From collection Creating Acadia National Park: The George B. Dorr Research Archive of Ronald H. Epp

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1911-12
Dorr Timeline
9/05
1911
1912
-Jr. letter (10/24)th Deary
-Geg. - of Junden fargest nets
re land abstract for Seel
-HCTPR Charter theatened
Hacbor
offer to us govt. GBD to S.a.Eliot
= -Po of Porri sittings
(1/11/24)
e Liss. Piper in Pric Soc.
for Psycheal he
- Visith May - Helbert llerry
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
AUGUSTA, MAINE
January 27, 1911.
Hon. L. B. Deasy,
3ar Harbor. Maine.
Dear Sir:-
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COPY.
18 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.
February 4th, 1911.
Mr Charles Shea,
House of Representatives,
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Sir,
I have been asked to write to you and state my attitude
upon the automobile question at Bar Harbor, with regard to the bill
now before the legislature. I am a citizen of Eden, as you know,
and my interests -- both of long association and of property -- are
such as to make me strongly desirous that no mistake be made in a
matter that I feel to be of grave importance to the future welfare
of the town. I have given it much thought accordingly and have dis-
cussed it thoroughly with others, both townspeople and summer resi-
dents.
To admit aut omobiles onto the general driving roads of the town
would do great harm at the present time, I am convinced, and result
in a serious setback to the immediate prosperity of the town. On
the other hand I believe that a mistake would equally be made by
continuing to exclude, wholly from the town the people who now go
travelling throughout the state by automobile, on pleasure trips in
summer. I think that the prosperity of the town and its life as a
resort would be increased and stimulated by giving such people, whose
number is increasing constantly, opportunity to come and go. I also
feel that with the present feeling in the town such exclusion, if
maintained, could not be permanent or long; that it would be apt to
2
result in suddenly throwing the whole town open in a way that could
not but result in serious injury to it; and even if it did not so
result, would still cause constant agitation and an uncertainty with
regard to the future which would do scarcely less.
I therefore took the step this fall, upon my own responsibility,
of having a new road surveyed by which automobiles could reach the
town and leave it without following any of the existing town roads
and injuring their pleasantness or safety. This road, which I
felt would be a desirable one in itself for the town to add to those
which it already has and which would keep automobiles entirely off
the present ones for a distance of ten miles from the village, ex-
cept for a few necessary crossings, I have felt to be the wisest so-
lution of the problem for the present and one which would best serve
both interests and keep the town from any serious or sudden change.
Should any change be made in the present law, I trust that the
possibility of the construction of such a special road may be pro-
vided for, as an alternative to withdrawing from the present system
any of the existing roads with the others that connect with them and
would be almost equally affected. Such provision
would
be
made,
I
understand, by the law proposed, which would give the town the right
to open any single road it might deem best. This seems to me doubly
important because the present driving roads of the town are certainly
unsuitable for automobiles to use and could not be fitted for them,
without great expense, while our horses at Bar Harbor are SO wholly
unaccustomed to the sight of them that serious accidents might follow
on their sudden use.
To re-state, in brief, my point of view: I think it important
to keep automobiles off the present driving roads of the town, wholly
if possible, and would be willing to share, not only to the extent
3
of my taxes, -- which are considerable -- but beyond, in the building
of a special road to keep them off of these. On the other hand, I
do distinctly believe that the future interests of the town will be
best served by giving the large class of people who now come travel-
ling into the state by automobile in summer time an opportunity to
reach what is, and should remain, its most important coast resort.
Believe me
Very truly yours,
[George Bucknam Dorr]
One Road Law Offers the Best Solution
of the Automobile Problem.
Mr. Charles Shea,
House of Representatives,
Augusta, Maine.
18 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston,
February 7, 1911.
Dear Sir:-
The publication of my letter to you with regard to the proposed automobile
law for Bar Harbor-which was not written with a view to it-has led, I find, to some discus-
sion as to my attitude in the matter and possible misunderstanding of it; I therefore write to
you again to make my position in regard to it quite clear and to say as plainly as I can that I
believe the proposed one-road law offers the best solution of the problem obtainable at the pres-
ent time, and that I give it my support, without reserve, accordingly.
This I do, first, because I believe it to be for the best interests of the town as a resort that
the many people who now come, in constantly increasing numbers, travelling through the state
by automobile in summer should be able to reach Bar Harbor without recourse to boats or trains.
In the second place, because I believe that a single road permitting not only such travellers but
the residents and summer residents of the town to come and go by automobile, and to be in
automobile connection with the general road system of the state and country, is not only desir-
able in itself but forms the only way in which the present unfortunate agitation and uncertainty
can be brought to an end and the matter put upon a satisfactory and settled basis for the next
few years. And third, because the proposed law, while satisfying what seems to me a reason-
able demand on the part of many that the town should not be debarred from an important
method of approach for travellers and a valuable quick connection with other portions of the
country, leaves it permanently open to the towns-people and summer residents, combined, to
make such an approach-either along the line suggested by myself or elsewhere-as will leave
the existing road system practically untouched and will neither injure private property nor
lessen personal safety in its use.
That our present roads are unsuited in the condition in which they now are-and some of
them permanently in my opinion-for automobile use does not seem to me to constitute an
argument against the proposed law, but on the contrary to argue strongly in its favor, as it will
limit automobiles to a single road which can be fitted for their use, or better, built expressly
for such which I believe to be the only really satisfactory and immediately permanent
solution of the problem.
That complete exclusion can be maintained I do not believe; neither do I believe it to be
desirable, looking at the matter largely and trying to look ahead and see what is going to be
best for the town's development in the long run. That a single road would be simply an open-
ing wedge for general admission I also do not think true; a great part of the opposition to this
solution of the problem is based on that belief, but it seems to me on the contrary that the best
chance of keeping automobiles off the general driving roads lies in giving them a special one
apart from these, for approach and exit.
This is all a matter of personal opinion. Mine has no more value than that of any other
citizen or summer resident who has given the matter serious thought and has the larger inter-
ests of the town at heart. I simply state my own position in the matter again because I do not
wish to seem to take an uncertain one in regard to it, believing as I do that I am taking the
wisest course for a citizen of the town to take in giving my support to the measure now before
the Legislature and that it will, if passed, lead to the most practical solution of the problem
possible at this time.
As my previous letter to you, not written with a view to publication, has appeared in print,
will you kindly see that the same publicity is given this which seeks to make my position in the
matter clear.
Yours truly,
(Signed) G. B. DORR.
Notz: See D.letter 8/26/12 to C.W.Eliot, this Series.
Cambridge, Mass.,
March 21, 1911.
Dear Mr. Appleton:
I was truly sorry to decline the cordial invi-
tation I received to attend the Harvard Club dinner next Friday
evening. In correspondence with Mr. Marvin, however, I never gave
any assurance that I should be able to attend the dinner this year.
I only expressed a hope and a desire to attend. The fact is, that
ever since I res sned as President, have accepted altogether too
many invitations to make public addresses, and particularly too many
invitations which involved being away from home over night. For some
months I have been declining all invitations to make addresses at a
distance; but now find myself compelled to limit the number of dinners
and addresses near home. To give you some idea of the amount of time
I have spent in that way, I will mention that this current week I shall
have made five addresses before Saturday midnight, three of which are
at dinners, and the other two are an hour's lecture last night at the
Harvard Union and a short address at ar. afternoon meeting on Wednesday.
Now [ have a considera:le acount of writing to do at home on a sub-
ject with which T bojan to deal long ago; but I shall never accomplish
anything with: it if I do not stop this incessant work of making public
addresses. My family and friends hold strong ofinions on this subject,
and are constantly exhorting me to stay at homo and work in =y delight-
ful study.
Sincerely yours,
Francis F. Aprleton, Esq.
Charles
WOMAN FRIGHTENS BURGLAR.
Special to The New York Times.
New York Times (1857-1922); Aug 12,1911;
ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 2006)
pg. I
WOMAN FRIGHTENS BURGLAR.
Bar Harbor Intruder Flees When Mrs.
