December 22, 1922] 



SCIENCE 



705 



A MENACE TO THE NATIONAL 

 PARKS 



Through its represeritation on a eommittee 

 entitling itself the "National Parks Commit- 

 tee," ithe American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science and all of its members 

 have 'been placed in the position of endorsing 

 and promoting the Barbour Roosevelt-Sequoia 

 Park Bill (H.R. 7452) now before the House 

 of Representatives. This bill has good pros- 

 pects of being passed by the present Congress. 



Much inquiry and correspondence have 

 shown that the greater part of the support of 

 this measure has been obtained without those 

 giving it understanding what the bill will do, 

 as they hold the ei-roneous idea that the bill is 

 practically the same as the exoellent Roosevelt 

 Park measure which failed to pass the last 

 Congress. It therefore seems important to call 

 attention to the destructive character of the 

 Barbour Bill. 



The following resolution regarding it, passed 

 on September 9 last by the San Diego Natural 

 History Society, located in the same region as 

 the (Sequoia Park, and one of the most prom- 

 inent scientific associations of tlie west, de- 

 serves the serious consideration of all scientific 

 men and conservationists. 



Whereas, The EarbouT Eoosevelt-Sequoia Park 



Bin (H.E. 7452), mow before Congress, coutaans, 

 aJS one of its provisions, the relinquishment by the 

 National Park Service of about half of the 

 present Sequoia Park, in exchange for extensive, 

 mainly untimbered, tracts in the higher mountain 

 region. 



And whereas, The tract relinquished will, under 

 the provisions of this bill, pass under the juris- 

 diction of the Forest Ser\"iee, with the avowed 

 object of permitting the cutting of much of the 

 standing timber. 



And whereas, This tract contains about one 

 third of the total number of giant sequoias con- 

 tained in the entire park, together with forests of 

 other majestic trees which are now rapidly dis- 

 appearing. 



And whereas. None of those who are now pub- 

 licly supporting the Barbour Bill defend this divi- 

 sion of the present Sequoia Park, and the sacri- 

 fice of a large part of its area, except as a com- 

 promise by which other valuable scenic territory 

 is to be acquired, 



And whereas. This compromise is known to be 

 the outcome of a factional dispute and a compe- 

 tition for jurisdiction between the National Park 

 Service and the Forest Service, 



And whereas, As a result of such internecine 

 strife on the part of those who should be defend- 

 ing the interests of the public, the country will 

 lose for all time large areas of primeval forest 

 which should be preserved for recreation, for 

 esthetic enjoyment, and for scientific study, 



Map showing effect of the Barbour Bill in cutting off the southern half of the present park, also the 



deep bay in the proposed western boundary which will permit commercial exploitation of timbej 



lands almost in the center of the area added. 



