The Coconino sun., 1925-01-30
PLAN THAT MORMON LAKE
BE STATE PARK OPPOSED;
NOTHING TO BE GAINED
Continued from Page One)

tion of summer homes, and anyone is
welcomed to come and camp. In case
mill should be located at the south
end Of the lake, the mill pond will be
separate and distinct from the lake
and no refuse will be discharged into
the lake.
"Since the people who seek recrea-
ton at Mormon lake are better served
under forest service administration
than would be the case should a state
park be created; especially since the
state has no organization for the
handling of such a park; since the
creation of such park would mean
the spending of many thousands of
dollars in compensation to lumber
companies already holding contracts,
and for the purchase Of the private
holdings along the lake; since the
creation of the proposed park would
benefit no one, but would work
hardship upon many; now, therefore,
"Be it resolved, that our represen-
tatives in the Arizona legislature and
in congress be urged to do everything
possible to prevent the creation of the
proposed park"
Three billion feet of timber below
Mormon lake, to be cut by the Flag
staff Lumber Co., If the state park
proposition succeeded, would either go
uncut or the company, it was officially
announced Wednesday, would at once
shut down for year and move their
mill from Flagstaff to new location
south of Mormon lake.
Creation of a state park at first
glance might seem to be means of
getting state appropriations for roads
in that section. But appropriations
would first have to be made to com
pensate the lumber company for the
damage done it and to take care of
the privately owned homesteads and
south, shore and half of the west
shore of the lake. 1t would cost more
than hundred thousand dollars
probably lot more-to take care of
all Of that
A state appropriation for the road
south of Mormon lake would be well
come, of course, but the forest serv-
ice is now spending an average of
$4,000 a year on that road, which is
probably more than the state would
care to spend. The roads in that sec
tion are constantly being improved
There is no need of taking away rs
per cent of the business of Flagstaff
and throwing away thousands of del
lars of annual revenue from the forest
service office in exchange for a few
thousands of state road aid that might
or might not be provided once the
lake section was declared park
People in the south part of the state
who protest against denuding the for
est around the lake misapprehend the
forest service has provided, with the
full and free agreement of the mill
company, that trees shall not be cut
close to the lake but that strip shall
be left wider than needed for any pos
sible camping purposes Again, as
cutting is now regulated, it does not
denude the forests. The large trees,
that before long would die anyway,
are cut; the rest left to provide per-
manent forestation.
Mormon lake is a public park now.
There are scores of privately owned
cottages on it's shores. The forest !
service office now has applications for
at least 25 more cottage sites, which |
will be granted. Store and hotel fa-
cilities are being improved and in alb
likelihood other stores and hotels will /
be built before long. Mormon lake is
a state playground, ably protected
and administered by as clean-cut, |
honest and fair set of employees as I
this or any other government ever had.
There could be nothing gained to re-
by making the lake
state park and much would be lost,
in convenience, and in revenue to the /
state and county. And Flagstnff's and I
Coconino county's business interests
would be tremendously hurt,