W. S. Kuhn Calls Out.
Special to The New York Times.
BAR HARBOR, Me., Aug. 11.-Old
Farm, the cottage occupied by Mrs. W.
S. Kuhn of Pittsburgh, and owned by
George B. Dorr of Boston, was the scene
of an attempted burglary early this morn-
ing. The intruder was prevented from
getting away with a large quantity of
valuables only through the wakefulness
of Mrs. Kuhn, whose room he entered.
The burglar had gone about his work
in a systematic manner, cutting the tele-
phone wires. There were three telephones
in the house, however, and the burglar
overlooked one, a private line which
leads to the stable.
Mrs. Kuhn, who happened to be awako
at the time, and who sleeps on a balcony
out of doors opening off from her room,
discovered the presence of the intruder by
lighted matches which he struck from
time to time to find his bearings and
investigate the contents of the room.
Supposing it was her son, Wendell, who
sleeps in an adjoining room, she called
out to him, and this frightened the burg-
lar, who jumped from the plazza and
made his escape. His only booty was one
valuable stick pin.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
MIDSUMMER HOLIDAY NUMBER
THE CENTURY MAGAZINE
VOL. LXXXII
AUGUST, 1911
No. 4
UNIQUE MOUNT DESERT
BY ROBERT HAVEN SCHAUFFLER
T
HREE
things make the island of
day of sunshine when the atmosphere is
Mount Desert unique-in beauty,
softened by a little haze, one sails into
its altruism, and its variety.)
view of a fairy-land bubbling up from the
"This is the most beautiful place in
water in a heap of misty, delicate, softly
the world," a well-known artist assured
rounded domes. Presently appear smooth,
me last summer. "I 've been all round,
bright lawns sloping back from the red
-Italy, Greece, Syria,-but I 've never
crags of the shore-line to tree-embowered
found anything to equal it."
villas. And from the heights peep out the
This beauty impresses the stranger from
towers and gables of Bar Harbor's foliage-
afar. As be coasts eastward along the
veiled cottages, many of which are so in
Maine shore, thirteen mountains that seem
love with the trees that one often has a
to rise directly out of the sea compose
better view of them from the water than
themselves into three main masses, stand-
ashore.
ing out in noble relief in the clear atmo-
By some happy chance one of my first
sphere. The morning I first saw them
experiences after landing was of a concert
the westernmost mass was heavy, black,
by the Kneisel Quartet in one of the most
and solemn. The others, divided by those
charming spots ever dedicated in any land
delightful little twins, the Bubbles, were
to the spirit of beauty, and certainly the fit-
more friendly, with fleecy clouds stooping
test conceivable setting for chamber-music.
over them and letting through a few
Here, in the Building of Arts, the Amer-
splashes of sunlight here and there to gild
ican has made the Greek temple his own
their peaks and sides.
and set it in natural, wild scenery as fair
By the opposite approach, through
as that of an AEgean isle. In fact, this
Frenchman's Bay, the effect, though
building, seen from the summit of New-
wholly different, is no less striking; for
port Mountain, is strongly reminiscent of
Mount Desert is the one spot in the whole
the temple of Theseus as it shows from
sweep of the Atlantic coast from Labrador
the Acropolis, only that, with its lovely
to Mexico where the mountains go down
background, the modern temple stands
R FROM THE CLUB FLOAT
to the sea.) Coming from this side on a
out more strikingly than the ancient one,
THE CENTURY BY W. AYLWARD
Copyright, IGII, by THE CENTURY Co. All rights reserved.
LXXXII-5
477
478
THE CENTURY MAGAZINE
seen against the ugliness of modern
the home-making cottager, the beauty-
Athens.
loving spirit of its painter-pioneers has
The Building of Arts stood open, so
never ceased to dominate the island.
that we might look out upon sward and
As the desire for artistic expression grew
wood and the changing lights and shadows
in Bar Harbor, and a series of chamber-
on the mountains while hearing an ideal
concerts in private cottages developed
organization interpret Beethoven under
musical taste, the question arose: If Ger-
ideal conditions. The audience seemed as
many might have its Bayreuth for such
a
far removed in spirit from the light mood
hybrid thing as music-drama, why should
of the usual watering-place as was the
not America find at least as fit a setting
building itself. The musicians responded
for the simpler, purer art of chamber-
at once to that almost telepathic sympathy
music? Half a dozen years ago this idea
of their hearers which is so essential a fac-
was taken up by five enthusiastic and de-
tor of a successful performance anywhere.
voted summer residents, and grew in scope
And when one of the cottagers came for-
until out of it there came not a building
ward, playing with them his own splen-
for music only, but the Building of Arts.
didly conceived quintet, players and audi-
For, besides concerts, dramatic perform-
ence seemed one in their enthusiasm.
ances are given both there and in the ad-
After the concert, while tea was being
joining open amphitheater, modeled on old
served on the lawn, it was a memorable
Greek lines. And every summer the
thing to watch from the slopes of the
building glows with a pageant of flowers
grassy amphitheater about the building
which, according to competent critics, is
the groups of charming costumes and the
of unique wealth and rarity.
faces flushed with music and the spirit of
This horticultural exhibition is the di-
the moment, outlined against the tender,
rect outcome of Bar Harbor's well-known
creamy tones of that home of loveliness,
development of the art of gardening. Due,
framed in its turn by the strength of the
first of all, to the esthetic spirit of the
hills
place, this art has had other stimuli as
At seemed too good to be true that such
well. For because the island is a meeting-
a thing should come to pass in an Amer-
ground for the vegetation of the arctic
ican summer resort. The experience was
and the temperate zones, and because the
a strange introduction indeed to a spot
hardy herbaceous plants grow here as luxu-
which I had vaguely expected to find a
riantly as in Switzerland, it is a paradise
center of fashion and summer gaiety, and
for the gardener. Nowhere else in the
little more. But it was soon evident that
land does the procession of the flowers
this concert was nothing sporadic, that it
move from month to month with such
actually stood for a love of beauty almost
legato grace, with such abundant, un-
Greek in its sincerity, and one in harmony
broken consistency. Another boon to gar-
with the constant tradition of the place,
deners is the rapid recuperative power of
For Mount Desert, the summer resort,
nature. A certain gravel-pit near New-
was discovered about the middle of the
port Mountain, for example, has been al-
last century by that famous group of
most completely reclothed in green since
American artists headed by Church and
it was excavated twelve years ago. And
Drawn by Aylward. plate engraved by Chadwick
Cole, who thus proved themselves pioneers
this quality of youthful vitality keeps the
THE OCEAN DRIVE, MOUNT DESERT
in more than landscape-painting. So the
wild land fresh and interesting.
public first came to learn the spell of this
The chief impression one receives among
borne fruit in a cult of wild gardens all
There are many in Bar Harbor. One
Northern landscape through the eyes of
the gardens of Mount Desert is that their
the more winning in a village wealthy
comes suddenly into an irregular lake of
artists before they sought the Maine coast
owners have a strong feeling for wild na-
enough to have "improved" nature out of
lawn surrounded by wavy banks of flowers
to enjoy it with their own eyes.
ture. (Thirty years ago, when President
the island. It is a pleasant and encour-
that spill over here and there into the
Many another watering-place has been
Eliot built at Northeast, he said to his
aging experience to find in America, near
grass. On one side there opens out a real
discovered by the appreciative, only to be
guest Frederick Law Olmsted, "Olm-
a palatial villa, a tangled coppice or a
wild waterlead, and the surrounding trees,
completely spoiled by the sudden inrush of
sted, you 've been here a week now and
piece of rough meadow worth twelve thou-
consummately composed, seem no more in-
popularity and wealth. Through the
have n't told me what to do to my place."
sand dollars an acre.
evitable a part of the picture than the
boarding-house period, through the time
"Do to cried the landscape-archi-
The "return to nature" movement is
gables of the house showing above them
of enormous wooden hotels, and into the
tect, "For Heaven's sake, leave it alone!"
equally responsible for the growing inter-
at the farther end.
present day, when, in Bar Harbor, at
Since that day ("Leave it alone!" has
est in the so-called "naturalistic" garden.
