The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1942-10-17
LET'S GET THE PARK.

There is nothing so American
tional parks. The scenerv and wild life are
native and the fundamental idea behind the
parks is native It IL. in brief. that the country
belongs to the people that what it is and what
is in process of making is for the enrichment
of the lives CT all of Thus the parks stand
the outward symbol of this great human
principle. President Roosevelt
Pl csiQenC t.o05t6de anYhen he spoke IN.
1884 in praise OF 1greattsystem of ma.
tionaT parks, could nosqeferoA an accom-
plished fact to what cotifd have been even
then, one OF the greatest and most interest
ing of Americas outdoor attractions. .r, -,
Were he to speak today of the enor-
nous increase in park facilities since 1884,
there would still be no place for mention
of the proposed Everglades National park
"a park which has lived for years, but only
in the minds of the men who have worked
TO make of it a reality.
Florida citizens, and particularly
those OF Monroe county, appear TO have
failed utterly over period of many years
to understand what it would mean to them
to have that park, beth in an aesthetic and
stand is laHged irresponsible for the fact
that the pax lsemains dream. MIA -"5'71f
Secretary Of the Interior Harold Ia
Ickes has summed up the park situation
briefly, as it relates to California, and Flori-
diang need not look far to find local APP
plicatiOn:
When try to round out the national
Park system OF the country. victories must be
by those who believe in national parks
for the people against an array of selfish ad-
versaries who spring into action whenever
they fear that private commercial interests no
matter how trivial or remote, will be
croached upon by the creation of the park.
I have never found one instance in which
the establishment of national park failed to
contribute to the prosperity and happiness of
the neighboring people.
ut is the plain truth that national parks
are one of the three great drawing cards that
California (Florida?l possesses il relation to
the rest of the country.
Everglades National park, as it's boun-
DIARIES have been approved by congress,
would extend into large part of Monroe
county, including all of the Cape Sable area
and reaching down the keys to a point be-
tween Lower Matecumbe and Long Key. It
is true, as opponents Of the park delight in
pointing out, that the county would lose
some tax revenue.
1a3- But how much? How much in rela-
ticn to the obvious gains, when you con-
sider that the national parks have proved
themselves to be one of the greatest draw
ing cards of the states lucky enough TO have
them?
FlOrida's mysterious Everglades and
the country surrounding them, including
the keys, would draw thousands of visitors
If they were properly controlled and ad-
Vertised through the national park system
Much of that revenue naturally would
flow into Monroe county, but the thousands
of dollars spent for gasoline, alone. would
enrich this country even if it were spent in
other sections of the state by travellers 60
ing to and from the park.
We have waited long time for The
park-too long. The people of Monroe
county and Florida could get it if they tried
UcTEp nv crcps, prs .vtl 1850