NATIONAL PARK NOTES 



Annual Report of the Director of National Parks 



(Note: The following paragraphs are taken from the annual report of the Director of 

 National Parks, Stephen T. Mather, for 1921. This report may be obtained upon request 

 from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washingon, D. C. Besides 

 commenting in a most interesting manner upon the larger aspects of national park affairs, 

 it contains the detailed reports of the superintendents of the nineteen national parks and 

 twenty-four national monuments administered by the Service. In making the following 

 selections the endeavor has been made to bring out the matters most closely affecting the 

 interests of the Sierra Club. In some instances the passages have been abridged and the 

 connecting words slightly altered. A perusal of the complete report is recommended.) 



THE season of I92I 



The outstanding feature in this year's review of park achievements again is the 

 remarkably heavy tourist travel. In spite of serious economic disturbances and 

 general apathy of the people toward many public activities, it is significant 

 that there should have been no diminution of the steady stream of visitors 

 pouring through the park gateways. Surely this is conclusive proof that the 

 parks are stabilizing and inspiring influences in times of national restlessness. 



TRAVEL CREATES INSPIRATION 



Is it not obvious, therefore, that our parks take their place at the head of 

 those worth-while things in our national life that make for better citizens — 

 that provide for clean, healthful diversion, recreation, and enjoyment? The 

 exodus to the parks from the workshops and farms, the cities and towns, im- 

 mediately after the close of the war as indicated by our own travel figures 

 verifies this conclusively. There is no finer opportunity in the Americanization 

 movement than to spread the gospel of the parks far and wide. 



THE PEOPLE TREASURE THE PARKS 



And, as a result of their visits, the people have learned to love these national 

 areas as their very own — national assets in which every individual of every 

 state in the Union has an inalienable right of possession. In no clearer manner 

 was this demonstrated than by the immediate protest that rang from one end 

 of the country to the other when efforts were made during the past year to 

 utilize some of their streams, lakes, and waterfalls for commercial purposes. 

 The appeals and protests to Congress were prompt and forceful, leaving no 

 doubt regarding the temper of the public. From every section of the country 

 was heard the demand that the parks must not be touched, and that the orig- 

 inal purpose of Congress in setting them aside for all time for the people as a 

 whole must not be lost sight of. The action of Congress, as the exponent of the 

 people's wishes, was equally strong and prompt, and as quickly as possible a 

 law was passed that in effect prescribed that no foot of national park or 

 monument territory can ever be used for such purposes until and imless Con- 

 gress itself has thoroughly considered the matter and given its consent in each 

 individual case. 



