New York, April ii, 1918. 



Hon. Swagar Sherley, 



Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, 

 Washington, D.C. 



Dear Sir: 



Will you permit me to write you in reference to the appropria- 

 tion which I understand Secretary Lane of the Department of 

 the Interior has recommended to be made for the current year 

 for the protection and improvement of the Sieur de Monts 

 National Monument on Mt. Desert Island. 



I have been a resident during the summer on this Island 

 for the past fifteen years; and have visited almost every nook 

 and corner on it. In my travels all over the United States and 

 in foreign countries, I have found no section that Nature has 

 made more attractive than Mt. Desert Island. I really believe 

 that it is one of the finest gifts God has bestowed upon the people 

 of the United States, and it is but right that they should show 

 themselves worthy of this gift by seeing to its proper develop- 

 ment and preservation. 



It is a source of congratulation that the Government has 

 taken this upon itself by taking over a large part of the Island and 

 making it into a National Park, and it is to be hoped that it will 

 likewise see to the proper maintenance of the newly created Park 

 through moderate expenditures such as may be required to make 

 this Park a real joy and benefit to the people of our country, 

 who are visiting it in ever-increasing numbers, and to give it the 

 protection against forest fires which is greatly needed. 



May I, therefore, bespeak your valued interest, which, aside 

 from myself, will be highly appreciated by all who have at heart 

 wholesome recreation for the people of our country. 



Respectfully yours 



(Signed) Jacob H. Schiff 



