Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-06-11

has In ten wears transformed the national park
movement from forlorn hope Into the llyesf nom
political Issue OF tie times. The proof OF the pud-
ding is the National Conference on Outdoor
Recreation This was organized last summer at
Washington upon the initiative Of President Cool
idge and held It's second annual meeting few days
ago The federal government now stands as
guide. philosopher and friend" OF the people In
all phases of outdoor recreation, as we'll as active
participant and financial supporter. The Army,
however retains its organization and continues to
deal directly with congress-which pays attention
One result of this is that Secretary Work Of the
Interior department has seen his way clear to an
nounee national park policy based upon three
broad principles:
First, that the national parks and national mon
u ents must be maintained untouched by the In
roads Of modern civilization In order that unspolled
bits Of native America may be preserved to be en-
jcyed by future generations as well as our own;
"Second, that they are set apart for the use.
education. health and pleasure OF all the people,
"Third, that the national interest must take
precedence In all decisions affecting public or
private enterprise 10 the parks and monuments"
So live an Issue is the National Park Move
ment." so manifold are its activities and wide
are its qualifications that 1t would take volumes In
stead OF columns to cover the situation. Only out
standing features Of special interest to the whole
country can be touched on here, and then only In
outline.
mere are now IN the udllOuht para oyotcH uAuc-
teen units The twentieth-Utah National park
has been authorized; the acquisition Of certain
privately owned lands within Its boundaries will
completely establish It. Two more national parks
Shenandoah and Great Smoky IN the Appaachi-
ans-are apparently In the making; the Slxty-ninth
congress is likely to pass upon these projects
The total ATTENDANCE at the national parks and
at 10 (out OF 81 national monuments In the 1924
season was 16709OS, compared with 1.493,712 for
1928 satisfying increase In view OF the fact that
lust year presented many conditions unfavorable
&c American tourist travel. including unemploy.
ment, forest fires and the foot-and-mouth disease
Ia the Southwest. Favorable conditions this sea-
son point to a very large attendance. Rocky Noun
tain in CoIorado-the most popular of all the ma
u0nal parks-led usual its visitors numbered
224211 Other figures are Hot Springs Arkan-
sae (medicinaIl 16A.175 . Mount Rainier. Washing.
ten, t6ls47S; Teflo~stone Wyoming. 144,lB8;
Yosemite, California. 106eo4 Grand Canyon Arr.
Kona, 108s258 Pastures Of this showing are; The
large Increase ut Mount khknieE sthe 1928 attend
nnce being 12S1 708 the fact that Yellowstone Il
showing results dndsr an iAeensivs system Of pub
nea&y. the 1922 attendance being only es22S; the
aeeRwAs8 al xeAnz31sAfs vtzltora from 1S00z6 In
Me#* iii fhN ms@s@3 mYpFtant national parks are
nuw peaeially open - visitors. Rocky Mountain
xoessaAks Aaa Ge#Hd capgon are open all the
ysa& 10 are BOT Springs and Plat (OkIahoma.
eaaAla SOD xafayetfe Csainel and Hawaii
EszaSzaR onEAna3 AID Mount Rainier 6pan Juhs