In California we are faced with many recreational demands and conflicts, particularly on existing wilderness areas. Pilot studies which will have national application are being carried out on at least one of our national forests (Sierra National Forest) in determining management tools and regulations to minimize the effect on the wilderness areas of large, concentrated numbers of wilderness recreation seekers. We believe results of these studies should be available before detailed wilderness area policy is adopted. We have long supported the multiple use of our national forests and wildlands, and feel that such progressive steps as the Multiple Use Act of 1960, which included wilderness areas as a responsibility of the Forest Service, and imple mentation of the long-range program for the national forests will, in time, resolve the question of further legislation dealing with wilderness areas. Sincerely, Hon. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. JAMES MUSSATTI, General Manager. THE FAYETTE REVIEW, Fayette, Ohio, February 24, 1961. SIR: It is my understanding that you have introduced a bill into the U.S. Senate concerning wilderness preservation. Since I am greatly interested in wilderness preservation, may I express my thoughts on the matter. I would like to have this letter made part of the record of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, if this is possible. Wilderness preservation is of utmost importance and concern to the United States. This Nation's population has increased steadily since the country's birth. The future holds further increases. This will mean an accelerated and ever increasing dwindling of our national resources. It also means that, with more people, the problems, pressures, and complexity of our society will increase. Where will man turn for a rebirth of spiritual and creative energy if wilderness areas no longer exist? For this one reason, in my opinion, wilderness areas (as many as possible) should be assured of perpetual safety. Wilderness preservation is important, also, as these areas serve as laboratories for the study of nature as it once was and as it would have developed without man's presence. The wilderness is part of mankind's total culture. It should be preserved to provide for future generations. Respectively, GAYLORD YOST. QUINTON, VA., February 25, 1961. Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. ANDERSON: I would like to express my views on bill S. 174, to establish a national wilderness preservation system. With our growing population and mechanization we need, more than ever, to preserve remnants of our beautiful wilderness. In a setting of natural beauty, free from the things of civilization, you feel closer to God. These values cannot be measured in dollars or cents. Since we have been on this earth we have created much material wealth. But there is one thing man cannot make, peace and solitude that is found in wilderness. We owe it to ourselves and generations to come to safeguard our wilderness. I am 17 years old and have a deep abiding love for nature. Thank you. Sincerely yours, JERRY ELLYSON. NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN, Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, DEAR SIR: Speaking as the daughter of pioneer families of the State of Washington, as well as president of Seattle branch of the above-named organization, I wish to voice strong support of the wilderness bill (S. 174). People in the lowland areas of western Washington are right now suffering great property and health damage due in part to the policies which have resulted in the denuding of our mountainsides and thus turning loose the torrents of water which should be retained by the trees and wilderness reservoirs provided by nature. But aside from this consideration, it seems to me that we owe it to our future generations to preserve as much of the natural wilderness with all it provides in the way of enjoyment, study, and benefits as it is possible. There are few spots in any man's land that can surpass the beauty of the areas covered by this bill. I urgently request that it be given fair and careful consideration. Very truly yours, MARGARET COPLEN MATTOCKS. AUGUSTA NATURE CLUB, Augusta, Maine, February 22, 1961. Hon. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: It is good to know that you have already introduced in the Senate the wilderness bill, S. 174, and that you had many cosponsors from both political parties. Now that previous discussion of a similar bill has apparently worked out satisfactory answers to questions raised in the past, we greatly hope that S. 174 will be speedily adopted by the Senate. It is high time that the United States should preserve an adequate sampling of different types of wilderness areas for their scientific, educational, and esthetic values. Will you kindly include this letter of support in the record of the hearing on S. 174 to be held on February 27 and 28? Thank you. Sincerely yours, DOROTHEA MARSTON, Chairman, Conservation Committee. MANSFIELD, OHIO, February 24, 1961. Senator CLINTON ANDERSON, Chairman, Senate Interior Committee, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: As conservation chairman of our local Audubon Society, I am writing to inform you that our chapter endorses your wilderness bill S. 174 and sincerely hope it passes. Sincerely, Mrs. LLOYD S. BARR. NAMPA, IDAHO, February 23, 1961. Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: As members of Boise Valley Natural History Society and as individuals, we, the undersigned, wish to express our gratitude to you for introducing S. 174, the new wilderness bill, in this session of Congress. We wish to express our approval of the measure and urge members of your committee to do what they can toward getting it out of committee and to support it on the floor of the Senate. We believe that all thoughtful and unselfish Americans share the feeling that some areas must be set aside in their natural state while time still remains. Sincerely yours, CHARLES F. BAPTIST.. (Letter contained 25 signatures. They are on file with the committee.) CAMP DENALI, INC., MCKINLEY PARK, ALASKA, February 24, 1961. SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, DEAR SIRS: We would like to go on record of approving S. 174, the bill introduced by Clinton P. Anderson to create a National Wilderness Preservation System. Those of us who have made our homes in Alaska because the wide, open, spaces have for the most part disappeared in the rest of the States, hope that permanent status, not subject to administrative decree, can be given to some of the wild areas still left in national forests, parks, and wildlife ranges. Many areas which conservationists now seek to make into national parks to protect their wilderness values, might better be left in national forests or wildlife ranges if they had the assurance of the protection a wilderness bill could give. Our wilderness areas in the time to come of expanding populations may turn out to be the most valuable resource we as a Nation will have. They can' never be created once they have gone. Sincerely, VIRGINIA HILL WOOD. CELIA M. HUNTER. THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB, Hon. