The Montana courier. [volume] (Shelby, Mont.) 1922-192?, 1922-09-06
zANNwzE NA2E- northumberland 5errce
A0tol BY COURTESY u.s. Forest Jeyyjce
ZN AzN1acAW REoNEAT NAY

10 provide for the enjoyment of the same in such
manner and by such means as will leave them
unimpaired for the enjoyment of future genera
tons"
There will be more national parks. The policy
of the national park service, as set forth in 1918
by the late Franklin B. Lane, then secretary of the
Interior, is that the national parks of the future
should be justified by scenery of supreme and dis
iinctive quality or some natural feature so ex-
traordinary or unique as TO be of national interest
and Importance. 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 than the highest terms the
particular class or kind of exhibit which they rep
resent"
The national park movement is now nation
wide. There is an army of enthusiasts. These
enthusiasts are preaching that the mission of the
national parks is manifold that general use of
them by the people will bring physical, mental,
moral and financial benefits.
This nationalpark transcontinenta tourist traf
fc by private car is getting to be a big thing, with
tremendous possibilities in dollars. The Scenic
West was literally full of motorists this summer
on vacation trips ranging from two weeks to the
whole season. All sorts of estimates have been
made of what this means financially to the country
to have this money spent at home instead OF In
sightseeing abroad. 1t is purely guesswork to esti-
mate what the million and more visitors to the
national parks this summer paid out in money. An
arbitrary minimum estimate OF SlU each gives a
total of $100,OOO,OOO.
The national park enthusiasts have formed an
organization of their own-thc National Parks as
~sociation. 1t was formed by unofficial friends OF
the national parks to enter a field of the move
ment which the federal government apparently
does not intend to occupy. The present policy OF
congress-if it has any national park policy-is
merely 70 provide for the protection, maintenance
and DEVELOPMENT of the parks, leaving 1t to the
neople TO determine the use they shall make OF
them The association is an organization of the
neople Themselves to enable them to use effectively
these public Fairgrounds. AT present the enjoy
ment of the American people of its national parks
Is largely emotional. Among its many other &C.
tivities the association purposes a campaign of
education TO double the enjoyment of the people
by adding understanding. 1t says in effect to the
American people:
"Our national parks are natures great labora-
tories and museums. They are not merely won
ders and scenery. They are exhibits on a mighty
scale of the processes by which nature has been
and is making America. You may double your
pleasure in these exhibits by comprehending their
meaning through intelligent study. Let US See
America frst!' But let us also know America
Let us know its natural history as well as It's
national history. Let US differentiate. distinguish
and appreciate. Then WI shall really know. Then
we shall really enjoy"