Evening star., 1926-03-21
SHENANDOAH PARK
CAMPAIGN TO OPEN
Drive to Be Launched to
j Raise D. c. Share Toward
Purchase Fund.

the drive that is to be inaugurated
here tomorrow by committee OF
prominent business men to raise
Washing TONS share of the public
fund that must be obtained with which
to purchase the proposed area before
Congress may formally designate II
national park and appropriate the
money necessary to develop it into
a worthy rival of the great reserva
tions of the West.
Virginia alone has raised Sl,2oo.-
600 toward the S2,500,0O0 that IL 10
estimated will be needed to buy the
600 square miles of highland WIDER
ness in the Blue Ridge Mounlaiile.
The drive for additional contrlputloiIs
"a still in nrogress in the Old Domln-
ion. but it is declared that AT leao'
81 900 600 must be raised in the DOT
dering States if the necessary total Is
to be reached. -
ONLY three hours ride from the pro-
soosed area by motor and on the mann
tourist highway toa it, washington
business men and bankers nave as
serted with striking unannnltE tid.
The National Capital would benent at
least as much as Virginia If the Shen-
endoah National Park became a real
itv. both from financial and recfea-
tional points of view.
Harper to Head Drive.
AS 2 result it has been determined
20 begin the drive for funds OUTSIDE
of Virginia in the District. ROBERT
Y. Harper is chairman OF the com
snittee in charge and he is assisted
in the solicitation by leading repre-
sentatives of all of the business. pro-
fessional and industrial interests In
Washington. The campaign here Is
10 assume the form of personal So
1icitation so that every responsible
man and woman may have an oppor-
tunity to subscribe.
When the Southern Appalachian
National Park Commission DESIGNATED
the area as the site for the East's
first great national park, it plainly
stipulated at the time that the peo-
ple would have to present the land
to the Federal Government gratis.
There is no precedent for Congress
ever having purchased land for ma
Jional park purposes, but it was add
ed that the entire expense of develop
ing and maintaining the park would
be borne by the Government.
Early in the Winter the Shenan-
toah National Park Association was
Informed that the commission would
feel justified in asking Congress to
designate the area a national park
when 81 200 900 toward the purchase
of the area had been subscribed. 1t
was provided, however, that assur-
ance must be given that the remand
er could be obtained.
Virginia Supplies Minimum.
Virginia has raised the necessary
minimum sum without asking out
side help. The commission has indi-
Gated that it is prepared to put ITS
promise into effect. Now, members or
the Washington committee declared
last night, is the time for the Dis
trict to give the necessary assurance
that the remainder will be raised by
subscribing generously toward the
fund between now and April l, when
The commission is to make it's report
to Congress.
Present plans contemplate canvass
ing among the business interests hrst,
because it is the business men VINO
will reap tremendous profits from the
park If it is established. A tlde OF a
million tourists year, it Is estimated.
will pass through Washington to and
from the park Later the appeal Will
he carried direct to the citizens, VINO
will benefit from recreational stand
point.
Expects Large Return.
"The establishment Of the Shenan-
tioah National Park will write a new
era in the history of washington,
said w. w. Everett of Woodward q
lothrop.
Denver reported that it's returns
from tourists visiting Colorado In 1924
amounted to 12,500,000, and 1t ex-
meets much greater returns In 1926.
colorado as a whole reported 100000
visitors in 1924, and expects to reach
khe million mark this season. the
Virginia park, situated in the heart
of a population Of 40, 100000 people,
and amid the scenery and shrines OF
The Old Dominion, will draw a great
many more people than those Of Colo
cado, to reach which, the average Wis
itor must travel four times as far.
And Washington-of course, we know
that Washington will draw more OF
The Virginia park visitors than Den
YER draws of the Colorado tourist tide.
Denver merchants say that August,
formerly the poorest sales month in
the commercial calendar, has now be-
come, next to December, the best.
Furthermore, I find that what has
happened in Denver has happened in
every tourist-center city in America
so I look upon the buying Of land for
incorporation in the park as one of
The best investments we can make"
MdIk I%diiSDul VI A<diloOol 6li ~
Bro. and president Of the Washington
kiwanis Club, expressed similar
views: I'VE have a considerable and
growing clientele in Virginia, who
shop with us by mail. Practically all
of the people of northern Virginia
feel a. closer attachment to Washing
Ton than to any other city. The Shen-
andoah National Park is going to bring
Vashington's Virginia friends great
Il; xr,ill
h largely increased business. Add to
this the millions of dollars the tour
lists who are drawn to Washington in
the course of their visit to the park
will leave with us, and l am sure
Washington will reap magnificent re-
turns on any lands its citizens buy for
Inclusion in the park"
Sees Huge Population Growth.
Another Of the enthusiastic sup
porters of the park movement Is
Isaac Cans Of Saks & Company. why,
of course, I am heartily behind the
Shenandoah National Park" he said.
1--WE have seen what the past Is
wears have meant to us as mer-
chants. We have seen our clientele
doubled and trebled, our turnover
trebled and quadrupled. And why ?
because Of the remarkable growth of
our population. Giveeus the Shenan-
doah National Park and we will
houble our present population In the
next 25 years. With the tremen-
dous stream of visitors it will bring
TO Washington, thousands will con-
clude that it is the best place in
America to live. Coming to see, they
will remain to settle"
Members of the real estate group
were equally enthusiastic. President
Donohoe Of the Washington Real