The formal garden would seem out of
least, the transient guest has given way to
become a sort of watchword, and has
480
THE CENTURY MAGAZINE
UNIQUE MOUNT DESERT
481
place in Bar Harbor if it were of the
dows of old stained glass. The central
tain peaks nine or ten leagues out at sea
Bar Harbor became interested in the
artificial, ostentatious kind often seen in
space is dedicated to a few formal trees
into this one lovely island.
woodland walks and was inspired to natu-
the grounds of the wealthy. But here it
and shrine-like vases of bloom, and beyond
Unlike many summer colonists, the
ralize here the Tyrolean foot-paths, which
is sometimes a little gem of landscape-
their two marble lions preside over the
Mount Deserters do not spend much on
are shaded woodways winding pictur-
architecture at once formal and natural,
approach to the lofty choir, a stately loggia
self and little pro bono publico. For the
esquely along a rod or two from the dusty
breaking perhaps into wildness and run-
no more envined than to allow from below
island is rich in public-spirited institu-
road. He built such a path for half a
ning down to the rugged shore, or set for
a glorious view of Newport Mountain.
tions and organizations. Even the claims
mile along a highway running through his
a surprise beside a sweep of rocky meadow,
There is space merely for these few
or held in the heart of a tangled thicket,
memories of the island's gardens. It is
like a polished nut inside its bur. While
good to know that the passion for flowers
the purpose of this formalism is evidently
has observed no class distinctions, and
EASTERN BAY
to intensity by contrast the wild natural-
that many of the fishermen's houses may
ness of the place, it has also resulted in
now be seen blossoming like the hovels of
lending the formal gardens here an un-
a French village.
usual vividness and charm.
The beauty of the outlook from those
Certain vignettes persist in the memory,
fortunate verandas that look seaward from
such as a Japanese bronze dragon, seen
high places is unique. From the north-
OakPoint
BAR HARBOR
from above, writhing amid floral color
western part of Bar Harbor, where the
harmonies that modulate subtly toward a
houses are as exquisitely conformed to the
pergola smothered in scarlet woodbine.
configuration of their steep grounds as
Another is of a brook dammed into a
Rhenish castles, one may look out over a
charming wood-girdled pond into which
slope of great, rough evergreens to the
runs a smaller stream, musically inclined,
harbor filled with vivacious pleasure-
overarched by high-stepping miniature
craft, Bar Island and the Little Porcupine
Schooner Head
bridges, guarded by tiny fences of tied
coming dreamily out of the haze, and, be-
bamboo, and with the stone shrines and
yond, the mainland faintly penciled.
Great Head
the gnarled dwarf trees of Japan standing
Or passing down the Ocean Drive,
here and there. Up by a straw-thatched
which can be compared only to that en-
pagoda that is artistically held together
chanted way winding above the Mediter-
with ropes, a brazen Buddha presides on
ranean from Amalfi to Sorrento, one dis-
a ledge of rocks, and a single fern issues
covers from the height of Seal Harbor as
from a cranny bencath, in the accepted
charming a group of pleasure-boats and a
Japanese manner. Between the tree-
more interesting panorama of islands than
trunks one spies over the streamlet a jut
are to be seen from Bar Harbor, with only
Button's is
of red crag, a sheet of blue-gray ocean,
the distant coast-line lacking to make this
and a distant peak that one feels must be
the crowning view of all
Fuji Yama.
There is not space enough to touch on
The existence of the largest and most
the charm of Northeast Harbor and
Nutler's
Baker's is
formal of Bar Harbor's gardens might be
Southwest Harbor nestling by the mouth
(Deadman's Pr
unsuspected from the steps of its villa.
of Somes Sound, our only authentic Nor-
You adventure through a narrow, wind-
wegian fjord. An eloquent tradition de-
Lopaus
ing way in a wild copse, and glimpse first
clares that the stranger, no matter where
a spread of velvety turf; then suddenly,
he first may land on Mount Desert, for-
MAP OF MOUNT DESERT
beyond a round plot of snapdragon and a
ever after prefers that particular spot,
sun-dial, you discover a small marble
and returns to it every season and hotly
fountain surrounded by phlox and helio-
champions its claims against all rivals.
of the distant future are not neglected.
A
own land and gave it to the public. The
trope, while the whole is backed by a semi-
Woe betide the rash writer who should
far-seeing group of summer residents have
novel idea proved so great a delight that
circular bed of white snapdragon and a
presume to decide which of the harbors is
formed a committee known as the Trus-
others, and at last the town, extended this
big, crescent loggia covered with vines.
the most beautiful. As for me, I had as
tees of Public Reservations for Hancock
path as far as Schooner Head, winding it
But this is merely looking across the
lief decide between Chartres Cathedral,
HCTPR
County, and have gradually acquired valu-
under the noble crags of Newport. Later
transept of this chapel of flowers. You
the Winged Victory, Leonardo's Last
able lands, including several mountain
the plan will doubtless be widely carried
move up the nave and turn for the full
Supper, and the Seventh Symphony.
peaks and ponds, as perpetual public reser-
out here and elsewhere.
effect. Over the high side walls, studded
Not alone beauty and a spirit of beauty,
vations. It is hoped in the end to encircle
A like spirit of service has been applied
with dwarf evergreens, the tree-columns
but a unique spirit of altruism as well has
each of the harbors from the rear with a
to the system of mountain paths which
of the inclosing wood look down on a
helped to unify the people of Mount De-
zone of public land, and to forest the
have nowhere been more highly developed
dense fringe of high-growing flowers, col-
sert, much as the recession of the waters
whole island on a scientific basis.
on this side of the Atlantic than at Mount
ored as richly and delicately as aisle-win-
once unified a group of storm-swept moun-
Some years ago a generous cottager at
Desert.
482
THE CENTURY MAGAZINE
At Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor
that the prevailing note of Bar Harbor is
the summer residents, in proportion to
given by the so-called "smart set." To
their numbers, are quite as active in the
those whose ideas of this resort have been
public interest as their Bar Harbor friends.
gathered from hearsay and the newspapers,
And all work together efficiently. For ex-
its subdued refinement of tone, its lack of
ample, Captain Macdonald, minister and
"yellow streaks," will come as a surprise.
navigator, may stand on the summit of
There 's little heavy drinking or gam-
Green and sec half of his hundred-mile-
bling here," Dr. Weir Mitchell remarked,
long parish of isle-studded coast. Some
and less of the Newport ostentation. It
of his islands are uncharted, without laws,
is more like the dear old Newport I used
and beyond the pale of any government;
to know in the days of Agassiz." Both
yet not beyond the reach of the larger
before and after the butterfly season,
island's good-will. For the Maine Sea
Mount Desert is a quiet, delightful place,
Coast Mission, supported by Mount De-
with an atmosphere favorable to the arts
sert, has for five years been giving them the
and even to philosophy. It is the home of
From a photograph by Alfred Holmes Lewis
sort of assistance, mental, physical, and
a colony of distinguished writers and other
AN ITALIAN CARDEN
spiritual, that Dr. Grenfell brings to the
artists. In fact, the whole island fairly
fishermen of Labrador.
teems with temperament and intellect.
