Bills giving the Bandelier Monument, in New Mexico, national-park status have already been introduced in Congress.

Other projects that have been mentioned for national park timber are the reservation of the Sand Dunes of Indiana, the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, and the Great Oynx Cave not far distant from it. The Mammoth Cave is a worthy candidate for parkhood and the outright purchase of the cave is a desirable one. Furthermore, there should be a group of parks in the eastern section of the country which would include the best examples of the eastern landscapes and some of its most conspicuous natural features. Although not as rich in natural scenic wonders as the West, the East is entitled to recognition of the importance and value of the unique features of some of its areas by having placed upon them the stamp of superlative excellence which national park status conveys. While Congress has never adopted the policy of purchasing lands for park purposes, there is the precedent which authorized purchase of national forest lands in the Appalachian Mountains under the Weeks Act of March 1, 1911. Furthermore, no more noble gifts can be made to the Nation by public-spirited individuals than tracts of lands suitable for national parks and monuments. The East has already furnished its conspicuous example in the creation of its first national park.

Save the redwoods.-The necessity of saving some of the splendid redwood stands in California, which are fast being cut by commercial enterprise, demands prompt action. The Save the Redwoods League organized to stimulate interest in their preservation is doing splendid work. Bills to preserve a splendid forest of redwood trees of the species Sequoia sempervirens have already brought the necessity of quick action in saving these masterpieces of forest creation from the ax of the woodman direct to the attention of Congress.

Another outstanding feature in the preservation of some of our splendid scenic trees is the necessity of preserving strips of red wood and other timber along roads in building, or to be built, in various sections of the States of California, Oregon, and Washington. Nothing should be left undone to achieve this vital result. Even though short-sighted commercialism can not see the value of this, posterity's thanks will be inevitable for even the slightest effort made toward this end. Here is opportunity for cooperation of the most publicspirited sort.

Appropriations.--Due to war-time exigencies, appropriations for national parks, as in other lines of public endeavor, were cut to the bone. The appropriation for the fiscal year 1920 for the national parks and monuments, exclusive of the Hot Springs Reservation, which is self-supporting, amounted to only $754,195. Developing the

national parks to a standard commensurate with their dignity and importance to the Nation, and to meet the demands made upon them by an appreciative, enthusiastic people requires larger appropriations. The tremendous wear and tear which the roads and trails and other improvements suffered under the great influx of tourists requires ample funds for maintenance and repair. With increasing travel, or even with a future average yearly travel meeting this year's figures, the expansion and development of roads and trails and other facilities to relieve congestion by distribution of visitors must also have attention. Larger crowds mean larger administrative expenditures. In this connection it is of the utmost interest to know that the revenues derived from all of the parks and reservations during the past fiscal year amounted to $196,703.03.

Forest fires in the parks.-The past year has been particularly serious from the standpoint of forest fires. Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks suffered heavily, the demands of fire fighting at the height of the tourist season taking not only the services of men urgently needed for construction and maintenance work but funds for fighting these fires had to be taken from existing park appropriations, when they could ill be spared. Money was used that was badly needed to perform work that would benefit the traveling public, and which should have been done this season. The necessity for providing a general fire-fighting fund for the national parks to be available in any park in which fires happen to occur is obvious.

Yellowstone National Park.-Congress in granting to the National Park Service absolute control of this park's affairs made poзsible the great progress of this year. On the withdrawal of the military forces and abandonment of Fort Yellowstone the administration of the park was reorganized. Former Assistant Director Horace M. Albright, of the park service, was made superintendent in June, 1919.

All travel records of this park were broken, the visitors numbering over 62,000. The larger portion of these came in automobiles from every State in the Union. The result was that the hotels and camps became crowded, but the acute shortage of sleeping quarters became serious only in times of storms, when thousands of camping motorists sought shelter. Camp Roosevelt, at Tower Falls, will be greatly expanded, making four large hotels and five permanent camps available to the public next year. But these will have to be further extended to meet the growing tourist demands. Many tourists brought their own equipment and supplies during the greater part of the season, and it is estimated that from 5,000 to 6,000 people enjoyed motor trips over the road system each day. This means that extensive motor camps must be provided. Plans now prepared call for over 50 large camp grounds, reasonably near the park roads.

The elk herds are in danger because of drought injury to the winter range, and winter feeding grounds are necessary. The road system is in fine repair, but the tremendous increase in travel makes necessary extensive improvements, widening of certain sections, renewal and installation of bridges, culverts, etc. New telephone and telegraph lines are also needed for protecting the park from fires, the dispatch of public business, care of emergency calls, and accommodation of tourists. Ranger stations and snowshoe cabins are greatly needed; the former, built many years ago for housing of troop detachments, are now impossible, and the latter, used by patrolling rangers in the dead of winter, are worn out, poorly located, and detrimental to health.

Attention is again called to Mr. Mondell's bill (H. R. 1412) which would add part of the Jackson Hole country, including the Teton Mountains, to the park. Besides the reasons that have been advanced heretofore for adding this region, which belongs to the Federal Government, it would provide a southern entrance, which is much needed.

