The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1923-08-30


grounds set apart by congress for the use OF the
people forever. That official declaration OF ad-
ministration policy was nothing less than absolute
protection Of the national park system against
commercial invasion and exploitation.
DR.. John Wesley Hill. chancellor Of Lincoln
Memorial university. made the declaration. He
officially represented President Harding and Sec
rotary Of the Interior Work at the Yellowstone
opening. His statement was prepared, careful
and emphatic. 1t contained the following:
"And we are here today to celebrate the
annual opening Of Yellowstone park. the largest
and most far-famed Of our national parks, wooded
wilderness Of three thousand three hundred square
miles. containing Incompatible waterfalls. more
geysers than found In the rest Of the world all
put together. irrigated by rivers like miniature
lakes, and beautifed by lakes like inland seas.
carved by canyons OF sublimty, decorated with
colors defying the painters art, punctured with
innumerable boiling springs whose steam mingles
with feecy clouds. succeed with vast areas or
petrned forests. sanctuary Of safe retrent for
feathered songsters and wild beasts. wonder
land playground sanitarium and university all
In one where the eye feasts upon the riotous
coors OF flowers ferns and rocks: the ear Is
surged with the symphony of meodIous sounds;
the mind Is stated with n thousand revelations Of
truth and bcnuty. ana the jaded body. weary With
the trudge Of thought and toll md travel. ungirds
for song md dance beneath the shadows Of the
everlasting hills.
yellowstone history Is repc'e with crises
where the friends OF the park and the park Idea
have had TO fight with hcrosm worthy It's ex.
plorers md discoveries to retain II intnct against
the bold and prcsumptuous claims OF the ndvo-
Gates Of special privilege. determined to CONNER
cinl!ze this lnnd OF wonder. to build railroads
through IT, tunnel It's mountains, dnm its lakes
and streams. and secure stranglehold monopoIics
with small compensation 10 the government and
total loss to III" people.
And az nil figures
md threats therefore. any plan. however meri-
torlous on It's face. for the commercial cxploitn.
ton Of parks must by the very nature OF Its
MINIS md purposes be Immediately doomed to
failure.
good projects. bnd projects. Indifferent prof.
ecss all must fncc the same fate for II Is nj Inst
established policy Of the government that our
national parks must and shnl forever be mhin'
tnIned In absolute. unlmpared form. not only FOR
the present, but for NIL time 10 come. policy
which has the unqualified support OF President
Harding.
"This 4. tfs fixed policy Of the administration.
md I can assure you II win no, b" modified. II
will not b. swcrved hnlrs breadth by any !Ehh'
cnce financial political or otherwise
"Ir rights nrc granted TO on" claimant. Others
must follow, so n precedent must not he "s'hp.
i,.hed II would inevitably ruin the entire national
pnrk system"
Doctor I'M might hive been more definite IN
rho matter Of the attacks by commercial Interests
upon Yellowstone. Since ehrly IN l'2o II mas
required increasing vigilance and aggressive OF.
ranixcd effort the pnrt OF the vast army OF
nn,ion.l mark enthusiasts TO def"nt these attacks
0r,,ny the winter and spring Of 1920 the Sixty
.,,b congress nearly passed the Smith blu ere
.,,np n commercial irrigation reservoir In the
southw.st corner Of Yellows'on. for the beneht OF
Idaho And Il did pass the ~nter power bill
granting 20 a commission power TO ..nse public
~s,.r.. including those Of the national parks and
Gao ssAea