Not long ago a winter resident of Bar
It is interesting to notice the different
Harbor, a house-painter working at one
evolutionary stages in the relation between
of the cottages, was found studying a pho-
cottagers and transients as shown by the
tograph, and presently he asked the mis-
four summer colonies. Southwest Har-
tress of the house whether it was a
bor, the eldest, has kept most conserva-
Perugino or a Raphael. The lady grew
tively to the old democratic régime. There
interested, and found, after some conver-
are comparatively few cottagers, the ho-
sation, that the house-painter and his wife
tels are simple, and the life still keeps
had been making a serious study of Italian
much of the spontaneous friendliness and
art for five years. Further inquiry re-
camaraderie of the early days.
vealed that association with the summer
The hotels at Northeast are more elabo-
From photograph by
Herben W. Cleason
From photograph by
Herbert W Cleason
people and with the artists who had built
rate and exclusive, and a perfect equili-
LOOKING EAST OVER
brium seems to exist just now between the
JORDAN POND
the cottages had not only trained up a
FRENCHMAN'S BAY
body of exceptionally skilled artisans, but
hotel and the cottage life. But though
had also roused among the winter resi-
the relations between the two are most
dents a vigorous appetite for artistic know-
cordial, the friendless transient is not made
ledge. In a community so altruistic an
welcome at these reserved hostelries.
arts and crafts movement naturally fol-
President Eliot jokingly remarked to me,
lowed, and now, under the direction of a
Bar Harbor considers Northeast respec-
well-known sculptor, a sort of local Wil-
table, but impecunious." Then he added,
liam Morris, the residents are learning
We have no persons of very great wealth
how to cast beautiful garden decorations
here, although thev are beginning to settle
in cement, to model, to hammer iron, to
at Seal Harbor.'
dye fabrics, to make Italian point-lace,
The term "very great wealth" is both
and so on.
relative and somewhat vague, but there
When one realizes that Mount Desert
can be no difficulty in recognizing the
is still in its infancy as a summer resort,
highly individual and aristocratic quality
From photograph by
Herbert W. Gleason
and realizes its brilliant possibilities and
of Northeast. Founded by Bishop Doane
GREAT HEAD
the determined public spirit of the men
and President Eliot, it has held consis-
who have set out to fulfil them. one can-
tently to its original tone, and has known
not avoid the conclusion that this region
in one season no fewer than five bishops
is destined to be one of the important
and nine college presidents.
recreation centers of America.
Seal Harbor's hotel life goes far toward
For the island is already as unique in
combining the democracy of Southwest
its variety as it is in beauty and altruism.
with the elegant comfort of Northeast.
It is a world in little. Each settlement
But this IS a more homelike harbor than
has managed to keep its own strong indi-
its neighbors, and the colony of residents
From photograph by Herbert W Cleason
viduality intact
is beginning to be sufficient unto itself.
VIEW OF BAR HARBOR FROM NEWPORT
It is only at the height of the summer
The cottagers and the hotel guests form
MOUNTAIN
UNIQUE MOUNT DESERT
485
all phases of our American culture that
see tennis of a quality seldom found out-
it can hardly be said to have an individual
side of the important tournaments. There
tone. It is many-sided, like the island it-
are good tennis clubs at three of the har-
self.
bors. and interesting golf-links at two.
Everybody comes to Mount Desert.
Mount Desert is one of the best places
and you can do anything here." an enthu-
in America for driving, not only because
siastic poet exclaimed not long ago.
one may look down upon the sea from
So far as pleasure is concerned, he was
splendid mountain roads, but because it
not far wrong about the possibility of do-
is, as well, the one place from which the
ing anything; for the island's resources
automobile and the trolley have been ex-
are ample enough to provide fresh recrea-
cluded) Southwest alone voted, by a small
tion for almost every day of the season.
majority, in favor of admitting motors;
The sailing is superb. The harbors,
but its limited territory is too small to
filled with varied craft, from the tiniest
encourage their use. Nearly all of the
launch to the ocean-going yacht, are often
summer residents are dwellers in cities,
THE SWIMMING.) POOL AT BAR HARBOR
visited by the larger yacht-clubs on their
and they have tried hard to keep the island
cruises, and a squadron of war-ships may
quiet, simple, un-urban. The exclusion
sometimes be seen riding at anchor in the
of the motor is only another instance of the
lee of the Porcupines.
beauty-loving. altruistic spirit of the peo-
Mount Desert seems to do everything
ple. For many of those who are most op-
well. Though the climate is usually too
posed to automobiles here are people to
Drawn by W.J. Ayiward. Hall-tone plate engraved by Collins
cool for comfortable ocean bathing, there
whom they have become a necessity in
KEBO VALLEY COUNTY CLUB
are two swimming-pools where the water
town. In banning them. the residents
is warmed in the sun over several tides.
considered not only the comfort in driving
but swiftly diverging,
more interesting group of islands, and has
Every morning in the elaborate house of
and walking, the element of danger, and
h worlds are growing rap-
none of that city flavor which is beginning
the Bar Harbor Swimming-Club a part of
the unsuitability of the roads. but also the
t is owing to the accident
to be felt at Bar Harbor. It-but, there,
the Boston Symphony Orchestra plays a
eternal fitness of things. These are the
I
Seal Harbor first that it
this is exactly the sort of talk that any
class of music so excellent that it would
sort of folk who built the Building of
st satisfying of the settle-
Mount Deserter will give you by the hour
be declared "impossible" at most summer
Arts at the foot of Newport Mountain.
entral location it can easily
about his favorite harbor.
resorts. Outside, about the tennis-courts,
Most of them would as willingly set up a
: special advantages of its
Bar Harbor has reached a later stage
the gaily colored crowd of young people,
steam-piano on that quiet stage as invite a
S the most convenient base
of this evolution, where the hotel life is
with their brilliance and animation, take
car to invade the safety and peace of the
of mountain-climbing its
growing less and less significant. The
one back to Smollett's word-pictures of
Ocean Drive. Recently, however, the
rugged. It commands a
village is so large and so representative of
the season at Bath. Here one may often
"motor-men" have been alarmingly active,
LXXXII-59
UNIQUE MOUNT DESERT
487
island lakes and entice trout and land-
land, with old Katahdin looming on the
locked salmon with a four-ounce rod and
horizon, if the day be clear. One even
a leaderful of dainty flies.
finds on its southern slope the glamour of
There are wild-fowl to shoot in season,
legend in a tradition that the famous sea-
and an occasional glimpse of larger game.
serpent, which made its summer home in
Two summers ago a couple of moose, pur-
Eagle Lake and fattened on the lambs of
suing a hereditary tradition. swam from
the neighboring farm, was overtaken there
the mainland, a distance of nine miles, and
by a forest fire and left for souvenirs forty
landed in Bar Harbor, near the mouth of
joints of his backbone, each a foot thick.
Duck Brook. One of them sauntered
In proof whereof the scene of the epi-
about an elaborate formal garden, went
sode is known to this day as Great Snake
through a tennis-net. scared the servants,
Flat.
and made off toward Young's Mountain,
Farther down the mountain, past a
carrying everything before him. In the
place called the Old Leopard, one reaches
old days big game in large numbers used
the Por Holes, which were worn deep into
to take this trip to escape the annual hunt.
the bed-rock by glacial and chemical ac-
And the Indians followed them over, and
tion. Two particular pairs of twin holes
continued to do so as long as they were
so resemble two gigantic footprints that if
allowed.
Europe possessed them they would by this
Mount Desert, being one of the most
time be thickly incrusted with legends
ancient regions in the world, has a special
of how the giant who lurked in Feather-
lure tor the geologist. For the mountains
bed Hollow pursued the beautiful princess
were formed not by foldings of the earth's
of Resting Rock. and how she was saved
crust. but by having their valleys gouged
by the fairy of Eagle's Crag, who, with a
out by the icy power-shovels of the glacial
wave of her magic wand, embedded his
period. "This range," as Professor Davis
great feet in the rock, where they slowly
writes. "is one of the most stubborn sur-
moldered away, but left their marks for
vivors of the ancient highlands.")
all time.
