The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1921-08-20

- KEFINOKEE NATIONAL PARK!
IVA That sounds like a paradox. For
IA Okpfnokee Is the name OF a tremen-
IA dous big swamp in Georgia and what
~ does the United States national park
XHM system need Of big sWampf Any
III woy. there II bin in Congress FOR
The establishment Of the Okehnoket
n NJ National park IN this very swamp
|v And the request for It's establishment
i made IN The name OF the state OF
|4 Georgia.
na proposltIon Is not such paradox rs
..ms A first thought The national park en-
aagoss Of the country would have the natloha'
49, system comprehensive 1t Is already fairiy
I mr. example It contains the Grand Canyon the
rsi wonderful example In the world or stream
sxo. the majestic granite peaks OF the Con
| asatal divide In Rocky Mountain; the freakish
laramie activities Of the Yellowstone; the relics
tsmehstorc people In Mesa Verde; Crater Lake.
h he crater Of q prehistoric volcano; Lafayette
\ me coast OF Maine, exemplifyng the Oldest
NH forms in America; Mount Rainier. vast
dpde peak with % living glaciers Sequoia with
ID millions Of Big Trees.
This desire for national park system that shall
comprehensive Is shown In the movements to
Nablsh the Redwoods National park In Call
+ bnia the Mississippi Valley National park, the
' hmmoth Cave National park In Kentucky, the
hns National park In Indiana and the Okefin0-
he National park In Georgia. In the Statement
National Park Policy" made In 1913 by the
| III Franklin X Lane as secretary Of the inte-
| NJ, Is found this:
Tn studying new park projects you should seek
h hnd scenery OF supreme and distinctive quail
| Y Or some natural feature so extraordinary or
mgue as to be Of national interest and impor-
mW You should seek distinguished examples
typical forms Of world architecture. The
ntonal park system as now constituted should
" be lowered in standard, dignity and prestige
. " the Inclusion OF areas which express In less
An the standard terms the particular class or
td Of exhibit which they represent"
Wehnokee Is without doubt natural wonder.
covers nearly seven hundred square miles In
Ntheasen Georgia. Among the freshwater
camps east Of the Mississippi 1t Is exceeded in
only BY the Everglades. It's scenery Is first
as Of Its kind. II is q refuge for some excep-
'@aly rare forms Of animal life. Ii Is an i'm
FNant winerng ground for large numbers OF
1entory waterfowl. 1t has extraordinary In
hes as q floral area. 1t still contains, In spite
extensive numbering operations. about 500
Fare miles Of diversified territory In an abso-
Rey prmeva state This latter fact Is i'm
wan, inasmuch as II is stated that the Dismal
Hamp and the Everglades have already been
ahged BY man beyond the hope or possibility
preservation in a natural state.
y Y there Is to be a swamp national park, II
Na appear TO be case Of Okefinokee or moth
Nu shouid the destiny OF Okefinokee not be
NATIONAL park, 1t is possible and even
r"se~ 'hal some OF its area will be preserved
M nation through the Okefinokee society
@esy was organized in 1918 Its object be-
"s"e authentic publicity regarding the Oke-
~ swamp; 10 secure its reservation and pres
."n ior public educational, scientific and
N'"'si uses The society has the hearty
"A s"eht OF the National Park association,
su'eu states biological survey, the American
.ss M :" NATURAL History, the National Associ-
a !" AudnDon societies. the Geological Soci-
3,~s. nmet'ca, the American Game Protective
N \ Inc State Geological Survey Of Georgia,
~ rh university departments OF zoology
- Ao'VEy and many scientists and nature
~ oushout the country. The president OF
N.nn Is Professor James G. Needham Of
Nh. university, and the secretary, DR.. J. +.
4" waycross, Georgia.
~. = 'ne nrst aims of the society is to secure
,epeseh'ative portions of the swamp as
u reservation to which additions
kme I AZ as rapidly as opportunity or funds
N !. m society plans, after securing the
" As,.s reservation, to present 1t to the Uni
Anhlssss. sosernment in order that 1t may be
nh.' and perpetuated as national wild
NJ ~ was named by the Indians. The.
" aues =, trembling Earth" 1t is an inspira-
"a IA ~ s''eh u Is hard to say where the land
es,b s water begins. Cowhouse Run, for
las.s,,sn a ~ solid with water lilies and
RsA h .o'ohtium) yet a boat can be poled
ors.ss Tween colonnades of cypress to is
n. WIN iong-leaved pine Pinus palus-
Nned 49,, 'er hunter goes about In fiat
As n. WIN his hound The Big Water
~ II miles between shoreless margins
~ ps,a. Spress; here one may discard the
pO'e and take to the paddle Chase