The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-09-03

The proposition Is not such a paradox as "
seems at first thought. The national PARK en
thusasts Of the country would have the natoha'
parks system comprehensive. 1t Is already 1aily
60 For example, 1t contains the Grand canyon tne
most wonderful example In the world OF stream
erosion: the majestic granite peaks OF the Con
tinental divide in Rocky Mountain; the freaKisn
volcanic activities of the Yellowstone; the reiics
Of prehistoric people In Mesa Verde; Crater LAKE,
In the crater of prehistoric volcano; LaIayette
on the coast of Maine. exempiifying the oioes.
rock forms in America Mount Rainier, VAST
single peak with % living glaciers; Sequoia with
Its millions of Big Trees.
This desire for q national park system that shall
be comprehensive is shown In the movements 10
establish the RedwOods National park In Call
fornia the Mississippi Valley National park, the
Mammoth Cave National park In Kentucky, the
Dunes National park In Indiana and the Okenno-
kee National park in Georgia. In the statement
of National Park Policy" made In 1918 by the
late Franklin X. Lane secretary OF the lnte-
rior, is found ths
In studying park projects you should seek
to find scenery of supreme and distinctive quail
ity or some natural feature SO extraordinary or
unique as to be Of national interest and impor-
lance You should seek distinguished examples
Of typical forms Of world architecture. The
national park system as now constituted should~
not be lowered in standard, dignity and prestige
by the inclusion Of areas wlaiah, express in less
than the standard terms the pdTticudI SiuSS w
kind of exhibit which they represent"
Okefinokee is without doubt natural wonder.
II covers nearly seven hundred square miles in
southeastern Georgia. Among the freshwater
swamDs east of the Mississippi 1t Is exceeded In
size only by the Everglades. Its scenery is first
class Of its kind. 1t Is a refuge for some excep-
tonally rare forms of animal life. 1t is an Inn
portant wintering ground for large numbers OF
migratory waterfowl. 1t has extraordinary In
terest as floral area. 1t still contains. In spite
Of extensive numbering operations, about 500
suuare miles of diversified territory in an absO-
Iutely primevai state. This latter fact is I'M
nortant inasmuch as it is stated that the Dismal
Swamp and the Everglades have already been
changed by man beyond the hope or possibility
Of preservation In a natural state
80 IL there is to be swamp national park, 1t
would appear to be case of OkefnOkee moth
Ing.
gcven should the destiny Of Okehnokee not be
that of national park, 1t Is possible and even
probable that some of its area will be preserved
10 the nation through the Okefnokee society.
This society was organized In 1913 its object be-
ing ITO give authentic publicity regarding the Oke-
fnokee swamp; to secure its reservation and pres
eryation for public. educational, scientific and
secreatiorNi 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-
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. Or. J. y.
Wilson of Waycr0ss, Georgia.
One Of the first aims Of the society is to secure
certain representative portions Of the swamp as
the nucleus Of . reservation to which additions
may be made as rapidly as opportunity or funds
permit. The society plans. after securing the
area for reservation. to present it to the Uni
ted States government, in order that 1t may be
administered and perpetuated as national wild
life refuge.
Okefnokee was named by the Indians. The
name means "Trembling Earth" It is an inspira-
zion since often 1t Is hard to say where the land
ends and the water begins Cowhouse Rum. Tor
sxamnle Is almost solid with water lilies and
s.neyer-wets" {Orontium) : yet boat can be poled
through ii between coionnades Of cypress to Is
lands covered with long-ieayed pine (Pinusl palus
trisl. The otter hunter goes about In q dat
bottomed craft with his hound. The Big Water
stretches for miles between shoreless margins
banked by cypress: here one may discard the
forked push-pole and taxi to the paddle. Chase