The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-07-17

service but SlZouO 10 care ior All VI
them Visitors 70 the IS where records were Kept
numbered but s26 last season But that is be-
cause the people know almost nothing about the
national monuments Some day these national
monuments will be made easily accessible and fixed
up then the people will flock to them. For all OF
them well worth seeing and many 81 them are
among the wonders Of the world
With national parks and national forests and
national monuments. etc, etc. the public is nat
uraIly mixed up on what's what. Here's the right
of that:
There are 10 national parks. each established by
q separate act Of congress and all In charge OF the
national park service of the Interior department
Primarily they contain scenic features of national
Importance though two-Hot Springs In Arkansas
and Plat in Okahoma-are medicinal They are
kept as far possible in their original wild state
and are wild life sanctuaries. They are protected
against commercialism. Familiar names in the ma
tional park system Yellowstone, Yosemite,
Rocky Mountain and Grand Canyon. Lafayette.
on the coast Of Maine. Is the only scenic national
park east Of the Mississippi Congress Will not
purchase land for national park purposes and the
only public lands are in the West. Lafayette was
presented to the nation by publicspirted citizens.
There are six national military parks-Gettys-
burg and Vcksburg are familiar examples-under
control Of the War department
There are approximately 1873 national forests.
under control Of the forest service Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. They were established for
scientific numbering and for grazing and were
originally purely commercial propositions. The
Agricultural department however In Its persistent
efforts TO get control Of the national parks has set
up recreatonal features I'm many national forests
IN competition with the national parks
Now we come 10 the national monuments. ma
tionaI Landmarks" would be more fitting desig-
nation. Previous TO 1906 the United States had
no provision for the establishment Of national
monuments Public insistence became so great
81 rrou vauual-
ism that in 1906 the Act for the Preservation OF
American Antiquities passed by congress.
This act provides for the punishment Of vandal-
ism and for permits to excavate and collect Sec
ton Of the act reads
That the President Of the United States is hereby
authorised in his discretion. 10 declare b. public
proclamation historic landmarks. historic and pre-
fi-tori~ srrctres and other objects OF historic
rfntiec interest that are situated upon the lanes
owned or controlled by the government OF the
f--itss sfates 10 be national monuments. and may
reserve as part thereof parcels OF land the limits
OF which an shall be confined TO the small
est area compatible with the proper care ana man
arcuent q the objects % be protected
Under this act ab0u; 80 national monuments are
row established About 30 are IN charge q the
national PARK service and about II under control
az the forest service. The War department con
trolls three. Exact figures cannot be given as
changes are constantly occurring
OF those controlled by the forest service the
largest Is Mount olympus IN washington which Is
a rea,on az f~auntains forests and glaciers and the
home Of the Olympic elk Bandelier IN New Mex
leo contains vast numbers u prehistoric cliff
d,seiier ruins and Is presumably slated for ma
tionaI PARK honors. Bryce Canyon In Otah-of
which more Iater-is an eroded canyon Of 8'4so
acres
Tbe 1924 rerort Of Director Stephen 7. Mather
Of the national park service 10 the secretary OF the
interior gives IN addition 10 Devils Tower. II
MORO. and Petrsfed Forest-of which more later
the following as the list Of the national monuments
upder his chsrge They have been grouped oy tbs
writer The list: