Middle fork of the Kings River in the new Kings Canyon National Park, California. Established by Act of Congress dated March 4, 1940, this 44,600-acre Sierra wilderness contains some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in the United States.

paredness as the northern countries have exhibited-the expert use of skis. The enormous increase in public interest already has produced potential legions of ski troops.

The interpretive program of the Service, which each year is made available to several millions of park visitors, may well be accepted as a potent force in maintaining national equilibrium. It is devoutly to be hoped that this program may be augmented rather than retarded. It would be "penny wise and pound foolish" to curtail a service of such proved value at the moment when its stimulation of appreciation and pride in the scenic resources and historic background of the Nation is a material aid in conditioning citizens for defense.

THE YEAR'S HIGH LIGHTS

Nineteen-Forty has been a year of increase in areas in the Federal park system, of expansion of activities, and of wide shifts in personnel planned to build up an administrative staff with a diversified background of park experience.

The signing by President Roosevelt on March 4 of the act to establish the Kings Canyon National Park, Calif., brought to a successful conclusion a 60-year fight to make that wilderness country a part of the national park system. Under the terms of the act the 4 square miles constituting the General Grant National Park, established in 1890, became the General Grant Grove Section of the Kings Canyon National Park. Redwood Mountain, acquired through purchase, was added to the park by Presidential proclamation on June 21. Superlatively wild mountain scenery and some of the finest remaining virgin groves of giant sequoias are the main features of this new park.

Isle Royale National Park, in northern Lake Superior, authorized in 1931, was established on April 5, 1940, with the acceptance by the Secretary of the Interior of title to the last parcels of land to be acquired on the island. This wilderness island, 44 miles in length, and its surrounding islets form a unique archipelagian national park.

The addition of nearly 200,000 acres to the Olympic National Park, Wash., brought into that unit unsurpassed rain forests, hot springs, spectacular waterfalls, other scenic wonders, and new recreational facilities.

Several areas of historic interest were added to the Federal park system. Tuzigoot National Monument, in Arizona, contains prehistoric ruins of great archeological interest and unusual educational value. Chalmette National Historical Park, La., site of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812, absorbed the Chalmette Monument and Grounds Reservation established in 1907. Appomattox, Va., scene of Lee's surrender in the War between the States,

paredness as the northern countries have exhibited-the expert use of skis. The enormous increase in public interest already has produced potential legions of ski troops.

The interpretive program of the Service, which each year is made available to several millions of park visitors, may well be accepted as a potent force in maintaining national equilibrium. It is devoutly to be hoped that this program may be augmented rather than retarded. It would be "penny wise and pound foolish" to curtail a service of such proved value at the moment when its stimulation of appreciation and pride in the scenic resources and historic background of the Nation is a material aid in conditioning citizens for defense.

THE YEAR'S HIGH LIGHTS

Nineteen-Forty has been a year of increase in areas in the Federal park system, of expansion of activities, and of wide shifts in personnel planned to build up an administrative staff with a diversified background of park experience.

The signing by President Roosevelt on March 4 of the act to establish the Kings Canyon National Park, Calif., brought to a successful conclusion a 60-year fight to make that wilderness country a part of the national park system. Under the terms of the act the 4 square miles constituting the General Grant National Park, established in 1890, became the General Grant Grove Section of the Kings Canyon National Park. Redwood Mountain, acquired through purchase, was added to the park by Presidential proclamation on June 21. Superlatively wild mountain scenery and some of the finest remaining virgin groves of giant sequoias are the main features of this new park.

Isle Royale National Park, in northern Lake Superior, authorized in 1931, was established on April 5, 1940, with the acceptance by the Secretary of the Interior of title to the last parcels of land to be acquired on the island. This wilderness island, 44 miles in length, and its surrounding islets form a unique archipelagian national park.

The addition of nearly 200,000 acres to the Olympic National Park, Wash., brought into that unit unsurpassed rain forests, hot springs, spectacular waterfalls, other scenic wonders, and new recreational facilities.

Several areas of historic interest were added to the Federal park system. Tuzigoot National Monument, in Arizona, contains prehistoric ruins of great archeological interest and unusual educational value. Chalmette National Historical Park, La., site of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812, absorbed the Chalmette Monument and Grounds Reservation established in 1907. Appomattox, Va., scene of Lee's surrender in the War between the States,