The Alaska daily empire., 1921-01-03
THE EMPIRE DECLINES TO CONTRIBUTE

HE EMPIRE DECLINES TO CONTRlBUI Wa have received request from the Natiol ssociation of Audubon Societies of New 1orK ,ntribute to s5000 fund to conduct puonc ,mnaign against the proposal to utilize water po' , our National parks. This organization says:
 The enemies of our National Parks are proving too strong for the forces "ho "ouiu conserve them. The beginnings of Natloh"l policy leading to the dslntegratlon ol oul choicest scenic treasures has already edlheu recognition by Congressional action. NO oo- feet of interest, beauty, or aesthetic value 10 stand in the way of making money
 This indictment of those who would utilize rater power in the National Parks is followed ne following detailed allegations of facts, reprin nder startling headline which reads, "A CALL RMS":
 Few people in the United today realize that commercial interests which for years have sought to gain access to the National Parks have at last broken through the strong cordon of protection hitherto thrown around the Parks by Congressional acton and public sentiment These raiders must be repelled and nineteen great Ma tional Parks held intact
 Read what has happened of late.
 l. Moneyed interests desiring to use the water of the Yellowstone National Park for irrigation purposes outside the Park secured from the Government, permission to conduct surveys in the Park for storage reservoir, and these surveys have already been made.
 9 A measure known the Smith Dill (House Bill 12466) and intended to turn over to the people of Idaho about 5000 acres of the Yellowstone Park for a reservoir has passed the United States Senate and is at this moment pending in the House. It is backed by extensive commercial interests and infu- ental constituency. This bill must be Killed in the House and killed quickly.
 8. Already other commercial interests , are looking forward to reaping the beneht of the precedent they expect to be set by this action of Congress. One of these, the
 Yellowstone Irrigation Association, of Mon tana, plans to dam the Yellowstone Lake!
 The circulars and newspaper publicity in support of their measure have reached re-
 mendous proportions. Their feeling of as surance of with Congress is most
 appalling.
 4 Listen to this! At the last session of Congress provision was inserted in the Water Power Bill, which turned over to three
 members of the Presidents Cabinet the authority to grant Water Power concessions in National Parks. This bill is now law!
 Only two votes, therefore, now required to admit the enemies of the wild Parks to orgy of destruction and desolation. This
 part of the bill should be repealed at the
 coming session of Congress. Write your Con- gressmen how you feel about this.
 How are these to be fought? Only the high plane of publicity in arousing
 the Nation to protest All favor irrigation
 intelligently developed, but National Parks
 must be held inviolate for they not only
 our chief regions of scenic beauty and
 museums of wonders, but they sanctuaries for much of our fast-disappearing wild ami
 nal life.
 The very first sentence of this sensational uganda proves the lack of good faith the r f the authors There is not a scintilla of fact yhich to base the charge that those who wo tilize the water power in the National Parks enemies of the National Parks" Likewise ser ional and untruthful is the intimation that o honey makers interested in the proposal It has been shown in many sections Of the coun hat water power may be developed without dcstr ng the scenic beauty grandeur of a count hat was proved in the Catskills. the Pato1 nd in many other sections of the country NJ, f the beauty spots of the United States are impounding life giving water, and tl urroundings.
 Listen to this" shout the New York would governors of all America Well. then, listen to Il Ire movements to store water so that through | ation projects, large portions of Idaho and Mont eserts of sage brush. bunch grass and shifting sa nay be transformed into great, rich farming ions, with fine farms, growing crops cozy hon 'ith their flower gardens and shade trees, fOcks thoroughbred livestock, and above all, thousands rosperous and happy men and women and childI latters that concern only profteers and money m ,g? Is the picture not worth while? Is it fter all worth the price of few waterfalls, i, ,untry where there will be hundreds left, to F. lat picture a reality? Are not efforts 10 make orld larger and better, it will hold more pee nd give them more opportunities for happiness osperity. worthy of our highest consideration? The water power in the parks can be develo