The island is the joy of the botanist,
After a hard day's climb, I know of no
too, and of all seekers after hidden trea-
more charming mountain walk than the
sure. About the year 1840 a heap of old
gentle descent from here to the Black
French coin and a pot of gold were found
Woods. One goes delicately on moss or
at different places not far from Castine,
pine-needles, on clean white gravel or turf,
on the neighboring mainland. This, taken
or the smooth face of the living rock. As
with a tradition that Captain Kidd's real
in a park, rare varieties of trees border the
cache was at Mount Desert, brought on
way, and one comes to many a natural
an epidemic of treasure-hunting which has
clearing, with its vistas of mountain and
never wholly died out. The spirit of the
sea. More than any other American spot
quest still remains, and for most of us
this south ridge brings back to me the
adds distinctly to the lure of the island.
atmosphere of the Lake Country immor-
If a man has never been on a quest for
talized by Wordsworth.
hidden treasure. it can be demonstrated
There are, however, certain drawbacks
that he has never been a child," said
to Green. The carriage-road takes some-
Stevenson once in reproach to Henry
thing from its charm. It is too far inland
Drawn by W.J. Aylward. Hulf-tone plate engraved by R. Varley
James.
to give that sense of hanging over the sea
But the surest way to find the greatest
which makes the ascent of Newport mem-
A CAMP-FIRE ON THE CLIFF
treasure of all is to abandon yourself to
orable, and one misses the noble outline of
and one begins to fear that the island's
than ginger-ale. Picnics are popular on
the chief recreation of Mount Desert and
Green itself. which is a feature of the
the Cranberry Islands, on the rocky beach
climb for it along one of the many moun-
views from Pemetic and Sargent.
idyllic days are numbered.
There is scarcely any end to the variety
amphitheaters of Baker's and Gott's, near
tain ways. That critic would be brave
In these mountains one is forever com-
of local recreations. No fewer than four
the high surf from the open sea, among
indeed who dared settle on the most re-
ing upon original and surprising effects,
places, including Jordan Pond and Somes-
the thousand screaming gulls of the re-
warding path and peak, for these are rivals
like that natural stone sidewalk up Jor-
markable Duck Islands, or inland on the
as dear as the harbors themselves Green
dan called the Bluffs, the fairy theater on
ville, are the objective points of luncheons
and dinner-parties, with wholesome and
course of mountain-climbs. One may haul
is the highest mountain, and from its more
Pemetic, the sacred grove between New-
simple food, of which the pièce de résis-
two dozen varieties of flapping, wriggling
than fifteen hundred feet one has the most
port and Pickett, or the witchery of Jor-
tance is fried chicken with corn and sweet
creatures out of the sea with a hand-line.
comprehensive sweep of range and lake-
dan Brook, another such little stream as
potatoes, and nothing stronger to drink
One may float in a canoe on one of the
filled valley, of encircling sea and main-
Stevenson immortalized in 'Prince Otto."
488
THE CENTURY MAGAZINE
The theater is molded out of the living
romantic of them picks its way adroitly
rock, and is no more than six feet across.
for half a mile beneath the crumbling face
Here. when the moon rides high, the Lit-
of Cadillac Cliffs. Under the firs, in the
tle People (whose real home, fable de-
shadow of great, mossy red boulders,
clares, is over on Brown) hold their out-
within sound of the surf of Thunder Hole,
door plays. There is a royal box for the
a needle-carpeted way leads up craggy,
king and even a specially private one with
tern-covered stairways to the country of
a canopy for the modest author.
kobolds and nixies and all sorts of benefi-
One enters the sacred grove suddenly
cent spirits of earth and air.
on the slippery descent to the Gorge. The
On Bracy Point. at Seal Harbor, near
brilliance of noon is lowered in a breath
the rock called old Meenahga, which Mr.
to late twilight. Nothing is visible but
W. D. Howells once likened to an old
the great boles of fir and spruce, bearing
Indian with a tuft of red feathers and
their dense canopy above an immaculate
white ear-rings-near old Meenahga is a
forest flooring of brown needles. But
wonderful little fir grove which would be
there is a magic in that sudden transfor-
a fit stage for one of the dream-dramas of
mation that fills one. as no other grove I
Maeterlinck, with its romantic noonday
know, with the spirit of the Greek re-
moonlight, as it were, that should be neigh-
ligion.
bor to
One of my pleasantest island memories
is of a quiet stroll to Fawn Pond with
magic casements, opening on the foam
Dr. Weir Mitchell, a devoted lover of
Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.
Mount Desert, who has perhaps done
more than any one else except the late
And from its verge, at dusk, beyond a
Waldon Bates toward perfecting the
rock-bound cove of racing surf, one sees
splendid system of foot-paths. As we
darkly silhouetted against the sunset glow
walked the woods. he recalled how he had
a pile akin to some hoary Romanesque
run across Bar Harbor twenty-nine years
castle on guard above the Rhine.
before, in taking a trip down the coast
But one must end somewhere, when
with Phillips Brooks; and how ever since
scores of rival memories clamor for ex-
these paths had been his special care and
pression. This island is such a varied
joy. Now and again he would break off
thing that it seems as if composed by a
to point out some special beauty: how the
poet fond of antithesis. who had deter-
bark of the moose-wood showed in the
mined to display his whole repertory of
undergrowth like the body of some beau-
effects in a single effort. No one has de-
tiful snake; how certain heavy, slender-
scribed this range of contrasts more effec-
stemmed leaves seemed floating in air:
tively than Clara Barnes Martin described
how the splendid old pines of the first
it more than thirty years ago
growth had been saved from destruction
only because they could not be "got out"
Bleak mountain-side and sunny nook in
how peculiarly opaque the shadows were
sheltered cove; frowning precipice and gen-
in Fawn Pond. As we sat smoking on
tle smiling meadow; broad, heaving ocean
the rocks above the water, he repeated
and placid mountain lake; clashing sea-foam
some lines which he had not long before
and glistening trout brook; the deep thunder
dedicated to this spot:
of the ground-swell, and the solemn stillness
Drawa by Aylward, Half-ton place exgraved howis
of the mountain gorge; the impetuous rush
A FAVORITE PASTIME
Among the hills I know a dreaming lake
and splash of the surf and the musical ca-
No wind disturbs, and drowsily it seems
dence of far-off waterfalls, all mingle and
blend in the memory of this wonderland.
Ambassador Bryce once told me that he
The pictured stillness to itself to take.
bushes burst into their autumnal glory
All day it sleeps, and then at evening dreams
preferred the clear, sharp days, when the
high on the mountains, mellowed by the
Northern character of the island is more
Brown twilight shadows, till it dreams at
waning remnant of their more conservative
The air offers contrasts as wide as do
dark
the water and the land. Marion Craw-
boldly defined, to the misty, romantic ef-
leaves. One of the island's most unique
A silver dream, the pale moon's crescent
fects, when its rounded, gentle mountains
effects comes when the sun abruptly del-
ford would not admit this element of va-
remind one more of the Mediterranean.
bark.
uges a whole mountain peak, shining
riety, but complained, in "Love in Idle-
Indeed, the clear, sharp October of
through the blueberry clumps in a riot of
ness," that earth, sky, and water were
Mount Desert has a special charm. For
color, intensified by the solid effects of
There is space here for only a hint of
"hard, bright, and cold" that the picture
then, in all rare reds from orange to ruby
the soberer hard-wood foliage below, by
the variety of the paths. One of the most
had neither depth nor "atmosphere."
and from pink to crimson, the blueberry
the darks of the stunted woodline ever-
490
THE CENTURY
MAGAZINE
greens, and the varied blues of the distant
merely an hour of mellow sunlight and a
sea.
little soft haze to become tender, mystical,
It is on such days as these that one most
almost Mediterranean in quality. North-
appreciates the bracing, crystalline air. the
eastward the Burnt Bubble cut into the
bold, vigorous colors, the sharp outlines
irregular blue-gray of Eagle Lake. Above
that have, 1 fear, come to be identified far
it the spurs of Green Mountain disclosed
too rigidly with this island.
the pale lavender of the vacht-studded sea
For there is another side to the story.
beyond Bar Harbor and little Bald Por-
Mount Desert is not pure Norway: it
RECOLLECTIONS OF MILLET
cupine Island, decently covered with a wig
is Norway and Italy combined. Days
of woolly cloud. On the far mainland
come when the atmosphere, in the words
gleaned scattered white settlements, mag-
BY CHARLES JACQUE
of a landscape-painter who knows it well,
nified in the uncertain atmosphere into
"has infinite color and softness a
strange, far-off cities of another clime.
spongy and velvety feeling to your fin-
BECAUSE of his wide popularity as painter and etcher, any reference to Charles Jacque
And behind them rose, in a bulwark, the
gers." (Often it is quite too spongy and
in the capacity of artist is unnecessary. That he was a very keen and successful business
mysterious mainland peaks,
man is, however, not generally known. He turned money out of everything he touched,
velvety, for the island is notorious for
There was something inexpressibly ap-
and he engaged in almost every sort of enterprise connected with art. He was a master
its fogs.) Marion Crawford was sadly
pealing in such a gracious mood of this
of the commercial intricacies of picture-selling, gaining advantage in this way to the day
mistaken. There is atmosphere at Mount
austere land of the Desert mountains.
of his death, even preparing for his after-death sale.
