2 THE ATU DU BsO NB UPL Lea 
are becoming rare on our continent, and with a constant increase in our 
country’s population, such areas will become increasingly popular. More 
people are visiting our national parks now than at any time in our nation’s 
history. 
Back in 1908, the then Secretary of the Interior authorized the city of 
San Francisco to build reservoirs in the Hetch-Hetchy Valley, 20 miles 
above Yosemite Valley, despite the fact that alternate sites were (and still 
are) available. If Hetch-Hetchy were a national park today, Yosemite 
would not now be in such miserable condition . . . overcrowded, trampled 
and littered. 
Only an aroused public can save Dinosaur and our entire national park 
system. Letters of protest to Congress and the President are urgently 
needed. Your society has acted by sending letters to newspapers, all 25 
Illinois Congressmen, both Illinois Senators, and letters to 25 Illinois nature 
groups. It has sent telegrams to Secretary McKay and President Eisenhower 
with 37 names attached. But individual cards and letters have the most 
powerful effect on elected officials. Your potential for good is tremendous. 
Use it. 
33845 N. Harding Ave., Chicago 18, Illinois 
fi fl ff 
From the Book Table 
EXPLORING OUR NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS, by Devereux Butcher; 
published by Houghton, Mifflin Co. under the auspices of the Nationa] Parks 
Association; 1951; 286 pages; paper, $2.50; cloth, $4.00. 
This is one of the finest and most authoritative books of its type ever 
written. The author is the executive director of the National Parks Associa- 
tion, with offices in Washington, D.C. It is a handbook of our great national 
nature reserves. 
In its 250 illustrations, one finds magnificent views of rugged canyons, 
fantastic spires, weird formations, splendid mountains, and many of the 
other wonders our national parks and monuments contain. Here are de- 
lightful and intimate photos of nature — the wild animals, birds, wild- 
flowers, trees and mosses that are such a valuable treasure in our nature 
reserves. 
The author traces the concept and Caren of the National Park System, 
discusses the National Park Service, and examines the dangers threatening 
our parks. The history of each park and monument is given. The volume 
concludes with an article by Sigurd Olson on the need of soci ay for wilder- 
ness areas. An excellent bibliography is included. 
No traveler to our ‘national parks should be without a copy of this out- 
standing and treasured volume. You may examine this book at our book 
table following our Sereen Tours. It is one of our “best sellers.” 
Raymond Mostek, 3345 N. Harding Ave., Chicago 18 
