Evening star., 1927-10-29
BYRD WITH PARTY
TOURING PARK AREA
Two-Day Trip in Blue Ridge
to Settle Question of
Fitness of Land.


LCRAY. Va. October 29.--Led bv
Gov. Harry F.. Byrd of Virginia and
DR.. Stephen Mather of Washington.
director of the National Park Service
State and Federal officials last night
ielt Luray for two-day trip through
the shenandoah National Park area.
rms trip will climax a Today survey
ana inspection of the area by repre-
sentatives of the United States In.
terror Department.
The trip will take i'm Stony Man
Peak. White Oak Canyon, IawksbilI
Peak. Old Fork Mountain. Crescent
ROCK. Skyland and other scenic Dor.
tions of the Blue Ridge.
hen the boundaries OF the DarH
were laid out and its ultimate Hrco
fixed at 3S5. 900 acres. they were laid
out on the typographical maps of the
Geological Survey" said William r..
carson. chairman of the Virginia Com.
mission on Conservation, Yesterday
They followed ridges, water courses
and other natural features If the
landscape. But as the survey mans
do not show the cultural conditions.
these. for the time being. were lsft
for future consideration in the field
The boundaries as heretofore fixed
We're, therefore. only tentative and
general. the details Of their final eS-
IaDiishment being left to future sur
veys made on the ground.
Examination I'm Detail.
'Tt was for the purpose Of matir,l
these battle-ground SURVEYS that D,e
Work, the Secretary of the Interior
sent his commission. consisting Of
Stephen /. Mather, director of the
National Park Service; Arno B. Cam.
merer. assistant director of that serv-
ice. and Col. Glenn Smith. secretary
or tf" Appalachian Park Commission
into .he field for the detailed exami.
nation of the park area"
These have well defined standards
that have been followed everywhere i'm
the establishment of national parks.
Dy which they determine the fitness of
lar Tor the inclusion within a park.
I'm 'e standards have no reference to
the cost of the land or the difficulties
involved in obtaining it, but rather re-.
fer to its type, quality and cultural
condition. And when their survey N
completed Virginia may rest assured
tnat they have been careful to include
every parcel of ground which contains
national park type Of land. Whatever
reductions from the original acreage
they recommend will be recommended
solely on the ground that the excluded
acreage is neither essential to the park
nor of a character suitable for inclu.
sion therein"
1t so happens practically all of
the land which will be found not TO
measure up to the standards of the
national park service will be found
In the cleared farming and orchard
areas in the coves along the base
OF the mountains, and it likewise oc.
ours that the land of greatest value
to the owners is of this type"
Acquisition to Follow.
Once the boundaries fixed by the
commission are approved by the Sec.
retary Of the Interior, steps for ac.
quisition of the land embraced there.
IN Will begin to be taken. There
VIII not be the slightest excuse for
any unwarranted boosting of prices.
In every part Of the area affected
there are good and patriotic owners.
loyal to the traditions of their State
and devoted to the prosperity of their
respective communities, who have
named prices that are fair and rea.
sonable. and these will constitute the
STANDARDS by which condemnation
Juries will be guided IT,. unhappiIv.
there should be those who do not rise
TO their duties as citizens in a fair
agreement on prices of forested areals
WITHIN the domain of the park"