The Coconino sun., 1924-04-18
PARK DIRECTORS URGES
ROAD TO GRAND CANYON

Stephen T. Mather, director Of the
national park service, is in the valley,
accompanied by Superintendent J. r.
Eakin of the Grand Canyon national
park, formerly of Glacier park, to
which service he was called from the
geological survey. They were accom-
panied by Mrs. Mather and Mrs.
Eakin.
Mr.. Mather is making a tour of the
national parks in the west and in the
course of his tour of Arizona he will
visit the Roosevelt dam, Casa Grande,.
Tumacacari, and a district several
miles west of Tucson, famous for the
suguaras of that region. Another
visit not on the schedule of Mr.. Math
er has been arranged for since his
arrival. It will be horse back ride
over the proposed Mountain park of
Phoenix south of the city.
Mr.. Mather has been connected with
the National park service for many
years, almost since the institution of
it. Of him Representative Hayden
said in recent speech in support of
a measure providing for the purchase
Of the Bright Angel Trail:
llG DI6SCHJ w
be congratulated for retaining Ste
phen t. Mather in that office (direc-
tor of the national park service). He
has sense and carried out the almost
universal desire that the national
parks shall be not only preserved
from desecration but actually made to
serve the purpose to (which they are
dedicated, the enjoyment OF the
American people"
Mr.. Mather was hopeful that that
item for the purchase of the trail
would prevail over the objection of
Senator Cameron, but SO far it had
had the effect of holding up the ap-
preparation BILL 1t was the opinion
of Mr.. Eakin that in the matter of
the sale of the trail to the government
for the amount of the proposed appro-
priation for that purpose, 100000,
it would be approved by large ma
iority of the citizens of Coconino
county. This money would be applied
to the construction of an approach to
the Grand Canyon from the town of
Maine. Much money for that pur-
pose would be required and it will
no doubt be Forthcoming, and that an
nual appropriations would be made
until total of 100000 or 100000
had been expended by the federal
government on roads leading to the
canyon.
At present, said Mr.. Mather, the
idea of the creation of national parks,
the making of Fairgrounds for the
people, is not being carried out at the
Grand Canyon for all the people, and
it cannot be, until that wonder has
been made easily accessible and pre-
pared for them by the government.
The people are making more and
more use of these parks and there is
none which would be more so than
the Grand Canyon national park if it
were made easy of access.
Both Mr.. Mather and Mr.. Eakin
remarked that there are so few pic
lures on exhibition in the windows
and offices of Phoenix of the Grand
Canyon, the greatest of the world
wonders.
Speaking of the Kaibab forest deer,
though the forest is not under his
jurisdiction, he said that the agricul-
tural department had temporarily re-
ceded from its determination to kill
a certain part of them to keep the
rest from starving. This determine
ton was reached on representations
made by J. w. Strobe of Miami, who
had questioned the reports of the
great numbers Of deer in the forest
and the state of vegetation within
the forest.
Messrs. Mather and Eakin will be
joined today by Myron Hunt, the well
known architect of Los Angeles, and
Mrs. Hunt, who will accompany them
on their visit to the old mission of
Tucacacari where restoration work is
going on under the direction of Frank
Pinkley, for long time custodian at
Casa Grande and more recently given
charge of the parks of the south
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