Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-15
W|RC|N|ANS TO PUSH.
DRIVE FOR PARK
Presentation of Shenandoah
Tract to Nation During Con-
qress Session Aim.
BY HAROLD Il. PHILIPS.
stan Corre-pondept OF The star

RICHMOND. Va. January 15.-Nir-
ginia intends 10 buy the site of the
proposed Shenandoah National Park.
in the historic Blue Ridge Mountains.
and make the Federal Government
present OF II before the present Con
gress adjourns.
This Was decided yesterday at what
WAS described by Gov. r.. Lee Trinkle
as The most notable gathering OF
leading business men ever held IN on.
place in all the history OF Virginia.
when leaders in finance. industry.
business and educa ton assembled in
the jefferson Hotel here tn adopt
plan to make the Shenandoah National
Park Il reality before the coming Sum
mer.
The meeting was called st tho in.
stance of both Gov. Trinkle and Gov.
elect Harry F.. Byrd. both OF whom
presided at alternating times. From
WASHINGTON there were present Ste
phen r. Mather. director OF the Ma
fional Parks Service. members Of the
Southern Appala chan National Park
Commission and officials Of the Ma
tional Capitals business life. Many
other communities outside Of Virginia
were represented. too. but the bulk OF
the gathering was composed of the
leading men from every part of the
old Dominion state.
Campaign for Fund.
TO make possible the purchase OF
the 1O0 square miles OF primeval will
darnesS that was selected by the
southern Appa In chan National Park
Commission as the logical site for
the Fast first great National park.
it was decided that a simulta neous
drive for $500. 900 should be inaugu-
rated throughout Virginia. in the Dis
trct OF Columbia and in parts OF
Maryla nd and West Virginia. The
The campaign will he short hut In
tensiye. ocCupYinc the week from Feb
ruary % 10 March :.
Private dona tons toward the pur-
chase of the park have already totaled
nearly $500. 900 so that ii becomes
necessary to raise only about 81 600
900 during the week. Gov. Trinkle
told The assembled business men. how
ever. that in the Shenandoah National
Park Virginia has been offered an
opportunity never before eoualed to
place the State before the eyes Of the
whole world But it's just waiting
for Virginia TO do her part he added.
and although it will be no small job.
we are going to find the energy. vision
nd unselfishness to put II over.
DR.. Edward A Alderman. president
of the University OF Virginia. giving
the proposed park and campaign his
complete Endorsement. declared: 1T
offers You advantages that bewilder
the ina sination. Winning this park.
putting across this campaign is to
my mind. the supreme. crucial. almost
savage test Of this commonwealth.
This is your hour. Historic justice
dema nds that Virginia hav. this park.
even If the State has to buy II itself"
DR.. Alderman and other speakers
showed. however. that the purchase
price of 81 500. 900 would he wiped out
the first year the park was opened
by the food OF gold from tourists
purses and that from then on the
park would he one of the States
richest sources of revenue. At least
1000. 900 persons will visit the park
every year. it was stated. and Stats
ties would show that each would
spend al least $40. Such figures were
cited by Mr.. Mather. Mai. William A
WEIGH. manager of the Palisades
Interstate Park: ii. J. Benchoff, presi-
dent Of the Shena ndoah National Park
Associa ton. Incorporated. and others
Senator Goodrich of Frederick sburg
Solemnly warned the meeting that IL
Virginia fails to accept the opportunity
thus offered the sun will have set
for the Old Dominion for many years
to come Failure will be to your
undying sha me- he added. w j.
Harahan, president of the Chesa peake
and Ohio Railway Co. declared that
the railroads OF Virginia would do
their share, and in this he was sup
ported by the officers Of other roads.
All Aided by Donations.
The meeting was told that the Gov
eminent has never violated the prece-
dent which prohibits the purchase of
lands for national park purposes
Most Of the existing parks have been
carved from the public domain, but
those sections which had to be bought,
Mr.. Mather said. were obtained
through private donations of money
If the people of Virginia, it was as.
serted. can raise the money to buy the
site. there is no doubt but that Con-
gress will accept it. designate 1t the
Shenandoah National Park and fur
nish the appropriation necessary to
developing it as national park and
forever maintaining 1t.