The people's voice., 1959-04-03
By WILLIAM E. BOHN
In NEW LEADER

Uncle Sam is by far the creates
real estate owner in this country.
am told that the National Park Serv
ice manages about 25 million acres
And that includes only the main SCI
of parks, monuments, memorials, anc
historical sites. Beyond these, anc
separate from them, are the national
forests, the fish and wildlife reserves
and the vast areas controlled by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs. These var
ious sorts of holdings are under the
management of different boards
some of them connected with the De-
partment of Agriculture, and some
with the Department of the Interior.
There is nothing wrong with all
this. AS far as | know, these pieces
of property are all managed con-
scientiously according to the prin-
ciples laid down by Congress. But
they all contain wild and unspoiled
stretches of virgin wilderness.
Recently quoted some paragraphs
from letters written by one of my ia
vorite authors, Joseph Wood Krutch.
He was lamenting to all the world the
fact that in our national parks and
forests precious remnants of wilder
ness are in danger. The ontramping
millions, he complained, are treading
down dainty plants, soaring away
timid animals and, in general, with
their improved highways, automobiles,
and airplanes, putting an end to the
conditions which have furnished the
quiet and meditative nature lover an
opportunity to escape from steel and
cement smog.
Well, 10 us. senators have had
the same idea. Perhaps they want to
preserve a few spots where they can
escape from the voters and the jour
nalists and think of something besides
ballots and budgets. The Is wilder
ness-loving senators, led by Hubert
(D-Minn.), have intro
duced what is known as the wilderness
bill. 1t seems to me a measure aimed
at definitely civilizing objectives. Is.
1123.-Editor.)
The wilderness spots which are to
be designated and protected will not
be placed under the authority of any
new commission. In general, they
are to be under the eye of an authori-
tative but inexpensive council made
up of the Secretaries of Interior and
Smithsonian Institu-
5ion representative and three citizens
appointed by the President with the
1elp of the Senate. The members are
20 receive no pay-only expenses
when actually in service.
The council, which has an initial
appropriation of only 100000, is
to report annually to Con-
sress. When Senator Humphrey in
the bill, he made a great
,oint of the fact that it provides for
10 new administrative body to mess
hings up and demand additional ap-
The bodies which are
low administering these beauty spots
will go on administering them. The
My change will be that when the
ill is passed, they will manage them
ccording to new rules. And the
ouncil will do nothing except to see
hat the rules are being enforced and
eport on how the whole project is
yorking out.
And what are these rules? They
ound as if they had been designed
recisely to rejoice the heart of my
friend, Krutch. There
re to be mo permanent roads, no :
Sc of motor vehicles, motorized
motorboats or aircraft,
nd no structures or installations, in
uding temporary roads, in excess \
the minimum required for admin
tration."
No roads. If you enter here you
ill travel on your own feet, in a