The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1921-08-12

Tie proposition is not such a paradox as 1t
seems at first thought. The national park en-
thusiasts Of the country would have the national
parks system comprehensive. 1t is already fairly
so. For example, it contains the Grand Canyon. the
most wonderful example in the world of stream
erosion: the majestic granite peaks Of the Con
tinental divide In Rocky Mountain the freakish
volcanic activities of the Yellowstone the relics
of a prehistoric people in Mesa Verde Crater Lake,
in the crater OF a prehistoric volcano; Lafayette
ON the coast Of Maine, exemplifying the Oldest
rock forms in America; Mount Rainier, a vast
single peak with 2s living glaciers; Sequoia with
It's millions of Big Trees.
This desire for a national park system that shall
be comprehensive is shown in the movements to
establish the Redwood National park in Cali
To- ia, 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 int
rior, is found this:
"Ir studying new park projects you should seek
10 find scenery of supreme and distinctive quail
ity or some natural feature so extraordinary or
unique as to be of national interest and inrpor-
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 which express in less
tEdn tlt ldlHudlu lcIIlS tLc III las VI
kind Of exhibit which they represent"
Okefnokee is without doubt a natural wonder.
1t covers nearly seven hundred square miles in
southeastern Georgia. Among the freshwater
swamps 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-
tionally rare forms of animal life. 1t is an i'm
portant wintering ground for large numbers of
migratory waterfowl. 1t has extraordinary in
terest as a floral area. 1t still contains, in spite
OF extensive numbering operations, about 500
square miles of diversified territory in an abso-
lutely primeval state. This latter fact is i'm
portant, inasmuch as 1t 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.
So, if there Is to be a swamp national park, 1t
would appear to be a case of Okefnokee or moth
ing.
Even should the destiny Of Okeinokee not be
that of d national park, it is possible and even
probable that some of it's area will be preserved
to 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 it's reservation and pres
ervation for public, educational. scientific and
recreatiornl 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. j. 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 AS 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 1t may be
administered and perpetuated as a national wild
life refuge.
Okefnokee was named by the Indians. The
name means "%Trembling Earth" 1t Is an inspira-
ton. since often 1t Is hard to say where the land
ends and the water begins. Cowhouse Run, for
example, is almost solid with water lilies and
.never-wets' (Orontium) yet a boat can be poled
through it between cOlOnnades of cypress to is
lands covered with long-leaved pine (Pinus palus-
tris). Tie otter hunter goes about in a fat
bottomed craft with his hOunl. The Big Water
stretches for miles between shoreless margins
fanked by cypress; here one may discard the
torked push-pole and take to the paddle. Chase