Notes and Correspondence 



337 



is classed as grazing land — and is not forested as is commonly sup- 

 posed. These grazing acres were reserved for grazing purposes and are 

 being so used. But a part of these remain that are not now being 

 grazed. Would it not be reasonable to make full use of this land before 

 even considering the national parks for grazing? 



A national park is an area that has been so created by Congress be- 

 cause it possesses unusual scenic attractions or features of scientific in- 

 terest. The purpose of a national park is recrea!ion, education, enjoy- 

 ment, and the general welfare of the men, women and children of the 

 land. The statesmen who created these parks did so because they re- 

 alized that grazing or other commercialization would spoil them for use 

 by the people. To graze national parks would prevent the use for which 

 they were created and would ruin their scenic resources. The grand 

 total area of the national parks is small. The total grazing area in na- 

 tional parks is exceedingly limited, and if all this grazing area were used 

 it would produce only a small per cent of the wool and mutton needed. 



By encouraging the grazing of sheep in available sections east of the 

 Mississippi River and in the extensive unused lands in the South, a large 

 increase in sheep production would result. By making the fullest use of 

 the public domain, utilizing the national forests — which are mostly graz- 

 ing land, and increasing sheep production east of the Mississippi and in 

 the Southern States, there will be ample sheep to supply the demand. 

 A. C. Bigelow, president of the Philadelphia Wool and Textile Associ- 

 ation, says: "There is only one source left open now from which we 

 can obtain an increase of sheep production, and that is in the farming 

 sections east of the Mississippi River, and in the unused land areas of 

 the South." 



At the present time the use of our national parks for grazing is in- 

 excusable. Sheep ruin parks for the use of people. They destroy one 

 of the greatest attractions of the outdoor world — the wild flowers. But 

 the sheep isn't to blame. It is his nature to eat wild flowers, and not 

 only the blossoms, but the plants and then the roots. At Crater Lake 

 National Park there isn't a wild flower to be seen. Years ago sheep 

 grazed within the boundaries, and although they have not been in the 

 park for years, the ground is barren of flowers. 



There is a stock man in the West who is making every effort to get 

 permission to graze thousands of head of sheep in Mount Rainier Na- 

 tional Park. This park is the most wonderful wild-flower garden in all 

 the world. This man, together with others of his kind, is asking for 

 grazing privileges "during the period of the war." It is an old, insidi- 

 ous plan under the guise of patriotic motives. With wool and mutton 

 bringing higher prices than ever before, we find sheep owners willing to 

 use national parks for pasture for sheep at ten cents a head for the sea- 

 son. Is this patriotism? 



During these war times the American people need their national parks 

 more than ever before. And after the war the need will be still greater. 



