The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-16
HEARING HELD
AT MED0RA ON
PARK PROJECT
State Officials Join In Present
ing North Dakota's Case
in Matter
WOULD COST MILLION
Federal Official Expresses In.
formal Opinion State Should
Purchase Needed Land

Medora, N. D., July 10.-CF-Con-
ditions which must be met if q ma
tional park is to be created in North
Dakota's Bad Lands were outlined
at a meeting of a subcommittee Of
the United States senate committee
on public lands here Saturday night.
The committee, headed by Gerald
P. Nye of North Dakota met in q
log cabin on the Buddy ranch, near
here, and heard half a score of North
Dakotans present the states plea for
| the creation Of the park.
The list Of witnesses included
Congressman James H. Sinslair, who
managed the presentation Of the
case: Governor Sorlie, Congressman
o. B. Burtness; C. E. Danielsen,
president of the Greater North Da-
kota association; Alan Clark. gen.
eral traffic manager Of the Northern
Pacific railroad; j. NJ. Hughes, land
commissioner Of the Northern Pa
cific railroad; A. H. Yoder and w. F..
Cushing, of the Greater North Da-
kota associations committee which
is urging creation of the park; and
Attorney General George F. Shafer.
State immigration Commissioner j.
NJ. Devine. Walter Ray and Col. Oh
son, Medora ranchers. and NJ. H.
Connolly of New England.
Million Asked
Sinclair and othe. witnesses made
it plain to the committed that this
state is asking the federal govern
ment to create a national park by
federal appropria Ion. The sum
mentioned as necessary to do the
lob was $1,O0O,O00.
AS outlined by Congressman Sin
clair. the area of the park vas placed
roughly at 100000 to 100000 acres,
extending along the Little Missouri
river from a point near its source
to a point near its mouth, the width
Of the park to average about two
townships on each side Of the stream.
Although hearing had been set
on the matter Of creating a national
park in the Killdeer mountains, no
evidence Of the Killdeer park was
presented at the hearing. Bills to
create both parks have been pre-
sented in congress by Senator Nye
and Congressman Sinclair.
Advantages of Park
The advantages of creating . ma
tional park in the Bad Lands, as
mentioned by various speakers
were: That it is on line with other
national parks in the northern part
Of the United States. midway be.
tween the Minnesota parks and
pleasure resorts and the Yellowstone
National Park; that North Dakots
has nothing in the way Of nationa
parks now. and has received littl<
other consideration from the nationa
government; that the scenic value
Of the Bad Lands justifies the gov
ernment in preserving them un
spoiled as a national park: that &C,
cess to the Bad Lands. by rail and
highway, is quick and cheap; that il
Icould be made fine game preserve
Because If low lane values nov
prevailing, this is the tine to Great.
the park, witnesses agreed. and 81
pointed out that to wait any Rrea
length Of time might so enhance tn.
value of the land as to make it mucl
more expensive to create pax Il
the future.
Ashurst fer Plan
81 Although the committee member
gave no indication at the hearing .
to their attitude, Senator'S Ashurs
J Of Arizona and Dale of Vermont
! committee members who were pres
! emit with Chairman Nye at the hear
ing, had previously told newspaper
men that they were willing to vot
in committee to support North Da
kota's plea. Ashurst, Democrat
explained that h is a strong state
rights man and is willing to Civ
the park to North Dakota If II
people wan it. Dale said he ha
been more favorably impresseI b
the beauty Of the Bad Lands than b
had expected to be.
The attitude of the interior iepAr
ment of the federal government
which administers national park
:: was presented by Stephen 7. Mathe
. national park superintendent.
Z Mather said th..t q plan Of pc
. hitting ranchers alreadv locate
. within the limits Of the propos,
y park to continue to own their lal
y after the government took over t!
2 area had caused administrative di
% ficulties elsewhere.
Survey Ordered
He also pointed out that, . b
passed by congress for tn. create
Of national parks in the Gre
Smoky mountains Of North Carolil
l. and Tennessee, tn. Shenandoah Vail
Of Virginia and Mammoth Cave
Kentucky were conditioned on I
land being turned over to the "a
eminent in fee simple. He express
belief that the cost Of acquiril
title to the Bad Lands proper
should be borne by North -Dako'
He was noncommittal a. to his I
sition on the entire idea but
nounced that Roger w. Toll. SUPP
intendent Of the Rocky Mounts
2: national park, who also was with I
e. party, had been directed to exami
:, the entire area and to make I
- tailed report on the park possit
Tx tiles. Toll is expected to compl'
al his work today for tomorrow
~ In conversation with members
- the party Mather was said to hi
g indicated his personal belief Il
Il -