Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07
SHENANDOAH PARK
GLOR|ES DESCRIBED
Western Superintendent Tells
of Scenic Beauties of
New Reservation.

Two superintendents Of Western parks
under the National Park Service OF the
Interior Department have Just returned
to Washington after visiting the pro-
posed Shenandoah National Park in
Virginia, which will be Uncle Sans
greatest playground in the vicinity of
the National Capital. In their opinion
this area possesses the scenic features
Of unusual importance" that are requi-
site and they have Judged that it is
far ahead Of many other areas that
have been proposed for national parks,
Rogert w. Toll who has charge of
Rocky Mountain National Park, gave
the following account of his trip:
ON the morning of September 30
Col. John r. White, superintendent of
Sequoia National Park, in California,
and / left Luray and drove 6 miles to
the foot of the slopes leading up to the
Blue Ridge. Automobiles can go no far
ther, so we took saddle horses for the
trip to Skyland. miles distant and
more than 1000 feet higher.
1T was raining and the clouds hung
low. We climbed up ridge without
seeing more than hundred yards dis
tant.
Find Primitive Folk.
Upon reaching Skyland We found a
coy mountain hotel, with central
lodge or dining room and bark-covered
cottages. attractively located nearby,
numerous enough to accommodate per-
haps 200 guests.
In the afternoon. with the party of
the State Conservation annd Develop
ment Commission. We rode in the rain
through the woods and visited two or
three families of the bacEwoods noun
taineers, few of whom live in the
Ira ANA lfy.n.f IT, YA..i,Aa
ner, sometimes weaving baskets or
hunting to exc out a somewhat pre-
Carious existence.
The next day, october l, the clouds
had lifted, and we looked from Sky
land out over the Shenandoah Valley,
$500 feet below, and across to the Mas
sanutten Range and still more distant
ranges. Drifting patches Of clouds
still hoated far below us. The view
was charming and the difference in
elevation more pronounced than we
had expected
That day we rode horseback to
Stony Man, whose elevation is 4.031
feet, and enjoyed a distant view in
every direction. In the clearest weather
one can see about 80 miles to the east
ward. To the north and to the south
are the tumbled hills of the Blue Ridge.
To the west is the Shenandoah Valley.
Hawks Hill Highest Point.
"Then We went to Crescent Rock,
and from the top of a cliff looked
down toward the little settlement of
Ida: Then We rode to Hawks Bill, the
highest point In the proposed national
park area, whose elevation is 4,066 feet.
The view is extensive and full of
interest
Later we rode to White Oak Falls.
Here the stream plunges from one
rocky ledge to another for a distance
of ABOUT 2 miles. It is a combination
of rapids, cascades and falls, turning
the small stream into foam.
During the day we rode perhaps 10
or 20 miles on horseback, walked sew
eral miles and still saw only a small
part of the area of the proposed ma
tional park. To know 1t thoroughly.
with its hidden waterfalls, untouched
forests and wooded hills would require
weeks.
AT present the motorist cannot get
any comprehensive idea of the Shen-
endoah Park area. The Lee Highway
crosses the northern half of the area,
reaching an elevation of 1900 feet, but
one gets only a suggestion, not a clear
picture OF the more remote and fas-
cinating areas. Another auto road
crosses the Blue Ridge farther south,
but in order really to see the area one
must 60 on horseback or on foot to the
higher, less accessible area.
800, OO0-Acre Area.
THE proposed Shenandoah National
Park has been authorized by Congress-
to be established whenever every acre
within its boundaries has been decided
to the United States Government in
fee simple. The total area of the park
is mere than 100000 acres The State
of Virginia has made an appropriation
OF sl,000,600 toward the purchase of
land in this area. The earnestness
and enthusiasm of the State may be
appreciated when it is realized that this
is the largest appropriation that the
State has ever made for one purpose
The private citizens of Virginia have
raised another 100000, friends in
other States have made handsome con-
tributions, and the total fund that will
be needed, perhaps 100000, is we'll
on its way. The State of Virginia is
also ready to cede to the Federal Gov
eminent police jurisdiction over the
area, such as has been ceded over most
of the principal national parks by the
States in which they are located
The National Park Service does not
recognize either geographic location nor
density of tributary population nor pos
sibility of recreational development as
the primary basis that entities an area
to be established as a national park
The essentl requirement is that an
area shall have scenic features of I'M
usual importance.
Those who have passed on the
Shenandoah area felt that it possessed
this qualification, not of the same type
as the Grand Canyon or some other
western national parks. but to a suf-
fcient degree, and far above many 9TH
er areas that have been proposed for
national parks
"In the Spring the woods must have
a peculiar charm, with the poisoning
beauty of laurel. hawthorne, dogwood
and other Towering trees and shrubs.
In the Fall, the oaks, naples, sumac
and other plants and hardwood trees
take on a richness of color that suggest
an Oriental rug"