Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-18

GeOTSlu.
The proposition is not such paradox as 1t
.seems at first thought. The national park en-
thusasts of the country would have the national
parks system comprehensive. 1t is already fairly
So For example, 1t contains the Grand Canyon, the
most wonderful example in the world of stream
erosion the majestic granite peaks of the Con-
tlnental 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. exemplifyng the Oldest
rock forms In America; Mount Rainier, a vast
single peak with % living glaciers; Sequoia with
IT'S 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
forna, the Mississippi Valley National park, the
Mammoth Cave National park In Kentucky, the
Dunes National park in Indiana and the Okefno-
kee National park in Georgia. In the Statement
of National Park Policy" made in 1918 by the
late Franklin X. Lane as secretary of the inte-
rior, is found this
I'm studying new park projects you should seek
to find scenery of supreme and distinctive quail
ity natural feature so extraordinary or
unique as to be Of national interest and impor
tance. You should seek distinguished examples
of typical forms of world architecture The
national park system constituted should
not be lowered in standard, dignity and prestige
by the inclusion of areas which express in less
than the standard terms the particular class or
kind of exhibit which they represent"
Okeinokee is without doubt a natural wonder
It covers nearly seven hundred square miles in
southeastern Georgia. Among the freshwater
swamps east of the Mississippi it is exceeded in
size only by the Everglades. It's 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 winterng ground for large numbers of
migratory waterfowl. 1t has extraordinary in
II .Alla
Of extensive numbering operations, about 500
square miles Of diversified territory in an abso-
lutely primeval state. This latter fact is i'm
pOrtant, inasmueh as it is stated that the Dismal
Swamp and the Everglades have already been
changed by man beyond the hope possibility
of preservation in natural state.
So If there Is to be swamp national park it
would appear to be case of Okefnokee 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
the nation through the Okehnokee society
This society was organized in 1918 its object be-
ing ito give authentic publicity regarding the Oke-
fnokee swamp; to secure its reservation and pres
ervation for public, educational, scientific and
recreatonal 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
and entomology, and many scientists and nature
lovers throughout the country. The president of
the society Is Professor James G.. Needham of
Cornell university, and the secretary, DIR. ]. 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 opportunity or funds
permit. The society plans, after securing the
area for a reservation, to present 1t to the Uni
ted States government, in order that it may be
administered and perpetuated a national wild
life refuge.
Okefnokee was named by the Indians The
name means Trembling Earth" 1t is an inspira
tion since often it is hard to say where the land
ends and the water begins Cowhouse Ran. for
example, is almost solid with water lilies and
'never-wets' (Orontium) yet boat can be poled
through it between cOlonnades of cypress TO is
lands covered with lOng-eaved pine (Pinus palus
tris). The otter hunter goes about in fiat
bottomed craft with his hound The Big Water
stretches for miles between shoreess margins
fianked by cypress; here one may discard the
forked push-pole and take to the paddle Chase