SERIES OF FOUR PLANNING BOOKS APPROVED

Supervisor Wirth has made the following proposals regarding Service publications:

"The book Park and Recreation Structures has been an outstanding success in the field of park planning literature. I believe the Service should build up a series of planning books, each as eminent in its field as Park and Recreation Structures, so that the National Park Service will be recognized as the authority in the field of park planning. I suggest, therefore, further crystallization of Service planning achievements by undertaking to assemble material for, and to publish with CCC funds, the following books in the Planning Series:

"1. The Preservation and Interpretation of History

'This book would treat the work of the National Park Service in the restoration and interpretation of historical material. It is my belief that the Service already has sufficient data and accomplishments in this field to justify the preparation and publication of an outstanding book on the subject. I suggest that Mr. Albert H. Good, who was responsible for the assembling and preparation of the material in Park and Recreation Structures, undertake this assignment, collaborating with the Branch of Historic Sites, Museum Division, and any other technical divisions of the Service which are in a position to supply the requisite material.

"2. The Management and Use of Wild Lands

'This book would treat the preservation of the natural or wilderness characteristics of park lands, and should develop the complete-use-of-land philosophy of parks as contrasted with the multiple use land management that usually exists elsewhere. It should also develop the significance of forestry in parks, the significance of wildlife work, of pure research and of planning for the proper use of wilderness lands and the best means of their interpretation. In the compilation of such a book, there might evolve a clearer conception of our own policies, our achievements and our weaknesses in park management.

'Since there are so many schools of thought concerning this subject, I suggest that some field administrative officer be assigned to the Washington Office this winter to assemble the material and write the book.

'The Service has been severely criticized for its lack in this very field, and there is widespread misunderstanding of our policies and accomplishments.

"3. The Management and Restoration of Vanishing Species

'This book would deal with those wildlife forms that are most rare and most in need of park protection. It should be so well illustrated that the pictures themselves would drive home the conservation objectives involved. I suggest that Mr. Walter Weber paint the colored plates to illustrate the book and that the brief statements concerning each species to be considered, be prepared in the Wildlife Division.

'It is not believed long proposed National Park book on the Management and as an emergency measure for that this book would conflict with the Wildlife Portfolio or with the proposed Use of Wild Lands, since it would serve certain species only.

"4. Park, Parkway and Recreational-Area Study Progress Report

'This book would summarize progress of the study to date, and would reaffirm its objectives. The study has been under way long enough that a report of progress is now urgently needed. Its findings and recommendations might serve a very useful purpose when the question of Government reorganization is considered again by Congress."

The Director has approved of this proposed extension of the planning series of books and practical arrangements are now being made to launch the program of writing.

******

NATURALIST DIVISION PREPARES CONSOLIDATED REPORT

For the first time in several years a comprehensive monthly report of the Naturalist Division has been issued. Heretofore the work of the naturalists has been described in the Park Superintendent's Monthly Reports and the activities of the CCC Geologists have been summarized in a separate report. This method of presentation did not readily show a complete picture of the naturalist program. Information from those various sources now has been combined into a report designed (1) to present the naturalist program currently and adequately, (2) to catalog and analyze the accomplishments of the staff, (3) to furnish a clearing house for ideas, and (4) to increase friendly relations and promote better understanding among the members of the staff and their coworkers.

******

THE NEW FORESTRY MANUAL

The Regional Office received 175 copies of the revised Manual of the Branch of Forestry for distribution in the Region. This manual, which was signed by the Acting Director on September 6, supersedes the one that has been in effect since July, 1935.

Bound in Service green heavy paper covers, the manual contains 76 pages of mimeographed material, following an 8-page preface and index. In it are set forth the authorized responsibilities, functions, objectives and policies of the Branch of Forestry of the National Park Service. About half of the manual is devoted to the subject of forest fire protection and the remainder deals with the problems of tree insect pest control, tree disease control, forest restoration, forest nurseries, tree preservation, and the various other activities for which the Branch is responsible or in which it has a joint interest with other Branches.

