San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-29
Park System Would Extend
From Tropical Rio Grande
Valley TO Mountain High
lands ~ Texas Scenery
OutrivaIs Best Of Rocky
Mountain Region.

parks rivaling in beauty and surpass-
ing in variety, the great national parks
of the West. OF all the states, Texas is
the least developed, and the least ex-
plotted. Within its boundaries are vir-
gin regions of beauty TO which in the
past access has been gained only by the
fcw who have braved tie hardships of a
dimly outlined trail.
Now, however, as exploring highways
a , being pushed. people are beginning
to realize that their very doors are nat
ural beauties. the like of which they
have been yearly travelling miles away
to see, and with this realization, the
state stands Oh the threshold of coming
into its own. The system of parks, as
conceived would begin in the tropical
regions near the mouth OF the Rio
Grande.
With but one exception. that Of the
southern extremity of Florida, this sec
ton is the farthest south Of any in the
United States. Unlike the Florida re-
gion, the southern part Of Texas is one
Of the richest on the continent. A tract
Of $50 acres Of this land, owned by
Frank Rabb. has been offered to the
state as a gift, provided that it is used
for the purpose of establishing park.
The land is jungle of palms. cane, and
other tropical plants, and with the adj
joining land has the possibilities of be-
ing made into garden playground.
All Kinds Of Climate.
From extreme tropical heat, to noun
tain chill, the system of parks, as
planned would extend across the state
to the Davis mountains of West Texas
where a tract OF 2j0.OOO acres has been
surveyed with the view of converting
it into a park similar to the ones of the
Rocky mountains. The Fort Davis
Park was the first to come under con-
sideration, and legislative committee
composed of Senator Fairchilds and ex-
Senator Davidson. was appointed TO in
vegtigate this and other prospective
sites for the establishment of one large
state park.
1t was then that men of the state who
were actively interested in the scenic
development Of Texas first conceived the
idea of establishing. not one park, but n
series of parks. 1t is proposed 10 have
the state buy the Fort Davis ssite, at 4
cost of approximately $2.O00.000 and
turn it over TO the federal government
to be developed and maintained as a
national park. In a like manner the
national park. and then, between these
two. it is proposed for the state to open
four or five smaller state parks.
One at Sutherland Springs.
In this vast expanse of hundreds OF
square miles, but sparsely populated Gnd
still less developed. hundreds Of sites
are available, and from them have been
chosen. as q basis to begin upon the
following: A park OF 1900 acres in
Bosdue county. between Meridian and
Clifton; the FriO Canyon park of 30
900 acres, most Of which are under OPP
ton for the purpose; the Sutherland
Springs park of $50 acres with all i'm
| prOyements already on the grounds; a
park of 200 acres at Junction in Kim
| ole county. the water head region of two
Of the greatest streams in the state. The
| LlanO and the Guadalupe: and q small
park in the canyon country of The Pan
| handle.
Dan +. Colp of San Antonio. who
represents two Of the largest highway
associations operating in the state. for
| the past several years has given much
of his time to sponsoring the state parks
| idea. At the present he is speeding up
| his activities for the purpose of present
ing to the next session of the l.egisla-
| ture a bill providing for the purchase
and development of the sites men
| toned. He has worked with tue park
| legislative committee in its surveys Of
! proposed park sites and with it has de-
veloped the idea Of a system of parks
| instead of one large park.
Neff FavOrS System.
In the committee there are four men
! from the state senate and five from the
house. and all Of these Mr.. Colp says,
have assured him of their support of a
measure that would enable the state to
carry out the park program. Governor
Neff. who has long favored the cstab-
lishment Of state park. has made the
statement that he would support any
movement to establish a state park of
any size from an acre up. He would
like to see, according TO Mr.. Colp. a
state park OF some nature in every
county.
In preparation to present the bill, Mr..
Colp is having blue prints made Of each
Uf the proposed sites. With c.ch print
be is collecting an album of pictures OF
the beauty spOts of the site. with writ
ten description setting fourth its advan-
q, tages. Two DAYS OF the past week were
! spent by Mr.. COip and newspaper men
oil Inc city III gOlHS oNcT tue JuhCllV"
site.
No Railroad There.
q Junction, the county seat OF Kimble
county. for many years has nestled in
the hills Of Southwest Texas, but 12j
miles from San Antonio. and yet as far
removed as though it were on another
continent No railroad runs to June
ton and for years the rough divide
country between the Llano and the
Guadalupe proved an effective barrier
to keep out the people OF the lOwlands OF
Texas and of the states of the East
Locked in by impossible roads. the coun
try has remained rs wild and rugged
as N the days when the Indians roamed
its hills. 1t is the country of the "Sev
en- Hundred Springs" Of Big Paint
Creek" spots the beauty Of which has
never been revealed to the world. Year,
II ". thousands upon thousands Of native
Texans have passed almost within sight
Of this country on their way to the
parks Of the West.
VIII Secure Options.
Realizing this and realizing also that
they have scenery as beautiful. and
sports as good as any spot in the United
States the people Of Junction to q man