68 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



Every one of us recognizes the renewing of strength and spirit 

 that comes from even a temporary sojourn amidst natural scenic 

 delights. The President has but just returned from a "week- 

 end" visit to his castle of rest in the Virginia hills. Could he 

 have had equal pleasure in Hoboken? Mr. Carnegie's enter- 

 prises built dreadful Homestead, but he finds the scenery about 

 Skibo Castle much more restful ! 



Who of us, tired with the pressure of twentieth-century life, 

 fails to take refuge amid scenes of natural beauty, rather than 

 to endeavor to find that needed rest in a coal-mining village, or 

 in the heart of some sordidly ugly timber slashing? The most 

 blatant economist, who sneers at the thought of public beauty, 

 accessible by right to all, is usually much interested in private 

 beauty of scenery, of home and of person, if accessible to him 

 alone ! Selfishly and inconsistently he recognizes in his own use 

 the value of the natural resources he affects to despise. 



I am convinced that the vast majority of my countrymen hold 

 deep in their hearts sentiments of regard for the glorious natural 

 beauty of America. If to my inadequate words there be any 

 response among those here present, may I but hint at some things 

 that might well result? 



First, we must hold inviolate our greater scenic heritages. All 

 the nations visit the Falls of Niagara as the wonder of the 

 Western World, yet we are even now engaged in an attempt 

 to see how closely we can pare its glories without complete 

 destruction. Eminent authorities warn us that the danger line 

 is passed, and that a recurrence of a cycle of low water in the 

 Great Lakes may completely extinguish the American Fall. A 

 hundred other water-powers in New York and Ontario would 

 together give as much wheel-turning electric energy, but all the 

 world cannot furnish forth the equivalent of Niagara in benefi- 

 cent influence upon the minds of men, if held as a scenic her- 

 itage. The glory of Niagara today hangs by a hair, and millions 

 of incorporated private money seek covetously to cut the hair. 



The national parks — all too few in number and extent — ought 

 to be held absolutely inviolate, as intended by Congress. Intru- 

 sions for questionable water-supply needs, against the unselfish 

 protests of those whose love of country cannot . be impugned, 

 should not be permitted. 



The scenic value of all the national domain yet remaining 

 should be jealously guarded as a distinctly important natural 

 resource, and not as a mere incidental increment. In giving 

 access for wise economic purposes to forest and range, to valley 

 and stream, the Federal Government should not for a moment 

 overlook the safeguarding to the people of all the natural beauty 



