Click to Return to Beginning		THE NATIONAL PARKS AND EMERGENCY CONSERVATION WHAT THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS DO Congress in establishing the National Park Service outlined its function to be the preservation of the national parks, monuments, and other reservations assigned to its jurisdiction in their natural condition for the use and enjoyment of American citizens of all times. A Naturalist and His Pet Marmot Carrying out this mandate involves the serious responsibility of conserving the finest natural scenery the country has to offer and of guarding nearly 15,000,000 acres of territory, at the same time making the parks and monuments accessible to nearly 4,000,000 people who visit them annually. To keep the natural beauty of mountain, forest, lake, and waterfall unspoiled and yet within easy access of such a multitude of visitors is an interesting though often difficult problem. Quoting the landscape architects, upon whom devolves the responsibility for this phase of park activities, the reverse of the famous principle used by the ostrich generally is followed, for roads, trails, and buildings all should provide a maximum of scenic view, at the same time being as inconspicuous as possible themselves. The landscape process begins with selecting locations which do not tear up the landscape or obtrude into important views. This is followed by a study of the design, which endeavors to use native materials and other architectural features that will harmonize the structure with its surroundings. The last phase of the problem is the placing of any plant materials necessary to cure unavoidable damage that may result from the construction. The range of national park landscape problems is highly interesting and diversified. It runs the gamut from dog kennels in Alaska to colonial plantations in Virginia, from adobe houses with cactus gardens in the Southwest to subarctic roadside plantings in Maine, and from lakeside hotels in Montana to hot-springs developments in Arkansas. The actual construction work, of course, devolves upon the engineers, and all studies of the physical problems of each park are made by the landscape men, the engineers, and the individual park superintendents, and in special cases of historical interest by the historians. When a general scheme of development has been arrived at, a so-called "master plan", is prepared by the landscape architects on which is charted an outline of all future construction work. Using this master plan as a guide, designs are then worked out for the individual items, such as roads, buildings, parking areas, bridges, trails, and numerous miscellaneous projects. Reforestation Among the Big Trees The supplying of adequate living accommodations for visitors is an important phase of national park development, especially in those parks handling from 100,000 to nearly half a million visitors annually. The National Park Service, in addition to providing roads and trails and the necessary buildings for carrying on the administration of the parks, also provides free public automobile camps. The main camps in the larger parks have all the modern improvements, with water, electric lighting, sanitary conveniences, open fireplaces, and firewood is furnished to all visitors without charge. Not so many years ago most motorists making use of these camp grounds carried their own equipment, pitched their own tents, and cooked their own meals. But the gradual change in the habits of motorists has brought about the introduction and expansion of housekeeping cabins and cafeteria service in many larger camps. Experience has proved that the only practicable method of providing accommodations other than the automobile camps is through private capital, operating under Government franchise and close supervision. Hotels, lodges, transportation facilities, and various types of store service all are operated under this plan, as are the housekeeping cabins and cafeterias in the public camps. Interesting private capital in this development has not always been an easy matter, since the majority of the parks have a short tourist season and in addition are a considerable distance from commercial markets, with resultant increase in cost of commodity purchases. The National Park Service takes into consideration all these factors and also the needs of the public in recommending approval of rates by the Secretary of the Interior. It is an interesting fact that, despite the short operating season and the difficulties of transporting supplies and equipment, rates in the national park hotels and lodges are less than those charged for similar accommodations at popular resorts not under Government control.
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