The Republican., 1925-07-16

Superintendent Baker of Mountain
Lake Park Talks of Conditions at
the Park and Expresses a Thought
that "Extravagant Words May
Have Been Spoken" When the Park
Was Taken Over, And Hopes Ex-
pressed for Future Development
Which Have Not Been Realized
To the Editor of The Republican.
A knocker cannot knock Mountain
Lake Park and not knock Oakland.
Put that in reverse, if you will, and it
still works. The back docs of the two
towns touch, which gives US every
reason for being neighborly and gives
NE the reason for writing these
words.
We are now starting the fourth
season since l was elected Superin-
tendent of the Park, and about the
seventh year since the Methodist
Board of Foreign Missions accepted
ownership.
Statements have been made about
the large salaries that have been paid
and the consequent heavy expense for
administration. The truth will be in
teresting. Not one cent of salary
have / ever received from the Noun
tain Lake Park Association or from
any Park funds. My duties as Super
intendent were simply added to an al
ready full program and no charge has
ever been made for such services. DR..
George Fowles, who was treasurer,
and Dr.. Achibald Moore, president,
never received any compensation for
services. DR.. R. NJ. Fowles was paid
for several months as program di-
rector and for soliciting funds in 1928
and for three months only in 1924.
The Park is not in the condition we
or you would like to have it. 1t never
will be, for it would take a fortune to
put it there, but it will compare favor
ably withits condition seven years ago
and so it deserves your praise and
hearty support.
A great number of good people
gave of their hard-earned money
seven years ago to make possible.
change of ownership, and some do
not feel that statements made then
have been carried out in full. 1t is
quite likely that, in the enthusiasm Of
the moment, eXtravagant words may
have been spoken and hopes expressed
for future development which have
not been realized. The Board of For
eign Missions was not a party to such
expressions, but | do know that many
things they had on their Centenay
program had to be curtailed or
dropped because of an income de-
crease of more than one-half. A mis-
sionary board can only spend what is
given to it; it has no other source Of
income.
Many things have been done. Ho-
tells are in much better condition;
grounds are improved; a school OF
theology has been established; class
rooms built and equipped; training
schools through the Epworth League
have fourished each year; the lake
improved and tennis courts added, so
let's praise the Board for what they
have been able to do and, with char
ity, forget what they have not been
able to accomplish,
During these years l have learned
to respect and admire many of Oak
lands leaders. Oakland has good
banks, good hotels, good stores and
newspapers; fine doctors and profess
sional men, schools and churches;
good water, lights and natural gas,
and a normal amount of improve
ments are being made each year. All
that's needed to make ahumming city
is to add 100 per cent loyalty each for
the other. If you don't boost your
own city, your neighbors and your
own county, it will not be boosted.
F. E. BAKER, Sup't,
Mountain Lake Park Association.
NTovn+o;,, ,1-o Darl- J,,i1- IN 1903