rial Association. The parsonage is the birthplace of Grover Cleveland, twenty-second President of the United States. It will be converted into a museum and out of the subscription fund raised, $50,000 in all, through appeal to the people, a library building will be erected near the parsonage. The option price of the parsonage and grounds is $20,000. [See plate 40.] JAMESTOWN NATIONAL PARK AGAIN PROPOSED. On July 12, 1911, the Hon. John Lamb of Virginia, introduced in the House of Representatives of the United States Congress the following bill drafted by the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society: A Bill For the purchase and preservation of Jamestown Island, Virginia, as a national park, and making appropriation therefor. Whereas the first permanent settlement of English-speaking people in the New World was made on the peninsula of Jamestown, Virginia, on the thirteenth day of May, sixteen hundred and seven; and Whereas the said Jamestown, during the Colonial Period, the War of the American Revolution, and the Civil War, was the scene of important events affecting the character, political independence and perpetuity of this Nation; and Whereas by the action of the elements the said peninsula has been converted into an island and is subject to further erosion unless properly protected; and Whereas knowledge of the history and respect for the traditions of a Nation by its citizens conduce to love of country, civic pride, and loyalty to established institutions; and Whereas a justifiable price in the annals of our race and a due respect for our national traditions dictate that the birthplace of Anglo-Saxon civilization in the western world should be taken into the care of the National Government and preserved for the benefit of the people of the United States of America as a memorial of signal events in their history: Therefore Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to procure title, in the name of the United States of America, to the island and appurtenances thereof, lying in the James River, in the county of James City, State of Virginia, known as Jamestown Island, comprising one thousand four hundred acres of land, more or less, and being the site of the first permanent English settlement within the present limits of the United States of America. Sec. 2. That said island and appurtenances shall be known as "The Jamestown National Park." Sec. 3. That said national park shall be under the control of the Secretary of the Interior, who is hereby authorized and directed, upon procuring title thereto, to take possession of the same and to prescribe such rules and regulations and establish such service as he shall deem necessary for its care and management and for its preservation from spoliation or injury by vandals or the action of the elements. Sec. 4. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized, in the exercise of his discretion, to rent or lease, under rules and regulations to be made by him, privileges for the erection or maintenance within said park of such buildings as may be required for the accommodation of the public. Sec. 5. That all funds arising from the privileges granted hereunder shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as a special fund, to be expended in the care and maintenance of said. park. Sec. 6. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized, in his discretion, to appoint any reputable historic, preservation, or archaeological organization as custodian of said park. Sec. 7. That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he hereby is, authorized to permit examinations, excavations, and the gathering of objects of interest within said park by any person or persons whom he may deem to be properly qualified to conduct such examinations, excavations, or gatherings, subject to such rules and regulations as he may prescribe: Provided, That the examinations, excavations, or gatherings are undertaken for the benefit of the Smithsonian Institution or of some reputable muscum, university, college, or other recognized historical, scientific, or educational organization or institution, with a view to increasing the knowledge of such objects and aiding the advancement of archaeological science. Sec. 8. That all persons who shall unlawfully intrude upon said park, or willfully injure or destroy any public property thereon, or remove, injure, or destroy any relies, fortifications, or monuments thereon, or who shall violate any of the rules or regulations prescribed hereunder, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or be imprisoned for a period of not less than fifteen days nor more than twelve months, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. so much Sec. 9. That three hundred thousand dollars, or thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same hereby is, appropriated for the purposes of this Act. For the past ten years we have been urging the creation of the Jamestown National Park as an object which appeals to the whole Nation, for the traditions which flow from Jamestown lie at the foundation of Anglo-Saxon Civilization in the New World. Jamestown Island, in the James River, Va., consists of about 1,600 acres. It is owned by Mrs. Louise J. Barney all but a few acres at one end which she gave away to a patriotic society some years ago. In the soil of the island are buried the foundation of the first permanent settlement of English pioneers in America the first capital of the first colony of the thirteen which