Evening star., 1921-05-30

charged with the duty OF administer
ing these great natural ,s;,n Wonosrs; snd
indispensable handiwork of nature
has made it's plans for their recep-
tion.
Reports received at the bureau here
and the railroad agencies indicate
a noticeable increase in the interest
among tourists in their country S
beuaties as contained in these great
national reserves. While hundreds OF
thousands visited them last year
toured them. and enjoyed to the fuil
extent the arrangements Tor tnelr
comfort and entertainment proEioeo
under the auspices of the government
the reports indicate that those IN
charge of the reception and care OF
visitors to the parks will be called
upon this year to receive and guide
through the parks record increase
The inquiries which have come into
the various agencies are reported TO
show an increase of % per cent more
this year than ever before.
Encouraged by Railroads.
The railroads are doing their bit.
too. this year in encouraging the peo-
pie to visit their parks. For. begin
ming June /. they will put into ef-
ect an excursion rate scheduled from
all parts of the United States. which
will give to those who want to reach
the parks a reduction averaging one
third of the regular rate. This alone
is expected to enormously increase the
number of visitors. They are to be
liberal excursion tickets, too. for the
return coupons will be good until
October 81. with a generous provi-
sion for stopovers. The tickets may
be purchased to include one national
park or to include several.
But the greatest amount of travel
is by automobile. And it is the
cheapest. as we'll as providing the
means Of greatest enjoyment Of the
beauties. Everything is being done
by the park officials to provide for the
comfort Of automobile parties, and moth
ing is being left undone to give them
everything to gain the fullest pleasure
out Of their trips
After auto parties pay the small
entrance fee, varying for each park.
according to the road mileage within
its confines. they may stop in any of
the numerous camp sites where water.
light and sewerage. as we'll as police
protection. are provided. Many of the
camps have permanent camp struc-
lures. and cafeteria system. where
meals and lodging are provided at
reasonable rates. While these are run
by concessionaires. the rates are
under governmental supervision.
Promotes Democracy.
Touring Of the national parks by auto
is one OF the greatest means of the day
for promoting the democracy of a nation,
for. by the camp fires at night. the
parties of tourists gather and listen to
stories by the rangers and tell tales of
their own experiences. The government
maintains guides who grew up in the
country of the parks. and they know the
flora and fauna, and can answer every
Of the tourists ser in their travels dur
ing the day and the expert guide cheer
fully explains at night while the parties
are grouped around the glow of the
camp fire.
There will be meeting places for the
rainy days provided in Yellowstone Park
this year-places where those who do
not want to go to the hotels may gather
under cover and enjoy the comradeship
of their fellow tourists and listen to the
stories of the guides and others. There
will be two community houses construct
ed. fulfillment of a suggestion by Rep
resentative Good OF Iowa, who on a
recent tour of the parks with Director
Mather. saw the need for such places.
He saw their possibilities and success
fully gave his aid in getting the neces-
sary appropriations.
Instruction is provided for those
touring in many of the parks. In the
Yosemite Park. on the floor of the
valley in which % 900 persons camped
last season. the third series of LIE
Conte Memorial lectures will be given.
These will be nature lectures. and
there will be three illustrated lee
lures by Robert Grant Aiken. astron-
omer of Lick Observatory. who is
said to have the faculty of imparting
scientific facts in a non-technical and
understandable way.
= Nature Guide Service.
The free nature guide service.
which was such a popular feature of
be available this year under the Joint
auspices of the national park service
and the California fish and game
commission. DR.. H. c. Bryant of the
University Of California. who knows
intimately the park trails, will again
be in charge of the nature guide work
and will be assisted by DR.. Loye H.
Miller of the Los Angeles branch of
the university. DR.. Miller will enter
ain park visitors with his limitations
of wild bird music. which charmed
many eastern audiences last winter
Last year these scientists conducted
nature study field excursions. directed
sleeping bag trips into the high Sierra
country. kept office hours in Yosemite
Village to answer questions. conducted
wild-nower show continuously
throughout the season; and assisted
27.047 visitors to a better knowledge
Of the miracles Of Yosemite's outofdoors.
Their services are entirely free.
II IL pidHIieu 10 cxtcn0 tn1S service
to all of the parks fast as 1t can
be arranged There are guides in all
Of the parks now and they are able to
give to the visitors explanations of
the flower and animal life within the
borders of their particular park.
Road building and improvement of
trails is expected to go forward now
without any delay. and as fast as Con-
gress provides the funds the work will
be done. This is the first year since
the war that the service has received
any funds for road work. They have
not been complaining. for the officials
realized that during the war all of the
money must be concentrated in the
work of bringing to successful con-
clusion that great conflict.
Roads Across Great Divide.
The service has received an appro-
priation of 100000 for the purpose
Of building A road across the great
divide in the Glacier Park This work,
il is estimated. will take five years,
but it is governed by the amount
which Congress will give each year.
The total cost is estimated at $780,
900. If Congress will give it in
amounts of more than 100000 year
it will be completed more quickly.
rs JOIN DRAMATIC ORDER.
Inducted Into Knights Khorassan