The keynote of the entire statement is cooperation. To achieve that cooperation the manual emphasizes repeatedly the necessity of recognizing and giving just consideration to all interrelated interests in dealing with park forest and tree problems. Of perhaps equal importance is the great earnestness of purpose expressed throughout the handbook. To illustrate this, objective d. in fire protection is quoted from page 6 as follows:

"d. To make the park fire protection organizations the best trained, best equipped, and most efficient forest fire protection organizations in the nation because of the high scenic and recreational values at stake."

A particularly noteworthy feature of this well written and executed publication is the marginal headings and synoptic statements which facilitate locating subject matter in the text. Provision is made also for amendments and additions to the manual in the future.

An Administrative Manual of the National Park Service has been in preparation for sometime, and when completed it will incorporate the Manual of the Branch of Forestry. The Service is fortunate in having for its guidance this fine written statement for procedure in forestry matters.--(Fred H. Arnold, Regional Forester.)

******

WILDLIFE CENSUS DATE EXCHANGED

Dr. Charles Elton, of Oxford, England, who is a world authority on animal ecology, recently conferred with Supervisor Bryant and members of the Wildlife Division regarding interchange of information on wildlife census methods and results. At Oxford, Dr. Elton has a staff of linguists who are making interpretations of the extensive literature which has been produced by Russian ecologists during the last few years.

Copies of this material will be made available to the Service and in return Dr. Elton will be supplied with wildlife data collected in the field, particularly information bearing upon cycles of abundance and scarcity among the fauna of the northern parks. This will be a contribution to the great mass of information which Dr. Elton and his associates at Oxford are gathering from all northern countries preparatory to publication of a book on the ten-year and four-year animal cycles which appear to be universally circumpolar in extent. The scope of the work involves not only 20th century observations, but also old fur records and diaries of the Hudson's Bay Company and Moravian Missions in Canada extending back 200 years.

******

'CELEBRATED CONSERVATIONISTS' WIDELY CIRCULATED

Since the first of the year the Office of the Editor-in-Chief has issued monthly articles on "Celebrated Conservationists in our National Parks." John Muir, John Bartram, William Bartram, Andre Michaux, Alexander Wilson, John James Audubon, Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, William Maclure, and Thomas Say have been treated to date in articles averaging ten pages and including bibliographies. Yosemite, Sequoia, Muir Woods, Glacier Bay, Great Smoky Mountains, Everglades, Colonial, Shenandoah, the Blue Ridge, Fort Marion, Mount Mitchell State Park, Mammoth Cave, Audubon Memorial State Park, Fort Jefferson, Cumberland Gap, Rocky Mountain National Park, Wind Cave, Platt and Scotts Bluff are silhouetted against a background of interesting stories of adventure and scientific accomplishment beginning in 1734 with John Bartram's travels and extending into fairly recent events in connection with John Muir's success in saving the sierra forests.

The series of articles grew out of the John Muir centennial theme. It occurred to Frances S. Dean, after she wrote the John Muir sketch, that here, perhaps, was a new technique for the presentation of the natural sciences as exemplified in national park areas. State Superintendents of Schools, librarians, educational journals and the press were supplied with the "Celebrated Conservationists." articles each month Reception was gratifying. Some of the journals, such as Biology Briefs.

Patriotic Societies, and Sunday magazine sections of leading newspapers have combined with the usual press use of the material to give it excellent distribution throughout the country. Plans for future series of the articles include accounts of certain archeologists and historians which will extend the publicity into 1940, the year of Bandelier's centennial.

The evidence of the research that has gone into the work and the literary quality of the presentation call for orchids. Mrs. Dean has earned praise for a new approach to park publicity.

******

MICHIGAN EXPERT LISTS SMOKY MOUNTAIN FUNGI

Dr. Alexander H. Smith, of the University of Michigan Museums, an authority on fungi, has been concerned with research in the Great Smokies, and has listed for the park approximately 400 species of the gilled fungi (Agaricaceae). His work, together with the findings of Dr. L. R. Hesler, of the University of Tennessee, form a basis for future work of this branch of the plant kingdom in the Great Smokies field.

