Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-12-11

try in general and the state of Vir-
ginia in particular. the great advan-
tage and desirability of this area for
the park.
Secretary Work has pointed out
with emphasis that it is against the |
policy of the federal government to
buy land for the purpose of park.
The eighteen parks on the west side
of the Mississippi River were carved
out of the public domain, and the
one park in Maine east of the Missis-
sippi River was donated to the fed
eral government by individuals. He
has, therefore, required as a sine
qua non that this land shall be pre-
sented to the federal government
After the acquisition of the land by
the federal government by gift, it is
the intention of Secretary Work to
ask of Congress millions of dollars
for the development of the park. No
other expenses will be attached to
INV PNOPiC VI II VI lnt pSODlS
in general than the contribution of
the land. There is something in the
attitude which Secretary Work takes
in this matter. If the policy was
once abandoned of requiring gifts of
the territory for the national parks,
there would be innumerable appli-
cations all oyer the wide area of the
United States by people and states to
have territory bought and converted
into public parks 1t is for this rea-
son Secretary Work has insisted that
the United States in this instance ad-
here to its policy of requiring the do
nation of the site.
Those who have had the PROPOSE
ton in charge have formulated the
plan of what is known as BUY An
Acre" Under this plan, individuals
are solicited to subscribe to the pur-
chase of so many acres of land at the
price of $500 an acre. One dollar is
paid down in cash on subscription
and is dedicated to the necessary ex-
: penses of the propaganda The other
$500 is not to be paid until the
: federal government has accepted the
territory and the acquisition of the
park is a certainty This plan has
been widely advertised and work un-
: der it vigorously pressed by the agen.
cies employed for that purpose A
New York concern that is organized
for purpose of this nature have the
matter in charge and are paid a com
mission for the services rendered
but are paid out of the fund dedicat-
ed to propaganda. In numerous
counties the work has been virtually
accomplished. The various sections
have responded, as understand
satisfactorily. OF course the total
subscription necessary is far from
yet being secured, but the various To-
calities are responding.
Outside of the sentimental value
of the establishment of such a park
it cannot fail but be great source
of wealth to the state 70 Virginia.
The gentlemen composing the com
mission are familiar with every
phase of the park situation. For
years some of them at least have
been connected with the MANAGEMENT
and control of tho Uraot oot;o,ol
parks already in existence. Even out
in the wild and remote sections
where these parks are established
the tourists to each of the parks
have been large in number and the
estimated wealth left behind them
runs into millions. 1t is said that
the city of Denver has estimated that
the amount spent by tourists in that
city each year runs into the millions.
Within easy access of the proposed
park there will be a population of
forty million people, and these com
missioners have estimated that each
year the visiting tourists will leave
in the state of Virginia many mil
lions of dollars. The government it
self will spend millions of dollars in
the development of the park indie
pendent of the contribution of the
tourists. These are not wild figures
but they are based on data derived
from official sources by men who are
thoroughly conversant with the sub
iect
When Congress convenes, it is the
hope of the commission that they
will be able to submit a report that
the people have contributed the loca-
ton of the site, and that Congress
should make the necessary approp-
ration for its development. If such
is done, no section of Virginia will
fail to receive its due proportion of
the wealth left in the state. The au-
tomobile tax revenue alone will re-
ceive a great accession. The revenues
of the state will be increased by the
increased value of property, and the
visitors invited to this section of Vir-
ginia will naturally overflow into
every interesting part of the state.
The federal government will de-
velop boulevards throughout the
area, will build hotels and camps
and provide other entertainment for
the visitors. The streams will be