Desert: only one must watch and be pa-
But as the eye ranged north and west over
He went to Barbison in 1849 with Millet. who loaned him half the money received in
tient. As for me, I prefer my landscape
the groups of islands at the head of Somes
advance for a picture. No sooner was he there than he began to buy and speculate in
not fully revealed in a brilliant light, but
Sound, the scene became by imperceptible
houses and land, and with such success that he tried to "run" the hamlet. He introduced
slightly veiled in a film of suggestion,
the culture of asparagus, since become of much value to its inhabitants. He was also one
degrees bolder and more brilliant. until at
where more is meant than meets the eye,
of the first to publish a book on the history of the hen from the egg to maturity. This
length the western sun, striking the waters
And it was an experience worth months
book he thoroughly and excellently illustrated with his own drawings. He painted and
of the sound into a sheet of burnished
etched, and manufactured old furniture, all with success. But his energy was too dis-
of waiting to stand on the summit of Sar-
steel. lowered its light gradually in Echo
turbing for the inhabitants of the hamlet, and they determined to get rid of him, and, as
gent one September afternoon, breathing
Lake and Long Lake, until it turned to
he said, "They did." He kept his breeds of hens in separate yards, divided by picket
in the ozone of Scandinavia and feasting
reddish gold far out upon the waters of
fences, and when he went to Paris, his enemies made holes in the fences, so that the fowls
my eyes on a vision filled with the dreamy
Blue Hill Bay. And immediately to the
could run together, thus destroying all certainty of purity of blood. This was one of the
poetry of the South.
south this vision of panoplied splendor
many means employed. Jacque thoroughly enjoyed relating his long and varied experi-
have never seen from any high place
ences and his recollections of Millet as well as of many other artists. His memory was a
was presided over by mountains rising tier
in the Old World a sight comparable in
crowded storehouse of personal and general art history. At the time of our interviews he
upon tier. their loftiest peak waving a ban-
its melting beauty to that first view. The
was seventy-eight years of age, had stopped painting, and was preparing for his after-death
ner of smoky cloud, like some benign Ve-
hard, bold Northern landscape had needed
sale. As will be seen, he spoke with almost brutal frankness of himself, as he did of
suvius of the New World.
others. He was most contemptuous of picture-buyers generally, and concerning writers on
art and art organizations he was quite as bitter. He was a very agreeable man to meet,
an attractive talker. He had, he said, "got rid of illusions; life is like a caricature."-
TRUMAN H. BARTLETT.
M
ILLET was so self-conscious and
form, can really divine its peculiar char-
sensitive that he thought every one
acter, come only about once in a century.
was looking at and thinking of him. As
It is only a great master who can see the
one of many instances, take the incident
subtle movement of the nude, see that the
where he happened to hear a thoughtless
human figure is never still, though it ap-
passer-by say that he painted only the
pears so to the common artist. Millet's
nude, and see how much he and others
nudes are among the very best things he
have made of it. No healthy mind would
ever made, and what has become of them
have paid the slightest attention to the re-
is one of the mysteries of art commerce,
mark, but he must run home and make a
for very rarely is one seen in public sales.
scene of domestic misery with Mrs. Millet.
I say they are among the best, because to
And Sensier dwells on this trivial incident
make a good nude is the very greatest
as a vital turning-point in the painter's
thing in art, and Millet had an immense
life.
sense of the nude; he saw right through a
Millet need not have been ashamed of
living figure. His nude work seems to be
painting the nude, for he has donc it as
more spontaneous in many respects than
has no other modern artist, and as no one
almost anything else he ever did. though,
is likely to do until another like him comes,
as a matter of construction, all of his fig-
BUNKER HILL," ONE OF THE DIFFICULT HOLES ON THE KEBO VALLEY
perhaps in the next century. I say this
ures are dominated by this sense, no mat-
GOLF-LINKS AT BAR HARBOR
because eyes that can really see the nude
ter how thick and rude were the garments
401
HOME SEARCH CATALOG I MY ACCOUNT I SUBSCRIBE TO E-NEWS
The Jesup
Dedication:
August 30,
1911
The gift of a library is the best
and most perfect public gift.
-Judge Luere B. Deasy
Transcript from The Bar Harbor Record,
DEDICATION
Wednesday, September 6, 1911:
"Presentation and Dedication of Jesup
SPEAKERS
Memorial Library, Wednesday, August
30, 1911"
jesup-dedication
1/30
200 Bloomfield Avenue
University ofHartford
Director of Libraries
William H. Mortensen Library
West Hartford, CT 06117-1599
Phone
860.768.4268
Fax
860.768.4274
Email repp@mail.hartford.edu
4 August 2000
Ms. Nancy Howland
Jessup Memorial Library
34 Mount Desert Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Dear Nancy,
Several days ago I e-mailed you regarding our meeting at the recent Jack Perkins lecture
at Jessup, detailing my interest in the personal and professional documents relative to
George B. Dorr.
Over the past few years, I've researched much of the available published materials that I
could secure in regional research libraries and through ILL. I am aware of the Dorr
documentation in other Mt. Desert Island public libraries, the ANP Office of the
Superintendent, the Library of Congress, the Harvard Archives, and the Rockefeller
Archival Center. Now I would like to examine distinctive archival material that is part of
the Jessup Memorial Library.
I plan to visit Bar Harbor for the ANP Historic Trails Conference in mid-October. Would
it be possible for us to meet at that time, enabling me to at least get an overview of the
relevant materials? The dates I had in mind were October 16th. 19th, or 20th.
It would be helpful if you could provide some indication of the scope (perhaps in the
common measurements of linear feet) of your holdings relative to Dorr, the Dorr family,
his relationship to J.D. Rockefeller, Jr., Dorr's role in the creation and administration of
what would become Acadia National Park, and the development of the historic trails and
carriage roads. Is some material only available in non-print formats?
As a librarian, I fully realize that such a brief visit might require many visits to mine the
resources available in your facility and elsewhere on Mt. Desert Island. I do appreciate
any assistance that you might be able to offer a colleague. I look forward to hearing from
you.
Most Sincerely,
GHVIS
Resured microfelon 10 a in.
Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D.
Director of Libraries
on May 10th
Dollars
202
JML. H.
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
x
1911
Mount Desert Street, with churches opposite, the
Y. W. C. A. building given by Mrs. Kennedy as its
THE
next neighbor, and an old-fashioned hardy garden,
lawns and shrubbery enclosing it. No more fitting
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
setting for a Library could well be found.
Within, the main reading room is long and spacious,
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
equipped with a silent floor of cork and panelled in
dark oak, quiet and restful to the eye. A long oak
T
HE Library at Bar Harbor is the outgrowth
table, lighted from above, reaches down the length of
of over thirty years of devoted labor on
the room, for magazine or other reading, while on
the part of summer residents and citizens,
either side the room is divided into alcoves - still,
crowned by Mrs. Jesup's splendid gift of a permanent
secluded spots for reading, each with its own win-
and fitting home for it. No more delightful place for
dow opening pleasantly out on lawn and garden, each
reading or for quiet study exists in America to-day
with its own chairs and table and open stack of
than the silent, spacious rooms this building offers,
books. Easy flights of stairs lead up also from the
designed for the purpose with the greatest care and
floor of this main reading room to a gallery - wide
with wide knowledge of what had been accomplished
as the alcoves' depth below - extending round the
elsewhere. That these opportunities-- -- for choice of
room upon three sides, where there are further open
books and for their ready consultation, placed on
stacks from floor to ceiling; and all these stacks, the
open shelves; for reading in quiet seclusion, in the
lower and the upper both, are full of well selected
town's midst; and for passing pleasant hours in beau-
books.
tiful, still rooms and in an atmosphere of books-
Two other rooms exist upon this floor. The one
should be fully known and appreciated is the purpose
upon the right on entering was built by Mrs. Jesup
of this pamphlet.
for a special horticultural purpose, to hold a library
The Library, built to endure- of stone and brick,
of valuable and useful books on horticultural sub-
and with exceeding thoroughness of workmanship in
]
all detail - is situated centrally and pleasantly on
[1]
JML H 3
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
jects and to offer opportunity for their ready con-
sultation or their longer study.
