14 T HES AUD 0 BeONs (BU elas 
Conservation News and Notes 
By RAYMOND MOSTEK 
Have you noticed the slick campaign being promoted by the timber interests 
to gain control of our national parks and forests? They are spending thou- 
sands of dollars in magazine advertisements claiming that they as timber 
companies are sincerely interested in ‘“‘conservation, but —.” They then 
explain why they should be allowed to cut down the forest giants. It is all 
part of a clever campaign to weaken our defenses. Mr. W. D. Hagenstein 
of the Industrial Forestry Association said recently that “the federal forest 
lands should be transformed from luxurious playgrounds into areas con- 
tributing to the national economy.” 
Watch for a copy of a great forthcoming book — “Seeing America’s Wild- 
life in Our National Refuges” by Devereux Butcher. It will contain over 
300 superb photographs and describe over 35 national refuges and other 
sanctuaries. A special chapter will discuss the problem of vanishing species. 
The theme of the National Wildlife Week for March 20-26 will be “Save 
America’s Wetlands.” The value of sloughs, swamps, marshes to our wild- 
life will be emphasized. .. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology announces 
they have now collected over $1200 in their campaign to purchase grass- 
lands which will be used as a sanctuary for the Prairie Chicken. . . Have 
you seen the article “The Shame of Our National Parks” in the January 
issue of the Reader’s Digest? Its revelations are appalling. Reprints may be 
obtained from the Literature Table at our Film Lecture. 
The Nov. 8th, 1954 issue of LIFE carried a story on “The Woods We Live 
In,” featuring an area called “Mettler’s Woods” in New Jersey. This virgin 
136 acre tract has been highly valued by students and scientists. Mr. Wm. 
Cole, (Secretary of the Citizens’ Scientific and Historical Committee for the 
Preservation of Mettler’s Woods, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New 
Jersey), announces that only 85 contributions totalling $768.90 have been 
received so far to purchase this valuable area for posterity. They have 
raised about $45,000 in previous campaigns but $100,000 is needed, else 
the owner plans to sell to a lumber company. Twenty million people read 
LIFE but only 85: responded to this magnificent publicity. Too many 
readers probably felt that someone else was taking care of the problem. 
The Audubon Camp of Wisconsin will open on June 26th, 1955 for the first 
of five two-week sessions. The fee for the two-week period is $95.00. Campers 
have been enrolled from as far away as Florida and New Jersey. Though 
the original goal of $68,000 has been achieved, added funds are needed for 
equipment. The selection of the staff is nearly complete. . . Because the 
habitat of the Wood Duck is disappearing in Illinois, the Department of 
Conservation has placed this bird on its protected list. Wood Ducks prefer 
flooded timber and marshlands. When the habitat goes, the species soon 
follows. 
The state government still persists in its plan to push a new toll highway 
across part of the unique and beautiful Elgin Botanical Gardens near 
Elgin, Ill. Letters of protest should be sent to Governor William G. Strat- 
ton, State Capitol Building, Springfield, and to the following members of 
the State Legislature: Senator Merritt Little; Representatives Leon Schuler, 
