The Arvada enterprise., 1924-01-03

the principal winter home Of the waterfowl that
travel with the seasons between the Gulf and
northern Cnnnda. and are marshy lakes con-
nected by waterways. In vermilon Bay Of the
Gulf No. is the Rockefeller Foundation Wild
Life Refuge OF $1,000 acres. No. 9. called Pecan
Island. contains 100000 acres. No. 3 is the private
holding Of the vermiIion Bay company. $1,000
acres. No. Is the Louisiana State Wild Life
Refuge. 1000 ncres. No. s Is Marsh Island Wild
Life Refuge Of 1890 acres purchased by Mrs.
Russell Sage and dedicated TO the permanent pro-
lection Of bird lfe. No O marks the location OF
the home and bird refuge Of Edward A. Mclhen.
ny. nationally famous for his efforts In behalf OF
bird protection.
Yes times have changed and have changed
with them The national parks movement. one
OF the llvest nonpolcnl issues OF the day. is typi
cal md suggests the extent OF the change. Up to
l9l2 our national parks. then twelve In number.
were neglected by the federal government nnd were
considered II nuisance rather than nn asset Mem
bers OF congress turned deaf to any plead
Ing OF their cause and hastily moved away from the
plcadcr In the General Federation OF Wonens
Clubs this story Is now told with glte: In 1912
Mrs. John ID. Sherman elected chairman of
the department of conservation OF natural re-.
sources then largely devoted to n sentimental
and lady-likc effort in behalf OF the song birds
and trees. When she suggested the creation Of
n division OF Natural Scenery there wns u laugh
and the national officers said. But scenery Isn't
IA patural resource" However. she had her wny
ANA today no organization IN the country IN more
kech-or inilucn'la-ln the nation. wide
movement toward national parks, state parks, mu.
n!cipal Fairgrounds. chdrcn's gardens nature
study In public schools. the outdoor llfe md the
preservation OF all kinds OF wild animal life ana
game fish,
In 1913 the lnte Franklin X Lane became
rotary OF the Interior In the first Wilson cabinet
lie WAS the first secretary with the vision to
In our national parks-which contain the finest
scenery On carth-an economic asset OF the hss,
rank For the first time there sympathy md
encouragement In the Interior department for the
nature lovers. They wer. regarded Ms co.workers
not cranks
From then on things moved rapidly. New
tionn pnrks OF the first class-likc Rocky Noun
tain. Grand Canyon and Mount McKinlcy-wcr.
created. The national pnrk service was crtah
iishcd. The National Parks association OF nature
lovers wns organized. Ai'llinon among the many
nnturc.loying and nnturc-pro'ccting organizations
was brought about Adverse legislation In congress
was defeated and beneficial legislation passed
And the army Is drawn M to rcpcl further at
tncks by commercial interests upon the natural
beauty snSjs NJ the country.
The slogan, See America First" was born ma
found many hearers. Muny hundreds OF million.
OF American dollars formerly spcn, abroad .ncN
year by American sightsccrs now stay nj home
More than 100000 tourists Inst year visited the
national pnrks-nhou' 50 per cen; ct them IN their
own care These visitors came from every state
in the Union Every widc.awnkc md sclf.rcspcct.
ing city md town in the scenic wcs, has mn auto
100000 u year States like Michigan, Wisconsin