Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-11
Delay of Park Fund
Measure Is Deplored
To the Editor Of The Star:

Because Of your widely known stand
on the question of public welfare, I
wish, on behalf of the American Ma
ture Association, to call the attention
of your readers to the delay in the
United States Senate on the National
park provisions Of the Interior supply
bill and the possibility that by its ac-
ton the Government and the people
may be held up for unreasonable and
high prices by private owners of timber
lands in our National parks.
The delay is occasioned by the re-
fusal of the Senate to pass a clause in
the National park provisions allowing
condemnation processes for the ac-
QUESTION of private lands. and the firm
stand of the House under the leadership
of l.. G. Cramton, Representative from
Michigan, that this item without which
owners, aware of proposed Government
purchase, may ask what they please for
their lands, shall not be eliminated
That action is imperative has been
pointed out to the American Nature
Association both by Mr.. Cramton and
Horace M. Albright, new director of the
National Park Service. If the National
park provision is not passed in this
of-the-session legislative rush, the
entire plans of the National Park Serv-
built up from the ground again.
While the bill is gathering dust "in
conference" $1,000,000 recently offered
by patriotic private citizens for land
acquisition is waiting and the 1900
privately owned acres of Yosemite tim
Der, strategically placed in scenic spots
in the park, come no nearer to public
ownership, though labeled for cutting,
Various reasons for the stand of GER
tain Senators opposed to the condem-
nation clause have been given, and init
nations have been made that the pri-
vate, rather than the public, side of the
question is being unduly stressed.
The delayed measure Is designed to
settle for all time the troublesome pri-
vate holdings question by Government
purchase and especially to provide
remedy for the involved situation in
Yosemite, where large tracts of sugar
and yellow pine seem designed for the
ak, due to recent purchases
The necessity for haste in passing the
measure is pointed out by the fact that
land prices in Yosemite and elsewhere
have more than doubled in the last five
years and are increasing. Even if no
cutting takes place this year, if prepa-
rations are made for 1880 by running
railroad lines and equipment into the
N,
cost unless it purchases at once. Mr.
Albright points out in this connection:
1.-THE Government will have to pay
for any Improvements if it waits until
they are made. The cost may even be
as great as $40 per 1000 feet, and will
add large percentage to the total ex
penSe of the people, unless funds are
made available by the Interior appro-
priation bill"
Price mutations have not been con-
fined to Yosemite, however, and with
out the condemnation clause fair
value for the peoples money cannot be
insured. EXorbitant demands may have
to be met in other parks. The attitude
of the House of Representatives on that
matter is we'll expressed by Mr.. Cram
ton, who points out that the program
proposed by the appropriations COM
mittee for land acquisition is endan-
gered by the inSistence of the Senate
on removing this clause. He says:
1--WE cannot accept the Walsh amend
ment barring condemnation proceedings
because private funds will probably not
and the Government itself would be
powerless against extortionate prices
. that are certain to be asked in some
cases.
ut would be very unfortunate If this
program should fail entirely because the
two houses cannot agree, especially as
81 100000 of private money is waiting
to be met by Government funds to clear
up the situation in Yosemite, and the
public is now fully aroused to the need
of clearing all the parks of private
lands"
The million dollars offered by patriotic
groups and other promises of gifts will
seem to have been rejected If Congress
fails to act, and might even. be with
drawn. AS half of the 100000 which
is going to be needed for the land
purchase program must be raised from
public sources, no steps should be taken
which will tend to weaken public conf
dence.
The public at large will be deeply in
terested in seeing that the Senate does
not block by delay or adverse action
one of the most important steps ever
taken for the benefit of the National
parks, especially when the Yosemite
National Park situation continues to be
acute, 100000 from the public Is
available and the delayed bill contains
all the necessary equipment for remov-
ing troublesome private holdings from
all the parks once and for all.
Very sincerely yours,
ARTHUR NEWTON PACK,
President, American Nature Association.