S"s~S ASNeA~6
ulate Interest.
The national parks head the list OF
those worthwhile things in the ma
tional life Of the American, making
better citizens by providing healthful
diversion, recreation and enjoyment
and offering unequaled advantages IN
educational fields, in the opinion OF
Stephen T. Mather. director Of the ma
tional park service. in his annual re-
port to Secretary Fall of the Interior
department. made public today.
1t took the world war to' impress
this country with the realization Oh us
great scenic treasures. the report SAID
thousands of tired minds and bodies
turning to the national parks for rec
reation and pleasure at its close.
Travel increased in leaps and bounds
until the park tourist facilities were
overwhelmed but still the crowds
came In 1921. 1.17l,Is7 persons Wis
tied the parks and monuments unoer
the Jurisdiction of the national park
service. the number being 1lS's4s more
than visited these areas last year.
while in 1916. only 35S.0s7 visitors
were recorded. 81
Rocky Mountains Most Popular.
OF the nineteen parks patronized
last year. the Rocky mountains or
Colorado seemed to have held the
greatest attraction. 2I3.l37 persons
having visited that ground. the report
showed. The Hot Springs OF Arkan .
sas were second in interest. 13O,sss
persons having visited it during last
year. The following parks also had
very large attendance: Yellowstone,
wyoming: Yosemite, IA, caiiGsnn' p1ast
as1ahoms Menns Ransr Grand canSen
and Lafayette. Maine. The remain. j..
ing parks had tourist average OF
ABOUT 1900 each.
An average Of about 5000 persons
visited each of the thirteen principal
monuments. but the Muir Woods of
California showed S7,400 visitors and
the Petrified Forest, in Arizona. 3s.ioS
travellers.
Development Of national good roads
system with government aid and the
location of roads to and within the
various national parks and monuments
to complement this national system are
advocated by Mr.. Mather. The parks
are the lodestones of travel In their
respective localities" he said, and
unless roads inside the parks to match
those traversed to the park gates are
provided our park visitors viii be dis
appointed and travel will finally suffer. Z"
Camp Grounds EstabIisheA.
Free public camp grounds have been
established in the national parks, a.
the result of the large increase Of pri-
vate motor travel. the report said.
These camps are provided with sanitary
facilities. firewood and pure water. and
the report emphasized the interest
taken in western cities and towns in
supplying camping accommodations to
visiting motorists. In two Of the camp
grounds in Yellowstone. the report con.
tinued, combined ranger stations ana
community houses were constructed tnis
year at cost Of S1s.eoo. Visits to the
facilitated and stimulated by the desig-
nation in 1920 Of the National Park
to-Park highway. which touches In one
great circle the major natfonaf parks in
the west.
But the government has not given
all its attention to motorists. Hiking
has been encouraged by particular
effort in the past year, by furnishing
visitors definite itineraries for walk
ing trips. THE suggested trips were
hiking trails were created" the report
said. "In fact" it continued. "the
hiking and horseback trips in the
parks added the greatest fascination
to vacation. X"
Touring Divfsis. Advocated.
Establishment of touring division
under the national park service TO
develop and stimulate touring as one
of the profitable industries Of the
United States to combat the. strong
and systematic campafgnS by for
eign countries in the? United States
TO restore their one-time larSe,tourist
travel, is advocated by Director
Mather The time is here" he said.
when this nation will have to take
other nations are doing" he pointed
out that the national park develop
rnent in foreign countries has fol-
lowed the development in the United
States. and that there is no country
of Importance that has not taken
areas as national reservations.
Mr.. Mather also advocated the de-
velopment Of interesting scenic as
cents in the various states through
der their control: "It is hoped" the
reort said. that in time 4 state park
will be found every hundred miles or
SO along the main highways. which
will AFFORD camping-out places for
motorists. The state park movement
1871
wild Life Preserved.
wild life conservation is one of
the most satisfying functions of the
national parks the report con-
tinued, "for complete and absolute
protection is afforded their wild life.
In the larger parks one IL almost
sure to see deer, bear and other ma
tive game on or along the roads and
trails. Greater cooperation from the
states in providing adequate laws
and preserves to give additional pro-
lection to animals which drift out
side the park is asked"
In Yellowstone National Park the
wild animal herds showed gratifying
increases, the report said, stating
that the buffalo herd has grown so
rapidly that it will soon present diff
fculties in the way feeding and
control.
Fishing is excellent in all the
larger parks, the report continued.
as the lakes and streams are Kept
we'll stocked through cooperation
fisheries and several state fisheries.
New Park In Hawaii.
During the year the Hawaiian Ma
tional Park was dedicated to the ma
tion and the Hot Springs Reserya-
.;ap caf a1ido a@ s,,ch IN fPSe ~y. .