Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-05-29
TO BUY AN ACRE
FOR VIRGINIA PARK
Enthusiastic Meeting of Prominent
Men Endorse Idea-Great Meet
ing i'm Park Area

ms III hECtt
The proposition through which
Shenandoah National Park is des
tlned to be established by the United
states Government in the Blue Ridge
area is definitely taking form, and
there is every indication that if il
is supported by proper cooperation
the effort will succeed.
Citizens of Virginia, and of the
Shenandoah Valley particularly
must get back of the movement and
work for the end in view. H. X. Phil
lips, special correspondent, writing
IN the Washington Star, says:
The fifth national conference on
state parks moved its seat of activ-
tiles Wednesday from the snug shell
ter of Skyland to this natural am
phltheater in the heart of one of the
forest wildernesses it is seeking to
preserve as playground for the
clty-bound people of the East.
With nothing but the blue sky and
towering hemlocks as their roofs
and rare mountain fora as the car
pet OF their earthen floor the dele
gates sat facing speakers whose stage
was great barren cliff that drops
straight down 1000 feet to the floor
Of canyon that rolls on down an
other 1000 feet to the floor of the
shenandoah Valley, which spreads
itself out in the distance like a huge
modelled map.
John Barton Payne, president of
he conference, introduced Harris
A. Reynolds of the Massachusetts, For
estry Association as the chairman of
he meeting and the afternoon was
given over to short addresses by rep
aresentatiyes from some of the states
represented here. State parks was
he order OF the day and nothing
vas considered but that problem,
despite the enthusiasm in favor of
he proposed eastern national parks
hat has dominated the conference
since its opening last Monday.
Warns of Hot-Dog Stands
Stephen T. Mather, director of the
national parks service. told the con-
ference that Texas now leads the ma
ion in the establishment of state
parks with 53 such reservations. Mr.
Lieber corrected him to say that In
diana has the same number. Adj
lressing himself directly to Governor
Trinkle of Virginia. Mr.. Mather de-
.lared that unless Virginia acquires
tracts along the Lee Highway be-
tween Washington and the Shenan-
loah National Park and converts
them into camping and picnic
grounds before next Spring, little
hot-dog stands will spring up like
mushrooms to spoil the landscape
and the value of the highway as a
main artery to the national reserva-
ton
Members of the conference who
came here from the West with the
idea that the East no longer offered
any attractions to the hiker were
treated to a rather rude awakening
yesterday Abandoning the business
Of laying plans for conserving the
nations wild life and providing seat
tered outdoor Fairgrounds for the
young and cid the delegates were
taken on tour of the famous White
Oak Canyon. Before the trip was
lov nr come had to be carried to then
carriages.
White Oak Canyon rises from the
Piedmont Plateau to the summit OF
one OF the ridges in the Shenandoah
National Park. An uninterrupted Sc
ries Of cascades tumble down a rock
lined valley from a height of 2,50(
feet in less than 4 miles. All bu
the most experienced climbers were
warned to remain in camp and rest
but few needed the warming, ant
when the picnic supper that had beef
prepared at the head of the cascades
was reached the scene looked lik,
a field hospital
Exhausted delegates were scat
tered over the terrain everywhere
Most of them soon recovered afte
being served hot coffee and frie,
; chicken, but one woman was so ex
hausted that it was necessary t,
hurry her back to Skyland in a wa
gon, and for time it was feare
that her condition might prove ser
Gus. When camp was reached mos
o fthe delegates were thoroughly e,
, hausted. but pronounced the scener
passed anywhere in the Unite
States.
Plan Buy an Acre" Drive
Gov. Trinkle, members of the N;
ticnal Parks Commission. authorize
/ by Congress last Winter to sele,
n sites for eastern reservations, an
y delegates from Virginia, North Car
l. lima and Tennessee had a meetir
h Tuesday night TO discuss the pr
e posed Shenandoah National Pan
'eI and the proposed great Smol
g Mountain National Park. 1t was de
n initely agreed that those in chars
N Of the campaigns would work toget
l. e. and that Congress would be ask,
next Winter to take over both are
as national parks.
Virginia intends to donate at lea