In addition to this special library, and to supple-
ment its purpose, the Directors of the Library intend
this room to hold also the best and most complete
collection they can form of plant and landscape pho-
tographs, a thing that has never yet been competently
done by any library in the world SO far as they have
knowledge and which they ask the aid of others, as
they have opportunity to obtain such photographs,
to help them in achieving.
The room is admirably lighted for the purpose by
high and ample windows; it looks pleasantly and ap-
propriately down upon the garden of the Library, on
its western side, and is furnished with an ample table
for study of its photographs, or larger books. It is of
easy access also from the street, for owners of estates
or gardeners to consult readily its books of reference
in passing.
The other room on the main floor, the one upon the
left in entering, is the children's room, devoted to
their use exclusively. Their books alone fill its
shelves, which lie open to them to look through and
make selection from according to the interest the
books excite. In this way only can a library be made
[ 3 ]
JML H.2
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
a thing of living, stimulating interest to children, as
every one who looks back to the companionship of
books in his own childhood knows; and it is good, at
the right time and season, to see how well it answers
here.
The basement of the Library, which opens out
most pleasantly upon the lower level of its lawns and
garden, contains - accessible from without as well
as from the floor above- - an admirable room for
meetings, and an excellently lighted stack-room,
large as the main reading room above, where the
books not needed on the open shelves upon the upper
floor can be kept in safety and readily got at as they
are wanted.
The Library is freely open to all visitors and read-
-
ers, from nine in the morning until nine at night -
except on Sundays, when it is open in the afternoon
for reading only; an experienced librarian-or libra-
rian's assistant- - is always there, within these hours,
who will assist in finding any books required for read-
ing or for study in the Library or who will give out
books upon request for reading elsewhere.
The books the Library offers represent a long labor
of love on the part of the purchasing committee,
thoughtful selection stretching over many years and
[ 4 ]
JMCH. 4
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
made by men and women of the widest reading. The
best of the older literature is there and the best of the
new books that each succeeding year has brought,
both light and serious. A number of the most valua-
ble books of reference in the English language were
added also to the shelves of the new building when the
older library was moved there, through the generous
interest of summer residents, and it can now be truly
called a scholar's library as well as one of general liter-
ature and popular character.
The aim of the Directors is to make the Library,
with its admirable new equipment and its slow build-
ing up from small beginnings through a generation's
work and interest, serve now the widest possible ends
both in the Town's own life and in that of its sum-
mer residents and visitors; to make it useful in the
broadest sense, a source of wholesome interest and
pleasure, a means of education and an instrument in
aid of study: but above all, to make it serve as an
awakening suggestion of the higher life of thought
and feeling into which the world's great literature,
both old and new, is - next to inspiring human con-
tact - the torch-bearer and single guide
GEORGE B. DORR,
For the Directors.
[5]
NPS Form 10-900
372
OMB No. 1024-0018
(Rev. 8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1391
National Register of Historic Places
Registration Form
NATIONAL
REGISTER
This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines
for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering
the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials,
and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets
(Form 10-900a). Type all entries.
1. Name of Property
historic name Jesup Memorial Library
other names/site number
2. Location
street & number 34 Mt. Desert Street
NA not for publication
city, town Bar Harbor
NA vicinity
state
Maine
code
ME
county Hancock
code
009
zip code 04609
3. Classification
Ownership of Property
Category of Property
Number of Resources within Property
private
building(s)
Contributing
Noncontributing
public-local
district
1
buildings
public-State
site
sites
public-Federal
structure
structures
object
objects
1
0
Total
Name of related multiple property listing:
Number of contributing resources previously
Maine Public Libraries
listed in the National Register
0
4. State/Federal Agency Certification
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this
nomination
request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the
National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part
60.
In my opinion, the property
ameets does not meet the National Register criteria.
See continuation sheet.
Signature
Eases of certifying official
2/8/91
Date
.
Maine Historic Preservation Commission
State or Federal agency and bureau
In my opinion, the property
meets
does not meet the National Register criteria.
See continuation sheet.
Signature of commenting or other official
Date
State or Federal agency and bureau
5. National Park Service Certification
I, hereby, certify that this property is:
entered in the National Register.
See continuation sheet.
4/1/91
determined eligible for the National
Register.
See continuation sheet.
determined not eligible for the
National Register.
removed from the National Register.
other, (explain:)
for
Signature of the Keeper
Date of Action
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions)
Current Functions (enter categories from instructions)
Education/Library
Education/Library
7. Description
Architectural Classification
Materials (enter categories from instructions)
(enter categories from instructions)
foundation
Stone/Granite
Colonial Revival
walls
Brick
roof
Stone/Slate
other
Describe present and historic physical appearance.
The Jesup Memorial Library is a refined Colonial Revival brick building
which is one-story in height and five bays in width. It has a slate covered
hip roof and a T-shaped footprint. The library faces north onto Mt. Desert
Street in downtown Bar Harbor.
The principal elevation is symmetrically composed of a recessed central
entry flanked by six-over-six windows. An elaborately detailed Palladian
style entranceway executed in limestone enframes the door. Its classical
detailing includes pilasters, a full entablature, urns, and a coffered
ceiling. A central medallion over the door displays an open book. The
windows lie below round-arched stone panels with inset bulls-eyes. The
Flemish bond brick walls rise from a granite foundation to a limestone
cornice featuring a dentil string and scroll modillion blocks. A pair of
chimneys rise through the ridge of the hip roof.
Both the east and west side elevations are identical in their
composition. Each has two windows (similar to those on the facade) in the
walls of the front block along with five rectangular openings in the wing.
The elaborate cornice extends only to the wing, but a large stone water table
extends around the entire building, with the exception of the facade. There
are additional windows on the rear of the front block (one on each side of
the wing), as well as basement windows located below those on the principal
story. In addition, a tall round-arched window and two smaller rectangular
units occupy the wing's rear elevation. A secondary entrance to the basement
is located below the central window, and a fire escape is located on the east
side of the wing.
In plan, the building is organized into four principal spaces on the
first floor. A central rotunda is reached through a passageway that
separates a coat room from the stairs leading to the basement. To the west
of the rotunda is a reading room which, in the original design, was planned
to accommodate a collection of horticultural materials. The counterpart room
to the east was designed to be the children's reading room. Both rooms
feature Colonial Revival paneling and fireplaces. Behind and to the side of
the rotunda is the librarian's office and a second set of basement stairs.
Projecting to the rear is the reading room. This space is noteworthy for the
vaulted ceiling with its skylight and darkly stained woodwork used on the
See continuation sheet
NPS Form 10-900-a
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
(6-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section number
7
Page 2
walls and square posts that support the gallery. Book stacks are located
both in the gallery and in the alcoves below. The careful attention paid to
the classical detailing which is evident on the exterior is also apparent on
the interior. This is especially true in the rotunda where pilasters rise
to a stylized Doric entablature above which is the coffered ceiling. The
basement contains a children's room, the boiler room, a store room, and
lavatory in the front block. The stack room is located in the wing.
8. Statement of Significance
Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties:
nationally
statewide
locally
Applicable National Register Criteria
A
B
X
C
D
Criteria Considerations (Exceptions)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions)
Period of Significance
Significant Dates
Architecture
1911-1941
1910-11
Education
Cultural Affiliation
N/A
Significant Person
Architect/Builder
N/A
Delano & Aldrich, Architects
State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above.
