Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-10-23
REP. TUCKER
PLEADS FOR PARK
Noted Virginian Makes Strong APP
peal at Lexington

The organized campaign for the
acquisition of Virginia's National
Park was inaugurated last week for
the counties of Roekbridge and
Botetourt. including the cities of
Lexington, Buena Vista and Fincas-
tie. by public meeting held in the
Lyric Theater at Lexington. The
mayor of Lexington, G. A. Rhodes,
presided
The audience, which was made up
of the substantial people of these
towns and counties listened with en-
thusiastic interest to addresses made
by Congressman H. st. G. Tucker,
regional chairman of the park move
ment, and Edwin L. Quarles, assist
ant president of the Shenandoah
Park Association. The scenic Won
ders of the proposed Blue Ridge area
were brought to the attention of the
audience with new charm when the
Pathe motion picture of the proposed
park area was shown.
In brief address, Edwin Q.
Quarles explained particularly some
of the economic and commercial
benefits that Virginia may expect
from the park, and the methods be-
ing used in the campaign for the
purchase of acreage by the people.
Mr.. fuckers address. which was
enthusiastically received by the peo-
pie of his own and surrounding
communities, in the course of his
remarks, said:
First. If the Shenandoah Park
was to be established by the gov
eminent in the Blue Ridge Noun
tains of Virginia, it would be the
first park established in the eastern
country There is sentimental con-
sistency in this, inasmuch as the first
permanent settlement made in
America was the settlement at
T jamestown, Va, in 1907, and in
1919 the first legislative assembly
at Jamestown in the House of Burg
esses, and this little body was legis-
lating for America for year, when
the Pilgrim Fathers landed in 1920
at Plymouth Rock. In fact, Old Vir-
ginia never tires of being first.
Second The government of the
United States has indicated clearly
that if the land which is to consti-
tute the park is presented to the
Government of the United States, by
the people of Virginia, it will con-
vert it and develop it into a park.
Not that it will buy the land to make
a park of it Chat the government
has never done); but if the land is
given to the government, it will de-
vel6p it as a park. as it has right
to do as it pleases with its own.
Third. The appeal, therefore, to
the people is for every one who is
able to contribute as he is able to
thisfgreat project. for it may be stat
ed, / think, with perfect confidence
that every farmer in Rockbridge and
Botetourte counties, if the park is
established, in few years will find
the value of his land greatly en-
HANGED, and the business of the coun-
trys in which all will participate,
greatly increased. The incoming of
five or ten millions of people annu-
ally into the State cannot fail to
bring about such a result
Fourth. Time is the essence of
the. contract The horse of oppor-
tunity stands saddled and bridled,
awaiting you There is a time in the
affairs of man which taken at the
flood leads on to fortune The Of
fer. of the government is not indefi-
mite A change of administration
may change conditions. Our oppor-
tunity may be lost. Therefore, If
'twere done when It's done, then
'twere well it were done quickly
Fifth. This is a popular move
mert, and everybody is asked to do
only what he can consistently do.
There is no demand, but an appeal
to the patriotism of everyone alike
high and low, rich and poor-for
the sake of Old Virginia and her
future generations. l trust there
may be no faltering on the part of
the people of Botetourt and Rock
bridge"