The Sidney herald., 1958-04-17

Dy OCd11
National Parks Association. WASHINGTON I. DC

true meaning of these places has
escaped him. 1t is such short
sightedness as this that organiza-
tons such as the National Parks
Association must do all in their
power to counteract.
No group of conservationists
has ever advocated the elimina-
ton of all conveniences as chair
lifts, cable cars, parkways and
other means of easy access to
beautiful spots throughout the
country. We are the first to en-
courage travellers to see for them
selves the magnificent heritage in
their possession.
Even within the national parks
we know the need for good roads
that can be used most of the
year for overnight accommodations
and all that goes with them. But
we stand immovable on the idea
that there must be some sections
left i~nviolate, some that will new
er feel the destroying touch of
civilization.
l have made float trips down
the Colorado River through Di-
nosaur National Monument, where
your companions voices are the
only sound; l have climbed a
steep slope in Rocky Mountain
Park to watch mountain sheep;
l have padded a canoe through
the wilderness lakes of the
Quetico-Superior, and pushed
through. mangrove tangles in Ev-
erglades Park to find a flock
of roseate spoonbills glistening in
the sunlight.
1 would not trade these expert
ences for anything you could Of
fer. The physical exertion e
quired while not overpowering,
was enough to make me appre-
ciate the results. I wanted to take
part in this, to make myself as
one with the country; l did not
want it handed to me without
any effort on my part.
Nor would / ever deny similar
experiences to others who might
not physically be able to make
the attempt. For them there is
the fine Trail Ridge Road in
Rocky Mountain, where from
their car they can usually see
sheep 1 climbed hours to watch.
They can rent a motorboat and
visit the edges of Quetico-Su-
perior, seeing wild country with
out making even a single portage.
In Florida they can take special
tours to find exotic birds. ALI this,
with only the effort of driving a.
car or pulling the admission price
from their pockets.
But some wilderness country
must be left untouched. An auto
mobile horn OF an airplane en-
CINE effectively destroys the mu-
sic and magic of wild lands; a
horde of tourists essentially I'M
interested in serenity leaves scars
that can never be ob~literated. If
all spots of beauty are made
easily accessible, this country will
have little left but names scratch
ed on rocks or carved on trees,
lakes and streams fouled with
junk, from beer cans to bed
springs; smouldering forests that
can no longer support wildlife;
birds and animals slaughtered by
stupid marksmen.
This must never be permitted
within the national parks and
wilderness areas; these relatively
few acres must be protected. Let
the chair lifts and ski tows be
built on the many mountains out
side the parks; within them the
skiers can learn the fascination of
crossAcountry skiing without mar
ring the landscape for others.
Keep the cable cars and four
Lane speedways in countryside
that has not been especially set
aside by Congress and guaranteed
inviolate protection. Lumbermen
can get their timber elsewhere,
not on these mountain slopes.
Never for a moment can these
threats be overlooked. Those
searching for a "quick buck"
would willingly deprive u chill
dren of the unforgettable expert
ence of camping at night under a
tall tree with a stream chuckling
nearby and the dying flames of
a campfire Pickering against the
trunks. We must not permit this
invasion, now o ever.