******

PROGRESS IN HISTORY SURVEY

The Historic Sites Survey now is being conducted along chronological lines and it is the hope of the Branch of Historic Sites that all Spanish, English and French historic sites of the 16th century will be classified, completely by the time of the Advisory Board meeting, in November. The records are maintained in such a way as to enable the Service to make final recommendations concerning each site listed.

******

WEALTH OF HISTORICAL DATA EXAMINED

Dr. Alvin P. Stauffer, of the Branch of Historic Sites, has examined the rich stores of documentary material at the William L. Clements Library of American History, Ann Arbor, Michigan. This library contains the correspondence of General Thomas Gage, Commander-in-Chief of the British troops in North America, 1763-1775, the papers of Lord George Germain, Sir Henry Clinton, General Nathanael Greene, Josiah Harmar, and numerous other important figures of the period 1760-1800. Much of this material is invaluable to the historical areas of the National Park Service. The story of the Southern campaign of 1780-1781, the Yorktown Campaign, and other events of the American Revolution are greatly clarified by the Greene and Clinton papers. There also is important material on all the British posts in North American in the period 1763-1775. The Gage and Clinton Collections contain valuable maps and plans, many of them in manuscript.

******

'HOURS OF DESTINY' RESUMED

The Public Information Division resumed its popular "America's Hours of Destiny" over Station WNYC, New York City, on October 3 at 3:15 P.M. The series, initiated at the request of Mayor LaGuardia and officials of the Service, is not confined to New York, but is used by numerous stations throughout the country. It has proved of especial interest to colleges which, in connection with their radio and dramatic work, have put the dramatizations on the air locally. It is planned to end the series when thirteen more programs have been given, making a total of thirty-nine.

******

INFORMATION PROGRAM EXPANDS

Editor-in-Chief Isabelle F. Story, in connection with a recent inspection trip of the Colonial National Historical Park areas, has outlined an expanded publicity program for that area. Various technicians in the parks have been requested to prepare materials on specialized and popular subjects.

******

BATTLEFIELD CIRCULAR TO BE ISSUED

An information circular for the Civil War Battlefield areas in Virginia is one of the new Service publications now in preparation. The format and scope were decided upon after conferences with the publicity representatives of Director Fechner's Office and with the Government Printing Office. It is planned to illustrate the circular with photographs made by Brady, the famous cameraman attached to the Union Army.

******

NATIONAL PARKS PORTFOLIO AVAILABLE

Copies of The National Parks Portfolio recently issued by the American Planning and Civic Association are to be made available to the Regional Offices, not for distribution to Service personnel, but for contact work with persons whose interest in the program may be developed by a review of this material on Service objectives.

******

RECENT SPECIAL REPORTS

Student Technician Dexter has prepared a well-organized and useful report. It is divided into the following sections for easy reference: Introduction, which states the objective, problem and policy relating to the study, a description of the park; tabulations indicating use; personal study, picnic and lake area and proposed facilities, recommendations and conclusions. There are recommendations concerning sanitation conditions of the lake and the design of parking areas and the trail system. The report is illustrated effectively.

******

Mr. Cooke, who spent the summer as a student technician at Fort Pulaski National Monument, Georgia, has presented in an interesting manner the story of Fort McAllister, "Guardian of the Ogeechee," during the War Between the States. The story is illustrated with contemporary photographs and there is a nine-page bibliography. Appendices contain descriptive data on federal vessels which attacked the fort, There is a chronology of assaults on the fortification.

******

The collaborators outline the history of the inception of the work on recreational areas lying within the reservations controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority and point out the authorizations by which the National Park Service and other cooperating agencies launched a development program in 1934. The results achieved to date are described in considerable detail. There are 26 pages of tabulated materials which show the number of man days expended in each park by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the amount of funds expended in the purchase of materials and for the salaries of supervisory personnel. The report was prepared at the request of the Joint Congressional Committee investigating the activities of the Tennessee Valley Authority.