PRINCETON UNIVERSITY 

 Princeton, N.J. 



Department of Geology 



April 8, 1918. 



Hon. Swagar Sherley, 



Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, 

 Washington, D.C. 



Dear Sir: 



Permit me to express the earnest hope that your Committee 

 will make a favorable report upon Secretary Lane's recommen- 

 dation of an appropriation of ^50,000 for the Sieur de Monts 

 National Monument on the island of Mt. Desert. As you are 

 probably aware, the nation owes this park to private foresight 

 and generosity and, from the scientific and educational stand- 

 point, it is very important that the Government, after accepting 

 this gift, should make adequate provision for its proper care and 

 for rendering it acceptable to the many people who would gladly 

 take advantage of it. To preserve intact the very interesting 

 geological and botanical features of the region and to make a 

 safe refuge for animal and bird life were, together with the hu- 

 man one, the principal motives which led the originators of ,the 

 plan to undertake the work, and the Government, as trustee for 

 the people, should in my opinion see to it that the plan does 

 not miscarry for want of suitable attention. I have always been 

 an ardent supporter of the system of National Parks, which is 

 so creditable to our Government, and I trust that even under 

 the present circumstances of terrible stress the parks may not 

 suffer from neglect. The Sieur de Monts project is worthy of 

 your most worthy consideration. 



With repeated expression of my hope for your favorable ac- 

 tion, I am, 



Very respectfully yours 



(Signed) W. B. Scott 



Blair Professor of Geology 



