1 6 THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 



ervations might become so generally settled as to exclude 

 the public from convenient access to their streams, lakes, and 

 other natural features, and thus destroy the very basis upon 

 which this national playground system is being constructed. 



You should not permit the cutting of trees except where 

 timber is needed in the construction of buildings or other 

 improvements within the park and can be removed without 

 injury to the forests or disfigurement of the landscape, where 

 the thinning of forests or cutting of vistas will improve the 

 scenic features of the parks, or where their destruction is 

 necessary to eliminate insect infestations or diseases common 

 to forests and shrubs. 



In the construction of roads, trails, buildings, and other 

 improvements, particular attention must be devoted always 

 to the harmonizing of these improvements with the landscape. 

 This is a most important item in our program of develop- 

 ment and requires the employment of trained engineers who 

 either possess a knowledge of landscape architecture or have 

 a proper appreciation of the aesthetic value of park lands. 

 All improvements will be carried out in accordance with a 

 preconceived plan developed with special reference to the 

 preservation of the landscape, and comprehensive plans for 

 future development of the national parks on an adequate 

 scale will be prepared as funds are available for this purpose. 



Whenever the Federal Government has exclusive jurisdic- 

 tion over national parks, it is clear that more effective meas- 

 ures for the protection of the parks can be taken. The Fed- 

 eral Government has exclusive jurisdiction over the national 

 parks in the States of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Mon- 

 tana, Washington, and Oregon, and also in the territories 

 of Hawaii and Alaska. We should urge the cession of ex- 

 clusive jurisdiction over the parks in the other States, and par- 

 ticularly in California * and Colorado. 



There are many private holdings in the national parks, and 

 many of these seriously hamper the administration of these 

 reservations. All of them should be eliminated as far as it 

 is practicable to accomplish this purpose in the course of 

 time, either through Congressional appropriation or by ac- 

 ceptance of donations of these lands. Isolated tracts in im- 

 portant scenic areas should be given first consideration, of 

 course, in the purchase of private property. 



" See act of June 2, 1920, p. 104 infra. 



