Evening star., 1925-01-18

Continued from First Page.)
expense In the meantime additional
areas would demand that their sites
be inspected and before the time ar
rived for another Congress to con-
slider the proposition. II IT considered
IL at all, more money would have
been spent in that way than Con-
gress is now asked to appropriate for
the initiale steps 10 ard making the
Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia
the Shenandoah National Park.
Virginia officials and business men
who had been fighting to have the
park established in the Old Dominion
State were surprised when two speak
ers from Washington informed them
last Friday at the annual meeting of
the Shenandoah Valley, Inc, just ex-
actly what the conditions are in Con-
gress. Immediately the subject be-
came the outstanding consideration
of the convention, which was attended
by nearly 1000 influential men and
women from all parts of the State.
Surprised by Hitch
The people of Virginia, it was
pointed out. thought that the Southern
Appalachian National Park Commits
sion's Endorsement of the Blue Ridge
site, especially when that committee
made its choice so definite and unques-
tionable. had clinched the proposition
for Virginia and that any interference
on their part now would have been su
perfluous 1t was ignorance of the true
situation. not lack of interest. leading
speakers declared that was to blame
for their stand.
Gov Trinkle had just finished an
address when the speakers from Wash
Sngton made their announcements.
The governor Immediately declared he
would set aside any and all engage
ments to come to Washington and do
everything in his power to save the
situation. Within less than an hour
ARRANGEMENTS had been made for a
highly representative committee to ac-
company him and press the Virginia
members of Congress to make the
national park their outstanding fight.
Senator Swanson was reached over
long distance telephone, informed OF
what had happened, and declared he
would call the Virginia members OF
Congress together Tuesday morning.
At that time the situation will be
put squarely up to them and they Will
be urged to give the Shenandoah
National Park bill right of way from
now on.
Alliance May Result.
In the meantime, plans are being
laid fro an alliance between the Nlr-
pinIa. North Carolina and Tennessee
delegations to work together. Under
this agreement Secretary of Interior
Work would have an amendment IN
troduced providing that the commits
sion appointed under the bill to IN
vestigate the cost OF the proposed
mark and report it to the next Con-
of no
into similar matters in the area In
the Great Smoky Mountains of North
Carolina and Tennessee.
This area was recommended as the
site for a second national park, TO De
created after the Shenandoah Ma
tionaI Park was established. 1t was
declared to be too distant from the
great centers of population in the
East and too inaccessible even within
l. its own boundaries to be given hrst
considerations While the Southern
Anpalachian National Park commit
tee is willing to have such an
amendment adopted, members made
plain that they would accept it only
upon the distinct understanding that
the Blue Ridge area be made ma
tional park first, as they recommend
ed after an impartial investiga tion
cf both.
Time Factor Emphasized.
North Carolina has been boosting
several areas, and under the pro-
nosed alliance it would drop all but
the Great Smoky site. Such a peace
full combination, however, would as
sure the three contending States IA
national park within their bound
aries-and under plans that were
drawn up by experts who were not
| Influenced by State pride. Engineers
] who have examined all Of the sites