New Britain herald., 1922-12-08
AMERICA RIVALS EUROPE'S BEAUTY
Scenery and Recreation Found in Greater Abundance Here

-
 Washington, Dec. 9.--Americans who
 spend millions abroad for scenery and
 recreation are told in tho annual report or the National Park Service. that these may be found In greater abundance and beauty in their native land
 Winter sports. now in the minds of Those who can afford the ever increas
 ns cost or trip to Font.Romeu in the rrench Pyrenees, or somewhere in the SWISS Alps, are among the things that may be had here at home. The report calls attention to 'the unexcelled op. portunlties offered in tho national parks Tor winter vacationing and winter sports." and asserts.
 Those in Yosemite valley are de. cared to surpass the offerings of many foreign winter resorts. Rocky Noun. taln. Mount Rainier, Sand Lafayette Nauonal parks are also available for winter sports in surroundings unex. ccled."
 Advantage Portrayed.
 Advantages of the national parks for all year round activities are also DOT. trayed. Yellowstone and the other parks offer scenic possibilities and ac commodations are offered "to meet the varied tastes and all degrees of income, means and inclination"
 otephen F. Mather. director of the National Park Service in sending the report to Secretary Fall reviewed the history Of Americas parks and their increasing popularity as evidenced dur. Ing the past year. which marked the both anniversary of Yellowstone.
 During the past year million and a quarter persons visited the parks. an increase of nearly fifty thousand over the record established the year before. Inls showed an increase of approxi- mately SS2,000 over the visitors in 1915.
 Taking Up in detail the several parks. the report in part says
 Yellowstone Park.
 Yellowstone Park is reported as having had it's most successful season, Of the 51,506 motorists coming in their own cars, 5oo0O camped out in the free public .camp grounds with their own equipment. The park trail system was used by saddle horse parties more than ever before. Yellowstone Park prob. | ably offers the best trout fishing in the country.
 Tn spite of severe winter the park antelope herd was the only one to s,lf. | Ter much loss. This loss is reported as naving been largely made up by birth or Kids during the summer The buffalo nerd IS increasing so rapidly that legis. | lation is needed authorizing the dis. position of surplus buffalo in order to keep the herd within the winter feef.sl ing capacity of the hay ranch.
 Yosemite Park.
 Travel into Yosemite Park nassed the 100000 mark in spite of the poor condition of the park roads. It would seem that the time has now come when. 1T the government is to fulfil it's obliga. tons to the people visiting Yosemite, congress should provide ample funds for the improvement of the park road sys. tenn.
 N Grand Canyon. ( N Grand Canyon Park is enjoying it's greatest year as tourist resort. S4.7O0 persons having visited it the past year. In order that visitors would make wider use of the canyon trails and thus gain a comprehensive view of the vastness of the gorge and it's wonders below the rim new tourist facility, The Phan. tom Ranch, was built near the mouth of Bright Angel Creek at the bottom of the canyon.
 Rocky Mountain Park.
 Rocky Mountain Park again leads { all other parks in the number of wis. tors recorded with the remarkable to. tal Of 219164 persons. v ~ Crater Lake Park. tN"A new ora for i(yr, ter oI,a Arx : Park is noted with the acquisition of | ne public utility enterprise within the I ark by q group of puhlic.spirited citi. V 'ens of Oregon. An cighty-room addi. f ion 10 tho Crater Lake Lodge is under l. Construction which it is said will be en- l rely completed and furnished by the a 'pening of the 1924 season. a Y "A 20 per cent. increase in travel is t eported for Mount Rainier Park. it [ lavng entertained a total of 70,376 e ,isitors.'
 Summary of Visitors. o S The following summary was included tl n the report, showing the number of a isitors to the various parks during the e 1922 season: Hot Springs, Ark, 106,- r 64 visitors; Yellowstone, Wyo., 9S,223; i equoia, Cal, 27,514; Yosemite, Cal, b 00,506; General Grant, Cal, 5O,456: iount Rainier, Wash, 70,376; Crater .ake, Ore. 33.011; Wind Cave, S. D., 1,016; Platt, Okla, 10000; Sulys Hill, { D., 9,54S; Mesa Verde, Colo, 4,251:I lacier, Mont, 23,935 Rocky Mountain, olo., 219, 164; Hawaii, Territory of Iawai, 27,75o; Lassen Volcanic, Cal, o,o0o; Mount Mckinley, Alaska, z; rand Canyon, Ariz.. S4,7o0; Lafayette, le., 73,779; and Zion, Utah, 4,109. To.