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, U.S. Senator, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: The Colorado Mountain Club would like to state our support of the wilderness bill (S. 174), at these hearings. The citizens of Colorado, as well as thousands of visitors to Colorado, have an unusual opportunity to enjoy nature's handiwork unspoiled by civilization in almost a dozen wilderness areas in Colorado. The Colorado Mountain Club, with groups in all part of the State, continually penetrates these areas, and fully appreciates the matchless beauty of the wilderness environment. We greatly appreciate your support to have this bill (S. 174) passed during the present session of Congress. Very sincerely yours, FLORIAN A. CAJORI, President, Colorado Mountain Club. FEBRUARY 10, 1961. Hon. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. MY DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: The Skagit Alpine Club wishes to commend you for your interest in and introduction of the new wilderness bill, S. 174, upon which hearings will be held February 27-28. We urge you and your cosponsors to exert all possible influence toward early passage of this bill. The Skagit Alpine Club has a membership of approximately 100 adults representing Skagit and Island Counties which are situated immediately adjacent to the State of Washington's magnificent North Cascade Mountain Range. We are fully aware that strong measures must be pursued and constant vigil kept to insure the preservation of wilderness areas for present and future generations, not only in our own State of Washington but throughout the Nation, and we feel that Senate bill 174 is a right step in that direction. We respectfully request that the views of our organization be made a matter of record in the hearings on Senate bill 174. DEAR SENATOR KUCHEL: The wilderness bill is an outstanding social need. There is no warrant for depriving society of this precious resource. HERLEY GAYMAN, President. WEST COVINA, CALIF., February 25, 1961. Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: I live in a semiarid area from which the last vestige of wildlands has disappeared. Their disappearance has brought about changes that we call civilization. However, those changes in themselves force an appreciation for the value to civilization of wilderness. In my opinion, the wilderness bill, S. 174, is necessary to prevent other areas in the country, arid or not, from becoming devoid of that element so necessary to civilization. I respectfully request that your committee act favorably on this legislation. Respectfully yours, MRS. MARY JOHNSON. BOISE, IDAHO, February 23, 1961. Hon. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Hearing on Wilderness Bill, DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: We of the Idaho Wilderness Committe wish to commend you for your introduction of S. 174. We agree that preservation of our wilderness by congressional action is most desirable. With our multiplying population our nonwilderness land is more and more losing what unspoiled character it has had. This makes continuous protection of what wilderness now remains, all the more imperative. We favor multiple use of the public domain but firmly believe that multiple use of the whole does not preclude the use of some parts for activities best suited and most desired for each small part. Any proposed legislation which would limit or reduce present wild, primitive or wilderness areas before including them in a wilderness preservation system would be breaking faith with the future of our children as well as doing an extreme injustice to our, too often harried, present generation. We urge the passage of S. 174 as soon as possible. Sincerely, ERNEST E. DAY, Ohairman, Idaho Wilderness Committee. BATONA HIKING CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA, Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, DEAR SENATOR ANDERSON: We are advised that bill S. 174, known as the wilderness preservation system, is in preliminary hearings preparatory to going to Congress. I wish to express my strongest support for this bill. This is based on the desirability as well as the obvious need for such a measure. The destruction plus the exploitation of the forests and wildlife, the mountains and streams of this Nation has reached a point of danger and may soon become disastrous. Preservation of our wilderness as well as our natural resources must, and I repeat, must be assured by Federal law. Conservation must be more than a figure of speech. It must be implemented by more than halfway measures and token gestures as heretofore. The Batona Hiking Club of Philadelphia and its 1,000-odd members are only one facet of the American public which calls for renewal and effective legislation on conservation's behalf. Therefore, on behalf of the organization which I represent, I call on our legislators to do all in their power to put bill S. 174 before the Congress and implement its adoption into law. I wish further to state that I would like to have this letter entered into the record of the hearings; and also advise that this letter may be used in any manner that will further the objectives expressed herein. Respectfully yours, MORRIS BARDOCK, President. EDMONDS, WASH., February 22, 1961. Senator CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Chairman, Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, SIRS: Although I am only a boy of 14 I enjoy the great out of doors as much as the expert climber or experienced forest ranger. I believe that in order to have successful national forests, national parks, and State parks, you must have unspoiled wilderness. I sincerely hope you will vote for wilderness bill S. 174. Yours truly, JIM SELLERS. STATEMENT OF CARMELITA LOWRY, ST. Louis, Mo. The recreational values of wilderness areas are, in themselves, ample justification for legislation which would protect these areas. But since the opponents to such legislation like to label inexpensive and popular outdoor recreation as "the selfish interest of a privileged few" perhaps more emphasis should be placed on the practical and scientific importance of wilderness preservation. In spite of many technological advances man knows pitifully little about his environment. Although he has often been able to improve on Mother Nature he has been guilty of gigantic blunders when he has tried to outwit her. This is eloquently stated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1958 Yearbook: "So the fathers conquered a continent and learned much about land and themselves. And the sons? The sons, for quick profits and, heedless of sons to come, cut over and let burn many forests. Logging at an end, towns died. They let the streams be polluted. Silt from denuded watersheds choked reservoirs, led to floods and wasted water, which was becoming more and more precious. People plowed land that should be grassland and saw how duststorms could despoil the prairies. They overgrazed and uncovered the slopes and paid the price in erosion, in the forced sales of homes and farms, and poverty." To say that the sons have learned their lesson and become wondrous wise is the grossest form of naivete. And although they may learn much from experiments in timber cutting, watershed management, insect control, etc., etc., they can do so only if they preserve some basis of comparison, some "baseline" with which to interpret the results of these experiments. The only satisfactory "baseline" is wilderness and there is precious little left. 66737-61-26 |