Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-24
By Herbert Evison

By Herbert Evison
Chief Of Infermation. ko.ionaI Pork
Service
The National Park Service anc
the concessioners who operate thu
public accommodations through.
out the National Park System are
winding up the task of engaging
summer employees. Both are bas.
ing their plans on at least as many
1949 visitors as flooded most Of
the parks last year-almost over
wflelmed them, in fact. Unfortu.
nately, a number of parks are
finding 1t necessary to delay
placing part or all of their sum-
mer ranger stats on duty unit
after July /, because Of insufficient
funds.
The quantity of lodging through
out the National Park System
this season will not be much diff
ferent from last year, when the
demand exceeded the supply in
many areas on numerous occa-
sions. The most considerable adj
dition Is at Yellowstone, where
some SO cabins with-bath, oper-
ated in conjunction with the Lake
Hotel. will be open for the first
time.
The Utah Parks Co., operating
lodges at Zion and Bryce Canyon
National Parks and on the North
Rim Of Grand Canyon National
Parks, has installed baths in a
number of additional cabins. In
Shenandoah National Park. the
Virginia Skyline Co. has added
another building, containing 8
rooms with-bath, to the accom-
modations offered in connection
with the Big Meadows Lodge.
Bookings at 1S48 Pace.
Since bookings for the season
are being made at about the same
rate as a year ago. the advice
given them is the best that can
be given now: write for your
reservations early. SO that there
will be plenty of time for you to
receive a confirmation" This
might be supplemented by urging
that notice be given hotels or
lodges by visitors who are delayed
or forced to change their plans.
If that is done. and a revised ar
rival time is given, the concession
ers will do their best to provide
needed accommodations.
A query to the services Conces-
sions Division brings the informa-
ton that 1949 will see few slight
increases In rates for food and
lodging, though they are not going
to be, on the whole. materially
higher than those Of last year.
There are no increases in sight TOR
transportation to or in the parks.
So brief a story as this does not
allow an opportunity to indicate
the attractions the national parks
and monuments offer the visitors.
Detailed information can be OBJ
tanned by writing to the Superin-
tendents. The can usually provide
a printed folder or "broadside" for
the inquirer, although editions Of
q number of these will not be OF
the press until about the beginning
of the summer season. This seems
q good occasion, however, to call
attention again to the opportuni-
ties offered throughout the ma
tional park system to gain a better
understanding of the natural fea-
lures which distinguish the parks
and many of the monuments, and
of American history as it is ekem-
plified in a large number OF areas.
Areas Interpreted.
The National Park Service has
been convinced for long time
that the enjoyment" for which
the parks and monuments have
been established will be greater
and more lasting If the visitor is
able to take home with him an
increased comprehension of what
he has seen. That is the reason
for the interpretive program
carried on by the service. The
museums found in many OF the
areas are one phase of it. Few Of
them are big or elaborate. The
endeavor is to get across the story
Of an area simply and clearly,
whether it be Of the Grand Can
yon or cliff dwelling.
Campfire programs. with group
Sings" and with talks illustrated
with slides or motion pictures, are
another part Of the program. In
some of the larger parks. such as
Yellowstone and Yosemite. as
many as three of these programs
will be held In as many places
during single evening.
In some places. notably at Grand
Canyon National Park. there are
also lectures during the day. There
also are hikes under the leader
ship of ranger naturalists-as in
formal as the name implies and
offering fine opportunity to gain
information from men familiar
with the geology and the plant
and animal life Of the areas In
which they work. In the histort-
cal areas the same sort Of guild
ance and the same assistance
toward better understanding Is
offered by ranger historians.
The essence Of the whole pro-
gram Is that the visitor is wholly
free to take 1t or leave 1t alone. y
but that 1t is there to take If he
wants it. 1t seems to meet a
need, for some 100000 visitors
took advantage of it last year.
Hotels Reopening
PERTHsHIRE. April 2s.-Ths
two internationally acclaimed
hotels, set in the grandeur Of Scot.
L.