Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-03-06

Ora HENANDOAH NATIONAL park may
; : !: =: =: !:
49, be established by congress on the
81 summit of the Blue Ridge in Virginia.
@ Secretary Works Southern Appa-
lachan National park committee has
~ recommended the over all 9TH
VA ers in its report to congress
There is enthusiasm in the "Na-
tional Park Army''-something like
100000 strong-for the project.
Only one of the 10 national parks is east OF the
Mississippi-La on the Island Of Mount
Desert, Maine. There is general feeling tnat
there should be national park in the Appalachi-
ans The South and Southeast are Of course sup
porting the movement. The capital is unofhcially
supporting the establishment of Shenandoah; less
than three hours over the Lee highway takes its
people to the park and from the Blue Ridge may
be seen the Washington rnonument.
Please note, however, that the lettered title
carries with it question mark. Apparently there
are at least three ifs" between the committees
recommendation and the contamination devoutly
to be wish'd." The general proposition may be
stated thus: Shenandoah National park will be
established
If sectional rivalries and jealouses do not bring
to naught the whole movement to establish ma
tional park in the southern Appalachians.
If landowners do not attempt to hold up Uncle
Sam in the matter of prices.
If congress can be induced to appropriate funds
for the purchase of about 700 square miles at rea
sonabe prices
AS to these three "Ifs" this may be said: It
now looks as If several disappointed areas have
forgotten their altruistic promises, ignoring
1.-The fact that the selection was made by a disn-
terested commission of experts and are planning
a fight In congress against the Blue Ridge Any
way, the bills introduced for the creation of ma
tiona parks of other areas would seem to dspel
the idea of united action.
AS TO prices: The land In the Blue Ridge area
is of course all In private ownership. The COM
mittee ntmates In its report that spirit Of con.
structive cooperation the part of the state Of
Virginia and among some of the large landowners
promise reasonable prices and perhaps number
of donations" The committee did not attempt to
estimate the cost of purchase, not feeling sure of
its authority In that particular The report to con-
gress concludes with this suggestion:
We suggest that II congress thinks favorabIy of
this proposed park site, commission be appointed
to handle the purchase and to solicit contributions,
and to arrange condemnation proceedings If the
state of Virginia deems It wise. The creation Of
such a na rk may well be made contingent
limited total land cost.
bill ha6 been introduced for the creation OF a
commission to investigate and report to congress
the cost of acquisition Of the Blue Ridge area 1t
provides for an appropriation of $4,000 to cover
the expense
AS to the chances Of the passage by congress
of an establishing act carrying with 1t an appro-
priation for purchase of the area: Anything Is
possible for congress has no settled national park
policy Eternal vigilance on the part OF the ma
tional Park Army" is necessary to keep it from
passing all sorts of freak legislation In one re-
spect. however, congress has been practically con-
sistent 1t has declined to appropriate money for
the purchase Of national park areas. The scenic
national parks of the West have been created from
public lands. Lafayette was given to the nation
by the property owners
Efforts to secure the establishment by congress
OF national park in the Appalachians are of long
standing The areas proposed were, however not
up to the national park standards Of the national
mark service and the Army" and the various bills
came to naught. Then the movement for an APP
paiachian national park became SO strong that Sec
retary Work of the Interior department appointed