THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 165 
The question now naturally arises, What can be done to carry 
out the several schemes proposed in this paper? This I shall en- 
deavor to answer as fully and briefly gs possible. There is one 
difficulty in dealing with all questions bearing upon the subject of 
government aid to science, which is that there exists no settled 
plan of action upon such matters: Those who are most deeply, 
interested have neither time nor inclination to * lobby” for the pas- 
sage of a bill, much less have they the means with which to pur-, 
chase its passage by bribery, or the effrontery to offer it. Science 
is thus left dependent, in too many instances, upon the purely acci- 
dental good results which may follow or not, as the case may be. 
If the idea of a free national park for the benefit of the people is 
at all consistent with our republican institutions, nothing can be 
more plain than the duty of government to provide for its main- 
tenance. But the Yellowstone Park, as we have seen, has man- 
ifestly a peculiar value aside from its utility as a mere “ pleasuring 
- ground,” and thus it offers, without material outlay, unusual re- 
turns upon the investment. 
For purposes of study, it would be best to divide the park into 
four nearly equal districts, with a small central district. The Iat- 
ter would comprise very few of the objects of great interest, but 
would contain the central station, which might best be located at 
the outlet of Yellowstone Lake. The four main districts would 
thus vary much in point of interest, but the work of research could 
readily be equalized by proper care and foresight. A chief com- 
missioner, a person of acknowledged ability, occupying the central 
Station, would then be placed in charge of the whole area, with 
competent officers under him and responsible to him for the per- 
` formance of their duties. Each of the large districts should con- 
_ tain a principal station centrally located, and as many local 
= Stations as might be required for observation and experiment.® In 
es — asa we should’ have what may be -m a LA ex- 
sev- 
competent scientific corps of investigators with their assistants. 
_ T have given here the mere outline of a scheme which appears 
a ei ead wee In the face of repeated warnings, tees are 
oe "T tas been recommended, and not unwisly, that such wa 
mates : criminal offence. 
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