The Cordova daily times., 1922-08-09

tion seldom found in the east. On the south shore is the only true Atlantic ford on United States territory, Somes sound. Among the hills are a number of narrow sparkling lakes, fill ing basins scOoped out of the rock by the powerful grinding force of gla- ciers ages ago.
 All lovers of birds and plant life can find an interest in Lafayette Ma tional park aside from it's beautiful scenery and the climbing it affords. IL is wonderfully fitted to be a great nesting and feeding ground for both land and water birds This is true, too, of course, of the adjoining islands and coast. So numerous are the in dcntatiUnS that the tide washes fully 2,500 miles of shore from Casco Bay north to Canada. All along the coast are to be found extensive flats and salt marshes, flooded twice a day by tides. At Mount Desert these tides rise P feet or more; and each leaves deposited on the flats of the island much floating marine life, and con tributes to the growth of fixed vege- table and animal forms. In this way Nature really sets gigantic table for the birds.
 Bird Life Sadly Depleted.
 But unfortunately private control of many of the islands and coast flats, and more or less prOmiscuous shoot ing and nest destruction have greatly depleted the bird life along the Maine coast until now only a pitiable rem nant Is left of the flocks observed by early explorers. One of the results looked for by the creation of the La fayette park and the extension which it is believed 1t will undergo, is the protection of bird life, and the gradual restoration of larger flocks.
 This matter of bird protection at Mount Desert is made easier by the fact that perhaps no other area in the northeast in the line of important mi grations is better fitted to grow great variety of fruiting plants for bird food. On the exposed portions of the islands, both headlands and btSo, aiC ioullt opCAiSo oi plants typical of the regions of the north, including the Arctic. And In sheltered hooks are scores of plants that there reach their extreme north ern limits-plantS of the southern coastal zone. Finally the soil types are varied so that both plants of acid and of basic areas thrive. Nearly every food plant then. known to birds in northern or central regions, either grows or can be grown on Mount Desert island.
 Just as Lafayette National park diff fers from the western parks in sur roundings and type of scenery, so it differs in origin. When the era of national park creation came the fed eral government owned vast stretches of mountain and plain and valley in the West, and was able to select that which was most picturesque and mere ly designate it as public playgrounds. But all public lands in the East had long since passed into private hands, and for several decades there were no eastern parks. The unique beauty of Mount Desert island led persons famil- far with it to feel that it would be the ideal eastern park. An association of private individuals was formed and tract after tract of the rugged hills of the island were purchased. These were rendered to the national government in 1916, and in 1919 congress passed an act accepting the land and creating the park. It Is contemplated that other tracts will be added from, time to time until eventually large part of the mountainous island will be federal reservation.