4 THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 



members of the party at once fell in with this higher concep- 

 tion of the matter, and all agreed to unite in an endeavor to 

 make it an accomplished fact. This was the beginning of 

 the "National Park Idea." 



»v So widespread was the popular interest resulting from the 

 publication of articles by various members of the several ex- 

 peditions ; and so vigorously was the project for the erection 

 of the Yellowstone Country into a public park pushed by sev- 

 eral leading members of the Washburn-Doane expedition and 

 by Dr. F. V. Hayden of the Geological Survey, one of the 

 leaders of the Government expedition of 1871, that in less 

 than two years after Mr. Hedges made his novel proposition 

 the Act of Dedication creating the Yellowstone National Park, 

 received the signature of President Grant (Act of March i, 

 1872; 17 Stat. L., 32.) ■ 



The text of this measure will be found in the appendix. At- 

 tention will be called at this point to its three outstanding 

 features : 



The setting aside of the Yellowstone region "as a public 

 park or pleasuring-ground" ; 



A provision making mandatory "the preservation, from in- 

 jury or spoliation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural 

 curiosities, or wonders within said park, and their retention 

 in their natural condition" ; 



A provision making mandatory the protection of the fish and 

 game in the park area against "wanton destruction" or "cap- 

 ture or destruction for the purposes of merchandise or profit." 



The law also provides that the Secretary of the Interior 

 shall have exclusive control of the park, and it charges him 

 with the making of rules and regulations necessary for the 

 carrying out of its provisions. 



The national park system began with the passage of this 

 law, the large significance of which is well expressed by Gen- 

 eral Hiram M. Chittenden: 



It was, a notable act, not only on account of the transcend- 