became the original states. The place is of great historical and archaeological interest and a proper excavation would solve problems which now puzzle the historian and of which the original records are lost. There are three particular aspects of the case which are appealing: First. We have no National Monument to the planting of Anglo-Saxon Civilization in the New World. This park would be such a National Monument. Second. It would be a peculiarly graceful thing for the Federal Government to do for the reason that it would establish, south of Mason and Dixon's line, a memorial of those early traditions which the South and North hold in common. It would serve to strengthen the national unity, by conserving those sentiments of community of interest which bind us together, irrespective of local environment and the memories of the events of 1861-65. We believe it would be an act of the highest patriotism on the part of Congress to do this. Third. We are now approaching the completion of a century of unbroken peace between the United States which sprang from the seed-bed of Jamestown and the Mother Country which planted the infant colony there. British domination in Canada (which was established before our Revolution), is as traceable to Jamestown as English-speaking civilization in the United States. The significance of the spot therefore appeals to all who cherish with pleasure the thought of the unity in friendly sentiment of the English-speaking peoples on both sides of the Atlantic. James town, purchased and made a National Monument, would most fittingly commemorate not only the founding of Anglo-Saxon civilization in the New World, but also the "tie that binds" the Mother and Daughter Nations in bonds of friendly sympathy. TALLULAH FALLS, GA., ENDANGERED. In November, 1911, the co-operation of this Society was sought by persons residing in Georgia in an effort to preserve Tallulah Falls in that state. These falls are situated in the northern part of the State in Rabun and Habbersham Counties. They are a series of falls extending about three miles along the Tallulah River, in a gorge varying in depth from 800 to over 1,200 feet. The stream is not large, but the scenery is in its primeval condition and very beautiful. The scene is believed to be unique in the South Atlantic Highlands. The occasion for intercession in the matter arose from the desire of the Georgia Railroad and Power Co., to secure a charter for the purpose of developing power from Tallulah Falls. The company planned to build a dam above the falls and divert the water through a tunnel, so that the falls would be deprived of their water and consequently of their beauty. A local society, called the Tallulah Falls Preservation Society, was formed, with Mrs. Helen D. Longstreet, of Dahlonega, Ga., as President. reinforce its efforts, we wrote to the Governor of the State, communicating information, including precedents and judicial opinions, bearing upon the subject. The case appears to be similar to that of the Cascade Town Co., in Colorado and of Letchworth Park in New York State. ESTES NATIONAL PARK PROPOSED. Το In 1911 we received various communications from Colorado asking our co-operation in securing the establishment of Estes National Park in the State of Colorado. The proposed park, one corner of which is within fifty miles of Denver, embraces an area of 1,008 square miles. This project, advocated by the Denver Chamber of Commerce, the American Civic Association, and other bodies, is opposed by an organization entitled the Front Range Settlers' League. In our exchange of views with the Department of the Interior, it appeared that the information as yet in hand is too inadequate to permit of a definite opinion. One important question involved is the amount of privately owned land within the limits of the proposed park. Experience has shown that the existence of private lands within a National Park leads to conflict of interests and it is the wise policy of the Department of the Interior to prevent a recurrence of this situation in the future as far as possible. One estimate of the private lands within the proposed limits of Estes National Park puts the area at 20,000 acres; while another indicates that there are over 80,000 acres of patented land and over 17,000 acres of school land within the bounds suggested. A Bureau of National Parks, which can take up and systematically investigate questions like this is a great desideratum. The Secretary of the Interior, the Hon. Walter L. Fisher, has expressed himself as favorably inclined personally toward a large park in the Rocky Mountain area at or near the proposed park, although in the present situation he is not prepared to take an official position with reference to the matter. NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS. Complete List to Date. In our Fifteenth Annual Report (1910) we gave a list of National Parks and National Monuments, with brief descriptions of several, and explained the difference between National Parks and National Monuments. Below we give a list of them in order of creation revised to date: 1872 * Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana.... * 1890 Sequoia National Park, California.. 1890 1890 1892 1899 1902 1902 1903 1904 1906 1906 1906 1906 1906 1906 * General Grant National Park, California. * Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. ACRES. 912 2,142,720 161,597 2,536 719,622 480 207,360 159,360 848 10,522 780 42,376 175,360 1,152 160 75,625 160 |