Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-01-23
WORKING HARD FOR PARK

II UVNAluu uHNV Vn hNn
Following the annual meeting met
ing 81 the Shenandoah Valley IIco
pofated, in Harrisonhurg on Janual
| Is, there has been unusual activi
looking toward to attracting tours
and industries to this urea. Woo
stock and Shenandoah County fare
well in the Harrisonburg meeting K
the town is the home Of the new Pres
ident. and Hon. Claude N. Hoover (
New Market, was reelected Treasurer
The endorsement OF Houston H. New
man, Mayor OF Edinburg and one {
the real live wires of the County
for the vacancy created in the Boar
of Directors by the elevation Of Col
Howard ]. Benchoff to the Presidenc
was in line with the County's deter
mfnation to select as representative
in the organization such men as woul
reflect credit on the County, and me-
who are jealous in forwarding an
movement which spells progressive
ness.
just now the most momentous o
matters under consideration by tn
Shenandoah Valley Incorporated is tn
securing of government park in tn
Blue Ridge area, and no movement il
recent years has SO aroused the en-
thusiasm of Valley people or solidifie,
endeavor for the accomplishment Of
specified undertaking as the Parl
proposition.
This enthusiasm which has now per
meated the entire State was crystalize,
into action on Tuesday when tire,
hundred Virginians representing tn,
agricultural, commercial, banking ant
educational interests of the State gath
cred in Washington and inaugurated |
definite program of action to secure TO
Virginia one of the National Park
which the government will establish il
the Southern Appalachian Mountains
MEEIiNG A kEtELAIION.
This meeting was a revelation to thu
Virginia delegation in Congress. fol
members did not seemingly appreciate
the magnitude of the project, or the
necessity for immediate action if Vir
ginia was to secure the Shenandoah
Park. To great extent the fault lay
in the procrastination of many Vir.
ginians who did not become active un.
til North Carolina and Tennessee be.
gan warfare on the Blue Ridge loca.
ton. An exception to the evident
Congressional apathy was Judge Thos.
w. Harrison of the Seventh district.
Since the inception of the movement
Congressman Harrison has been whole
heartedly and actively behind the
movement and in cooperating with the
Shenandoah Valley, Incorporated, and
other agencies his efforts have been
invaluable.
The meeting was revelation, too, in
showing to the outside world an en-
thusiasm which evidenced that Vir-
ginia's Rip Van Wrinkle days are over,
and under a competent, qualified
leadership pathway TO prosperity is
being blazed along which every man,
and child interested in the well
fare of the Commonwealth should con-
,ider it privilege to follow.
MEETING IN WASHINGTON oPPoRTUNE
The meeting on Tuesday came at a
lime when delay was dangerous for al
ready the budget which controls
expenditures was being
closed by General Lord. Only through
a recommendation of the Director of
the Budget could an appropriation be
secured and the first thing done by
the Virginia delegation was the
selection of Committee composed of
Governor E. Lee Trinkle, Senators
Swanson and Glass, Congressman
Harrison, and Col. Benchoff to confer
with Gen. Lord and urge the ALLEGATION
Of SIS, 600 for preliminary surveys and
expenses in connection
with the Park. Another Committee
OF Senator Harry F. Byrd,
Captain John Paul of Harrisonburg,
Homer L. Ferguson, President of the
New Port News Dry Deck and ship
building Company Col. Thomas B.
President of the Shenan-
doah Life Insurance Co., of Roanoke,
was named as an advisory Committee
of the Virginia delegation in Congress.
Associated with these Committees is
w. j. Showalter of the National
Geographic Magazine.
In delegating to small committees
such powers as may be necessary in
the premises, the two hundred dele.
gates accomplished the primary pur.
pose of the "On to Washington
journey, and as the matter now stands
there is not only possibility but 9
probability of the Blue Ridge area be-
ing designated as National Park.
The opposition Of North Carolina anG
Tennessee to the Virginia project was
largely Modified by tentative I'M
derstanding that these States woule
also be recognized in the selection Of
Park sites, and Secretary Work, of thu
Interior Department, gave the Vir
ginia delegation to understand, in un
mistakable language. that any unseen
ly rivalry between the States for |
Park location would result in the gov
ernment dropping the whole matter.
Warren County had the larges
body of delegates present in Washing
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