Evening star., 1928-04-01


Rockefeller Memorial Fund, people all
over the United States are asking
Where is the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park? How can ii be reached?
What is there TO see? why have the
Great Smokes been selected as ma
tional park Site?"
The Great Smoky Mountains mark
the boundary between North Carolina
and Tennessee for more than 60 miles
and are the highest mountains cast OF
the Rockies. being the climax OF the
entire Appalachian system They will
be the backbone of the new park, which
will include 427 900 acres, over half OF
which is still virgin timber. They can
be reached from Knoxville. Tenn, on
the north and west, and from Asle-
Vile N. C. on the east and south. with
Blysou City. n. c.. and Gatlmhurg,
Tenn. both reached by good motor
highways. the actual gateWayS 10 the
proposed new national park, to be our
twenty-Second national park and the
NTH largest in size,
This area was selected as q national
park site By special commission be-
cause of the height of the mountains,
depth of valleys, rugeedneSS OF the
sres and the uneXampled variety Of
trees. shrubs and wild flowers. High
as are the standards set for our ma
tional parks. the Great Smokes have
been declared to meet them by those
who know. What Is demanded is areas
tncloSing scenery Of quality SO unusual
and impressive, or natural features so
extraordinary, as 10 possess national in
tereSt.
National parks are more than recre-
alton resorts: they are national mu-
Seums of the untouched American will
cerneSs in all Of its manifestations and
a national gallery Of American scenic
masterpieces.
To both functions the Great
Smoky area will add Importance. since
81 will represent Appalachian land forms
end primitive forests in their highest
splendcr." declared Robert Sterling Yard
OF the National Parks Association,
Col. Glenn S. Smith. secretary OF the
Southern Appalachian National Park
Commission, says,
The public generally has the impress
sion that it is necessary 10 so TO the
national parks Of the West 10 view
lofty peaks. Few realize that in the
proposed Great Smoky Mountains Ma
tional Park peaks rise more than one
mile above the surrounding country. and
compare favorably with the peaks OF
the Western parks in height and
beauty"
Arno B. Cammerer. the assistant di-
rector Of the National Park Service Of
the Interior Department. who has been
the departments representative in sur
yeying the boundary lines for the PARK
area, who is thoroughly acquainted
with the individual members compcs-
ing the present national park system,
and who is perhaps better acquainted
with the outstanding scenic qualities OF
the Great Smokes through personal IN
gpection than any other Government
Official, has said that the romantic
beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park will lie in its wonder
full mountains. valleys and streams,
and particularly the fora, unsurpassed
anywhere IN America.
1T has a particularly romantic appeal
70 those who love the great outdoors,
he declares. The wild life has pretty
we'll disappeared because Of hunting,
end one Of the chief duties Of the Ma
tional Park Service. when 1t assumes
administration ana control over the
area. will b. to protect thoroughly what
little wild life, including birds, is left
end restock il with a fresh supply OF
bears. and deer that formerly were so
plentiful in this region.
THERE seems TO be widespread mis-
understanding and lack Of inforDa-
ton In regard TO the new parks IN the
East. II is contrary to policy and prece-
dent for the United States Government
to purchase lands for national park pur-
Doses. All Of the Western national
parks were set aside from the public
domain. Lafayette National Park. on
Mount Desert Island. of the coast OF
Maine. established in 1919 and COM
prising about 12 square miles, was a
gift TO the Government, its LANDS COM
ing from many sources.
The Shenandoah and Great Smoky
Mountains National Parks include land
which is privately owned ano must De
privately purchased or donated
Campaigns have been conoucteo III
Tennessee and North Carolina and IN
Virginia. and funds raised through
u,iolic donations and acts Of the state
legislatures to purchase lands specifed.
The work Of buying up this land when
and where ID could be obtained at a
reasonable price has been going on
quietly since the bill creating the parks
was passed by the SiXty-ninth Con-
rress and signed BIZ President Coolidge
n MAY. 1925 The recent gift OF f1Ye
millions from the Rockefeller fund 10
the Great Smoky Park. matching the
amount raised by the States OF Ten
nessee and North Carolina. VIII make
available money 20 purchase the greater
part. Il not all. Of the $4,000 acres
guecihed. Wf4en this has been ac-
c1jred and turned over to the Govern
rnent In fee simple and accepted by the
Secretary Of the Interior. then the Ma
tional Park Service viii begin the de-
velopment Of IT, TO secure the mimi
mum amount in both quality ana
quantity that the Secretary of the IN
terior viii accept may be accomplished
in the very near future The tsre IL
will take depends entirely on the CO.
operation given by the present owners:
The greater part Of the primeyal
forest wanted and needed 10 make the
Great Smoky Mountains an outstand-
ing educational exhibit is at present
owned by six Or more large lumber
corpan MES. and lumber trains are
penetrating deeper and deeper into
virgin timber. which once gone is gon'
forever -Four FIVE six hundred years
have gone 70 the making of these noble
forests Daily they are passing ana
viii continue 70 pass until they become
the peoples gift 70 the Nation.
Any one section. any one mountain
Elore. offers the student a whole sum
nners study Scientists have pro-
claimed this a geologist's Eden, nat
uraiists paradise II has also been
called the Ruhr Of America.
This land Of dark cool forests, OF
high mountains 0mbered To the top, Of
vast flower gardens In groves cathedral
ssill this ianc of magic and mystery,
concealed for centuries in the smoke
gray haze which gives the Smokes
their name. Is less than thousand
miles from New YORK half that from
the National Capital, slightly more
than that from Chicago, TT. Louis,
Kansas City and New Orleans, within
easy reach by train or automobile of
two-thiT6s 81 the people u the United
States yet Is iess known 10 the travel
ing public than the South Sea Islands
or hidden hauntg qf EUF0ue