Foreseeing heavy tourist automobile travel, and realizing the possibilities of connecting Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, the Geysers to Glaciers Highway" was organized and promoted during the season just closed, by citizens of Montana. The entire State became enthusiastic in the work of road repair-in some towns all business houses closed while their owners worked on the highways. Another development of the season was the operation of an automobile passenger service between the parks via the "Geysers to Glaciers" route. Passengers were carried to Helena, where they were transferred to cars of the Glacier Park Transportation Co., and taken northward. To care for this new volume of travel Helena is planning the erection of an enormous resort hotel. Train service between Yellowstone and Glacier was also heavy, enough so to warrant the establishment of through sleeping-car service between these two parks. The Yellowstone-Glacier Bee Line Highway will be open next season, and will be popular, both because it is a short route and a scenic one.

Glacier National Park.-Notwithstanding drought and forest fires in this park visitors increased 108 per cent. The small crew of workmen employed for protection and improvement of the park had to be diverted to the fighting of the fires, and essential park funds had to be used for this purpose.

There is a growing tendency for visitors to spend longer vacations at the hotels and chalets, and on camping trips. All this created a demand for saddle horses which at times made an acute shortage. Tourists are becoming increasingly desirous of seeing the northern valleys of the park, and both horse and walking trails are much needed. A definite road construction program is ready as

soon as money is appropriated for this purpose. Montana has continued to give some aid in the maintenance of the road up to the North Fork of Flathead River.

While visiting the park this summer members of the Brooklyn Eagle party subscribed over $1,100 for the improvement and repair of the road between Babb and the Canadian line, in order to give our park system a connection with the highways of Alberta. The people of Montana and Alberta have called this highway "The Brooklyn Eagle Trail."

A new telephone system is needed as a fire protection and aid to administration of the park and transaction of business with the hotels and transportation lines. The irrigation works are now, in operation, and the expected havoc has taken place.

The wild animals are flourishing since the predatory kind have been reduced, and fishing is becoming better each year.

Yosemite National Park.-Travel to this park began earlier than usual, and the volume was sustained to the end of the summer season, making a new record for itself. The realization by the public that Yosemite Park possesses more attractions than just those of the great valley came faster than the administration and business interests expected, so that facilities for accommodating the crowds were severely taxed. Fully half of these visitors were cared for in the great automobile camps, which are a very popular feature of the park.

Emergency improvements were necessary this year, but a new building program must be put in operation. The Yosemite National Park Co., composed of business men of San Francisco and Los Angeles, contemplates immediate improvements to the extent of $300,000, and it estimates that to care for the travel that is certain to come to Yosemite National Park next year, improvements should be made aggregating $1,500,000. This includes the building of a new hotel and camp on the floor of the valley, further improvements in the sanitation system, and water supply of Glacier Point hotel, and building of a camp on the Tuolumne Meadows. The lunch camp in Mariposa Grove has proven a great accommodation.

The completion by the State highway commission of a paved road to the gates of the park, promoted by California business men, will when it is completed, make it necessary for the Government to pave the new El Portal Highway and the road system of the valley floor. The proposed Yosemite Valley-Nevada Falls-Tenaya Road must be built, in order to give quick access to the Sierra section of the park and relieve traffic congestion on the floor of Yosemite Valley. It will cost approximately $500,000 and take several years to complete. As soon as the new all-year road is completed, the winter sports of this park, now enjoyed in a limited way, will become increasingly popular. Half Dome is now scalable; the Sierra Club contributed

a protection for the trail to its top, consisting of a row of iron posts set in the rock, and through which stretches a double cable. A trails development plan is now being worked out with the assistance of the Sierra Club.

Fishing has been excellent, and the State fish and game commission is prepared to build the new hatchery as soon as authority is obtained. The importance of game preserves on the western boundary is again mentioned, as the deer, which are plentiful, need better protection. California has ceded to the Federal Government the protection of the fish and wild animals of the park, to take effect when Congress accepts this tender.

Important cooperative work was performed by the United States Public Health Service in combating the mosquito evil in Yosemite Valley, and making a survey of the sanitation needs of the park. The result of this survey indicates the entire sanitation system of the valley must be rebuilt immediately.

Among the signs of progress is the educational use of the park. This year the Le Conte Memorial lectures were delivered under the direction of the extension division of the University of California; they are to be a park institution, to continue indefinitely. Animal life is also being studied under the direction of Dr. J. Grinnell of the Department of Zoology. To make a detailed survey of Yosemite Valley, the Geological Survey has detailed a topographic engineer, and the Bureau of Entomology has continued to give extensive assistance in controlling insect pests that are attacking the forests in certain parts of the park.

Sequoia National Park.-Proposed legislation to add to this park about 1,300 square miles of scenic area and to change its name to Roosevelt National Park has made the public familiar with this Greater Sequoia project. The suggestion to rename this park in memory of the late former President came from a member of the Boone and Crockett Club, of which Mr. Roosevelt was the founder. The future of this park depends so much on the outcome of the enlargement project that development work is being retarded. The public camps present a problem as to control, sanitation, and water supply. Two new road approaches are borne in mind-one from a point on the Middle Fork of Kaweah River near Hospital Rock to the Giant Forest road system, and the continuation of the road between Sequoia and General Grant National Parks. The first approach road would require approximately two years to construct. Automobile transportation service to the park will be better and more extensive next season.

The destruction of trees all along the Pacific coast and highways of the northern part of the State emphasizes the value of the recent purchase of the Giant Forest by the combined action of Congress