Evening star., 1941-01-30
Drury Asks Protection
OF u. ). Scenic Areas
Through Emergency
National Park Service
Director Is Honored by
Planning Association

Protection Of the Nations scenic
areas and historical shrines should
continue as a matter Of public con-
Germ to all Americans "even in these
times of national emergency" New
ton B. Drury, director of the National
Park Service, declared last night.
Mr.. Drurv spoke on preserving
the American Scene" at a dinner
Eiven in his honor at the Washington
Hotel by the officers and directors
Of the American Planning and Civic
Association. More than 200 persons
who have been influential for years
in the cause of conservation heard
the recently appointed custodian Of
the national parks render an ac-
counting of some of the problems
confronting his office.
When all is said and done Mr..
Drurv reminded, the primary func-
ton of the National Parks Office is
rot so much to manage and develop
the park areas as to protect them
from the viewpoint of what is best
for the United States" He added,
however, a note of warning. One OF
the most important and difficult
problems, Mr.. Drury stressed, is to
strike proper balance between
the public use that should be made
of the parks and their protection.
when We determine what is best
for the United States, we will find
the opcuar he said
New Challenge Arises.
The final challenge to the Park
Service. he said, presents ltSe1 IN
the newly created Kings Canyon
and Olympic National Parks. two of
the outstanding examples OF Wilder
ness areas in the country.
He declared il is necessary to re-
sist pressure from certain profess
sional and technical groups-such
as landscapes, dam constructors,
road builders-Who wish to un-
change natures work in the areas.
The Park Service, he declared. is
not to be "stampeded' into any
hasty or unWise decisions and is
anxious to strike a balance" that
will protect the areas against such
aspirations"
THE future of the Sequia and
other parks after the lapse of an
other so years depends on how we'll
the Park Service can do its work
develop and administer them and
define its problems" Mr.. Drury said.
Frederic A. Delano. chairman of
the American Planning and Civic
Association and its former presi-
dent for many years, opened the
dinner session, which will be fol-
lowed by board meeting today. He
said the association has long been
a supporter Of programs for better
planning, better parks and high
ways without billboards.' He well
coined the cooperation of technical
groups, several of which were rep
resented last night.
Mr.. Delano also is chairman OF
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. with which
his association through its National
Capital Committee has co-operated
to a great extent in helping solve
local problems of city planning.
Albright Lauds Drury's Work.
Mr.. Drury was introduced BY
Horace M Albright, president of
the American Planning and Civic
Association and former director
Of the National Park Service. Mr..
Albright said the new Park Service
director had helped make Cali
fornia's system of parks one Of the
finest systems in the country.
The meeting concluded with an
Illustrated talk on The Glories of
the National Parks" by John v.
Hansen. who has taken colored pic
lures of scenic wonders throughout
the world.
At the speakers table were such
prominent conservationists as Arno
B. Cammerer, former director OF
the National Park Service, and DR..
J. Horace Mcfarland, first president
and organizer of the American Plan
ming and Civic Association. Repre-
sentative Edward T. Taylor Of Colo
RADIO was introduced as the dean Of
National Park friends at the Cap
itol."
Nichols Also Attends.
Other special guests included J.
c. Nichols, member of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission; Col. Richard Lieber, Earle
S. Draper, newly elected president of