Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-01-03

the principal winter home of the waterfowl that
travel with the seasons between the Gulf and
northern Canada. x and are marshy lakes con-
nected by waterways. q is Vermilion Bay Of the
Gulf No. is the Rockefeller Foundation Wild
Life Refuge of $1,000 acres. No. 2, called Pecan
Island, contains 100000 acres. No. is the private
holding of the Vermi1ion Bay company $1,000
acres. No is the Louisiana State Wild Life
Refuge 1900 acres. No. is Marsh Island Wild
Life Refuge of 1890 acres, purchased by Mrs.
Russell Sage and dedicated to the permanent pro-
lection of bird life No. marks the location OF
the home and bird refuge of Edward A. McIlhen-
n.y. nationally famous for his efforts in behalf OF
bird protection
Yes; times have changed and we have changed
with them. The national parks movement one
of the vest nonpolitcal issues of the day, lis typ
cal and suggests the extent of the change. UP TO
1912 national parks, then twelve in number,
were neglected by the federal government and were
considered nuisance rather than an asset 1Iem-
bers of congress turned a def ear to any plead
ing Of their cause and hastily moved away from the
pleader. In the General Federation Of Women's
Clubs this story is told with glee: In 1912
Mrs John d. Sherman elected chairman of
the department of conservation of natural re
sources. then largely devoted to a sentimental
and lady-like effort in behalf of the song birds
and trees When she suggested the creation of
a division of Natural Scenery" there was laugh
and the national officers said, "But scenery isn't
a natural resource" However, she had her way
and today no organization IN the country is more
keen-or more in1uential-in the nationwide
movement toward national parks state parks, mu
nicipal Fairgrounds, childrens gardens, nature
study in public schools, the outdoor life and the
preservation of all kinds of wild animal life and
game fish.
In 1913 the late Franklin x. Lane became Sec
retary of the interior in the first Wilson cabinet
He was the first secretary with the vision to see
in our national parks-which contain the finest
scenery on eartll-an economic asset of the first
rank For the first time there sympathy and
encoura cement in the Interior department for the
nature lovers. They were regarded co-workers
not cranks.
From then on things moved rapidly. New ma
tiOnal parks of the first class-like Rocky Noun
tain, Grand Canyon and Mount McKinley-were
created. The national park service was estab
Iished The National Parks association of nature
lovers was organized Afdliation among the many
nature-loving and nature-protecting organizations
was brought about. Adverse legislation in congress
was defeated and beneficial legislation passed
tacks by commercial interests upon the natural
beauty spots Of the country.
The slogan "See America First" was born and
found many hearers. Many hundreds of millions
of American dollars formerly spent abroad each
year by American sghtseers now stay at home
More than 100000 tourists last year visited the
national parks-about 80 per cent of them in their
own cars These visitors came from every state
in the Union. Every wide-awake and self-respect
ing city and town in the scenic West has an auto
camp Maine estimates it's tourist business at $780,
100000 year. States like Michigan Wisconsin