COURIER - National Park Service History

BooksRather belatedly I have read RonaldA. Foresta's wonderfully critical andanalytical book, America's NationalParks and Their Keepers. I commend itto all employees of the National ParkService.There are some points, however,where I feel the author's research was abit shallow.For instance, the book would lead thereader to conclude that the '72 NationalPark System Plan was the first suchguide for the expansion of the system.True enough that it may have been thefirst such plan published in a popularformat, but the activity and, indeed,published plans were extant in the late30s. I used such a handbook on nationalpark system planning in the late '50swhen I joined the NPS. It even used thethematic approaches embodied in the '72plan.In this same regard, conservation conceptssuch as the New Jersey Pinelandspredate the claims of Foresta. ThePinelands concept began, not underDirector Whalen, but in the late '60s.Another point I might argue isForesta's assertion that the NPS did littleto exercise its external responsibilities. Infact the NPS has always had a major externalcomponent, originating, I suppose,in the CCC days. A major part ofthe agency's directorate, both at theWashington and regional levels, hasbeen oriented to this responsibility.Publication of the book Parks forAmerica culminated a long history ofassistance to states in statewide parkplanning.Foresta's conclusions about several ofour past directors seem a bit off-base.Wirth had more than a casual interest inexternal affairs. His Mission 66 was farmore than simply a massive developmentprogram—development was simplyits most visible manifestation. Wirth'sdemise was brought about by, I submit,a more human dilemma—he enjoyedrecognition as one of America's greatestconservationists, a recognition to whichmy good friend, Stewart Udall, aspired.I also found Foresta ambiguous onGeorge Hartzog, under whose leadershipthe NPS attained its most unambiguous,well-directed, and energized heights.Foresta perpetuates the old dichotomyof natural history and human history.How would he classify areas likeCumberland Island, Cumberland Gap,Acadia, Golden Gate, and many others?The fact is that the national park systemis composed of a whole array of areasranging from the most completelyhuman-dominated to the least. It's agross over-simplification to so categorizethe areas of the system. Fortunatelyenough, I think we assumed a muchmore sophisticated approach to managementof the parks when the NPSadopted a single set of ManagementPolicies and started managing and planningthe parks on the basis of resourcevalues and land classifications.Another conclusion which I find unsupportableis the contention that theService's "Landmarks" programs resultedfrom the inability to protect these areasby fee-simple acquisition. The landmarkprograms were never adopted assubstitutes for acquisition, but rather inrecognition of the fact that preservationof nationally significant resources was ashared responsibility among many agenciesat all levels and the private sector.One should also note that the use ofless-than-fee simple acquisition, in contrastto Foresta's findings, was notdriven solely by a shortage of land acquisitionfunds. Even the earliest sceniceasements were acquired to preserve andperpetuate landscape types. It was, andstill is, recognized that certain landscapes(farmlands, for instance) can best bepreserved by others. The dilemma facedby the Service has been those situationsin which cost of partial title is tantamountto fee. But the fact remains thateven under those situations, in the longrun, it is often more prudent andeconomical to acquire only partial title ifthe objective of landscape preservation isbest assured by private efforts.In spite of these points, Foresta's bookis an immensely enjoyable and readablechronicle of our agency's past.Other books of note:-John W. Bright, FASLAAssistant ManagerDenver Service CenterZion Album by J. L. Crawford,published by the Zion Natural HistoryAssociation, highlights the early settlementdays of Zion Canyon. The book'sreproductions of hand-colored glassplates, coupled with Crawford's personalreminiscences, have created a stunninginterplay of text and graphics. Thehistorical uniqueness and grandeur ofthe setting are evident in the colorfulpages of this publication. An excellentbook to keep for oneself or give as agift. Contact Zion Natural HistoryAssociation, Zion National Park,Springdale, Utah 84767 for informationabout ordering.Linda Daniel's Kayak Cookery: AHandbook of Provisions and Recipes,just published by Pacific Search Press inSeattle, is an imaginative guide to provisioning,packing, and preparing food forpaddling trips. In fact, many of therecipes lend themselves to any outdoorcooking venture—be it boating orbackpacking. Gingered clams, almondchicken, and pancakes stirred up from acache of sourdough are a few of Daniel'screations. Topics include shopping forbasics; packing and repacking utensilsand the like; cooking, carrying andcaching; fishing and foraging; feedingparties of five or more; and drying foodto reduce bulk. The book costs $9.95plus $1.25 per order for shipping andhandling, payable by check, moneyorder, or charge. Mail order and paymentto Pacific Search Press, 222 DexterAvenue North, Seattle, WA 98109.Preservation Press has published theIndustrial Eye, containing 120 color andduotone photographs by Jet Lowe of thiscountry's engineering and industriallandmarks—from mines and mills topower plants. The book is a dramaticmelding of American engineering, architecture,history and art. Write theNational Trust for Historic Preservation,1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW,Washington, DC 20036. The price of thebook is $34.95, well worth it for thosewho can appreciate an unusualphotographic vision perceived throughthe industrial eye.Available through the University ofAlabama Press, P.O. Box 2877,Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-2877 is TheAlabama Catalog: A Guide to the EarlyArchitecture of the State by RobertGamble ($55 plus $1 for postage andhandling). The book traces the architecturalcurrents that have surfaced inAlabama over the years to generate boththe vigorous local adaptation ofcharacteristic folk houses and the landmarksophistication of structuresepitomizing the fashionable tastes oftheir day.Finally, North-South Videos, Inc.,P.O. Box 376, Bolton, MS 39041 hasproduced a 70-minute video cassette entitledGrant's March: The VicksburgCampaign, researched by historian EdBearss and making use of present-dayphotography, old photos and animatedmaps. The tape costs $39.95 plus $2.50for shipping and handling (check ormoney order) and comes in a book-likeplastic case. Allow 4 to 6 weeks fordelivery.COURIER/May 1987 43