34 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Noi'tbern region are the beautiful streams aud their enyironments. Can 

 we afford to sweep this playg^'ound out of existence, so that the people 

 will los!e the splendid enjoyment that so many of them are now getting? 



When you talk about utilitarianism, that you can not afford to keep 

 the timber on the land because it is worth so many dollars for wheat and! 

 corn, or for orchard and vineyard i)lanting, I say to myself and to you, 

 that as great as is this estimated value, you can not compute in money 

 how much greater would be the value of much of this land in genuine sat- 

 isfaction to the human soul if preseiwed in all its sylvan beauty for the 

 recreation of the congested population which will surely need it in the 

 centuries to come. So it seems to me we should broaden our angle of 

 vision .and comprehend in it something beyond the mere acquirement of 

 a living. Scenic pleasures, it seems to me, are of great importance to 

 the human race, .and it is a satisfaction to all of us who are interested in 

 things of this character to know that the National Government is saving 

 here and there over our country reservations to remain forever in the 

 interests of the play of the i^eople, the recreation of American citizens. 

 All hail to the government that recognizes this important factor con- 

 nected Avith American life. 



Perhaps you Avill remember that at one time it Avas a question whether 

 certain parts of these reservations ought not to be utilized for what was 

 termed more practical purposes than recreation. There was a tempta- 

 tion to reduce the beauty, utilize the water power aud thus diminish the 

 relightful scenic features. I am glad that Yellowstone Park is as big 

 as it is. It is going to be a permanent playground for all the people, and 

 the marvelous Yosemite Valley is also safe. We are glad that these 

 splendid trees, the oldest living things in the world, are going to be saved 

 for all the people instead of being couA^erted into lumber that will sim- 

 l)ly line the pockets of a few. It seems to me that therein is a recognition 

 of the unparalleled value of the great natural features of our country 

 and the preservation of them in spite of the selfisli encroachments of indi- 

 viduals and corporations who only see power in a waterfall to run ma- 

 chineiy and lumber, laths and shingles in the great trees. Just as I am 

 thinking and talking to you about the grand values of that wonderful 

 people's playground, the Yosemite, my eye catches the smile on the face 

 of my Scotch friend from the Michigan Agricultural College and I am 

 reminded of an incident connected with this marvel of nature. There is 

 in connection with it a volume in which all the visitors are supposed to 

 write their names and put down below any word of appreciation that 

 occurs to them, and in that book ai'e some wonderful pieces of poetry 

 and prose expressing the exalted condition of the human mind while 

 viewing the stupendous illustration of God's handiwork. After writing 

 his name one will say, "The most glorious thing in the world; over there 

 is God." Another will say, "Nothing can compai-e with this mighty il- 

 lustration of the wonderful power of the Creator/' and so on. A Scotch- 

 man once visited this region and, as you know, a Scotchman can not be- 

 lieve there is anything quite as good as his own native land, and so 

 after signing his name, this particular Scotchman wrote just above it, 

 "Rather remarkable — a good deal like Scotland, only not quite so con- 

 densed." 



The saving of Niagara Falls in all its gradeur and beauty has been 

 placed plainly before the American people in connection with the utili- 



