Evening star., 1933-08-16
DISPUTE HOLDS UP
S1,692,5|)O j. S. AID
Virginia Must Settle Land
Title in Shenandoah Ma
ti0naI Park.

The Interior Department. it was
learned today. is withholding expendi-
ture of ST ,692 500 of public works funds,
approved for the proposed Shenandoah
National Park. until the Virginia
authorities can settle the dispute over
land titles.
Although there has been q suggestion
that the new park area, which has not
yet been turned over to the Federal
Government, be thrown open to pubic
travel by the Virginia State Conserva-
ton Commission, it was learned today
that Interior Department officials are
not in sympathy with this program at
present A proposal has besn put for
ward that the park be opened to the
public. starting next Sunday.
The view of the Interior Department
authorities is that it would be necessary
to fence some so miles of park roads
so as to prevent cattle Straying out into
the highway and being killed by motor
lists Further the officials here say,
they look with apprehension upon the
opening of the Shenandoah Park road
to public travel. due to the dusty con-
ditions now prevailing, which with two
lanes of traffic would raise clouds of
dust and undoubtedly cause serious
accidents.
Officials of the Office of National
Parks. Buildings and Reservations have
no desire to see the projected Shenan-
doah National Park given a black eye
at the outset by reason of serious traffic
mishaps. They favor opening the park
in the Spring after cOntamp ated road
construction has been completed.
Plan of Arbitration.
AS the authorities here understand it,
a board of five Virginia judges, from
the counties in which the park lands
lie. forms an arbitration commission.
before which land owners not satisfied
with Awards made for their property,
will agree to arbitrate. The Federal
Government will not take title to the
Shenandoah National Park until the
land titles are clear and the park turned
over to Uncle Sam as a unit. Hence,
the bulk of the funds under the public
works program. allocated to the Shen-
andoah area are being held up.
Officials of the Office of National
Parks. Buildings and Reservations said
the Bureau of Public Roads of the De-
partment of Agriculture. its agent, will
shortly supervise work on constructing
a highway of crushed rock, with oil
process surface, in the proposed Shenan-
doah National Park. from Swift Run
to Thorton Gap. This will take $4,000
of the public works funds This is in
addition to the funds held in allegiance
The next job in the park area will
entail expenditure Of S185,O00 for park
ing areas, guard rails. grading and
surfacing. Further. $4,000 will be
spent in surveys. from Swift Run to
the southern portion of the park.
Five Projects Planned.
The public works funds, deyitaiized
until the land title controversy is settled,
will be spent for imCroving the park
area north to Front Royal, and in the
southern section. There are five prof.
ects. entailing expenditure of S330.000
each being held up, pending settlement
of the land titles. In addition, St2 800
for camp grounds and comfort stations
is being likewise held up, making
total of S1.692 500.
Interior Department oficialS'explalned
that Secretary Ickes is desirous OF
having 1740C0 acres included in the
Shenandoah National PARK area. al
though a minimum of 10000 acres is
required Officials here are informed
that about 10000 acres of property,
conten plated for the park area, are
now in dispute the several owners dis
agreeing with the awards made for the
purchase price by the Virginia author
tiles. The Attorney General of the
United States. when the lan1 contro-
varsv is settled and tha vi MIA State
Conservation Com ni-sicn turns o-er
the Shenandoah National Park to the
Federal Government, will examine all
the land titles. to make sure that Uncle
Sam is securing clear titles and no dis
putes will arise later.