Constructed in 1910-11 from plans drawn by the New York architectural
firm of Delano and Albrich, the Jesup Memorial Library is a handsome brick
building in the Colonial Revival style. It was given to the town of Bar
Harbor by Mrs. Morris K. Jesup in memory of her husband. The library meets
the requirements for registration under criteria A and C for its educational
and architectural significance as more fully described in the multiple
property submission "Maine Public Libraries."
Bar Harbor's first library is believed to have been organized in 1875
by a group of summer residents. This collection of 176 volumes was assembled
for the use of Mt. Desert's permanent residents and made available to them
for two nights per week. A small frame library was built in 1877. In 1883
the growing collection was turned into a subscription library with borrowing
privileges charged at the rate of $1.00 per family, but the fee was dropped
three years later. The library moved into a new building in 1890. By the
early 1900s the collection consisted of more than 8,000 volumes.
The present building was given to the town by the widow of Morris K.
Jesup, a New York financier and long-time summer resident of Bar Harbor. It
was erected at a cost of $70,000 by local contractor Chester A. Hodgkins.
Mrs. Jesup also established a $50,000 endowment fund during the dedication
held on August 30, 1911. The library was originally surrounded by a
herbaceous garden developed by another summer resident, George B. Dorr. An
avocational horticulturist, Dorr was one of the leading activists behind
the
creation of Acadia National Park.
See continuation sheet
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bar Harbor Village Library: 1875-1905. Bar Harbor, ME. Publisher
Unspecified. 1905?
The Jesup Memorial Library. Bar Harbor, ME. Publisher and Date Unspecified.
C. 1911?
See continuation sheet
Previous documentation on file (NPS):
preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67)
Primary location of additional data:
has been requested
State historic preservation office
previously listed in the National Register
Other State agency
previously determined eligible by the National Register
Federal agency
designated a National Historic Landmark
Local government
recorded by Historic American Buildings
University
Survey #
Other
recorded by Historic American Engineering
Specify repository:
Record #
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of property Less than 1
UTM References
A
19
563160
4914910
B
Zone
Easting
Northing
Zone
Easting
Northing
C
D
See continuation sheet
Verbal Boundary Description
The nominated property occupies the Town of Bar Harbor tax map 4, block 7,
lot 30.
See continuation sheet
Boundary Justification
The boundary embraces the entire village parcel historically associated with
this building.
See continuation sheet
11. Form Prepared By
name/title
Kirk F. Mohney, Architectural Historian
organization Maine Historic Preservation Commission
date 1/91
street
&
number 55 Capitol Street
telephone (207) 289-2132
city or town Augusta
state Maine
zip code 04333
BAR HARBOR, MAINE, SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1915
1052
JESUP MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Bar Harbor Has One Of The Finest Buildings In State And 11,000 Volumns Are To Be
Found On Its Shelves-It Is Supported Largely By Endowment
Bar Harbor has a public library of
No more delightful place for reading
Within, the main reading room is
which it may well be proud. It is the
or for quiet study exists in America today
long and spacious, equipped with a
outgrowth of 30 years of devoted labor
than the silent spacious rooms this
silent floor of cork and panelled in dark
on the part of summer residents and
building offer designed for the purpose
oak, quiet and restful to the eye. A long
citizens crowned by Mrs. Morris K.
with the greatest care and with wide
oak table, lighted from above, reaches
Jesup's memorial gift of a permanent
knowledge of what had been accomplished
down the length of the room, for magazine
and fitting home. Here about 11,000
elsewhere. The library, built to endure-
or other reading, while on either side
volumes of standard literature, works of
of stone and brick, and with exceeding
the room is divided into alcoves-still,
history, encyclopedias, and late popular
thoroughness of workmanship in all
secluded spots for reading, each with its
fiction are to be found in this beautiful
detail- s situated centrally and pleasant-
own window opening pleasantly out on
home supported by an endowment fund
ly on Mount Desert street, with churches
lawn and garden, each with its own chairs
given by Mrs. Jesup besides the annual
opposite; the Y. W. C. A. building
and table and open stack of books.
appropriation of the town and receipts
given by Mrs. Kennedy as its next
Easy flights of stairs lead up also from
from the subscriptions of non-resident
neighbor, and an old-fashioned hardy
the floor of this main rending room to
renders. The library WHA dedicated in
garden, lawns and shrubbery enclosing
a gallery-wide as the alcoves' depth
August, 1911 and was occupied soon
it. No more fitting setting for a library
below-extending round the room upon
thereafter.
could well be found.
three sides, where there are further open
stacks from floor to ceiling; and all
these stacks, the lower and the upper
both, are full of well selected books.
Two other rooms exist upon this floor.
The one upon the right upon entering
was built by Mrs. Jesup for a special
horticultural purpose, to hold a library
of valuable and useful books on horti-
cultural subjects and to offer opportunity
for their ready consultation or longer
study.
In addition to this special library,
and to supplement its purpose, the
directors of the library intend this room
to hold also the best and most complete
collection they can form of plant and
landscape photographs, a thing that
has never yet been competently done
by any library in the world so far as they
have knowledge and in which they ask
onnortu-
a
BRACLEY
Bar Harbor has a public library of
No more delightful place for reading
Within, the main reading room is
which it may well be proud. It is the
or for quiet study exists in America today
lang and spacious, equipped with a
outgrowth of 30 years of devoted labor
than the silent spacious rooms this
silent floor of cork and panelled in dark
on the part of summer residents and
building offer designed for the purpose
oak, quiet and restful to the eye. A long
citizens crowned by Mrs. Morris K.
with the greatest care and with wide
oak table, lighted from above, reaches
Jesup's memorial gift of a permanent
knowledge of what had been accomplished
down the length of the room, for magazine
and fitting home. Here about 11,000
elsewhere. The library, built to endure-
or other reading, while on either side
volumes of standard literature, works of
of stone and brick, and with exceeding
the room is divided into alcoves-still,
history, encyclopedias, and late popular
thoroughness of workmanship in all
secluded spots for reading, each with its
fiction are to be found in this beautiful
detail- is situated centrally and pleasant-
own window opening pleasantly out on
home supported by an endowment fund
ly on Mount Desert street, with churches
lawn and garden, each with its own chairs
given by Mrs. Jesup besides the annual
opposite; the Y. W. C. A. building
and table and open stack of books.
appropriation of the town and receipts
given by Mrs. Kennedy as its next
Easy flights of stairs lead up also from
from the subscriptions of non-resident
neighbor, and an old-fashioned hardy
the floor of this main rending room to
renders. The library was dedicated in
garden, lawns and shrubbery enclosing
a gallery-wide as the alcoves' depth
August, 1911 and was occupied soon
it. No more fitting setting for a library
below-extending round the room upon
therenfter.
could well be found.
three sides, where there are further open
stacks from floor to ceiling; and all
these stacks, the lower and the upper
both, are full of well selected books.
Two other rooms exist upon this floor.
The one upon the right upon entering
was built by Mrs. Jesup for a special
horticultural purpose, to hold a library
of valuable and useful books on horti-
cultural subjects and to offer opportunity
for their ready consultation or longer
study
In addition to this special library,
and to supplement its purpose, the
directors of the library intend this room
to hold also the best and most complete
collection they can form of plant and
landscape photographs, a thing that
has never yet been competently done
by any library in the world so far as they
have knowledge and in which they ask
the aid of others, as they have opportu-
nity to obtain such photographs, to help
them in achieving.
The room is admirably lighted for
the purpose by high and ample windows;
it looks pleasantly and appropriately
down upon the garden of the library,
on its western side, and is furnished with
an ample table for its study of photo-
graphs or larger books. It is of easy
access also from the street, for owners of
estates or gardners to consult readily
its books of reference in passing.
The other room on the main floor, the
one upon the left in entering, is the chil-
dren's room, devoted to their use ex-
clusively. Their books alone fill its
shelves, which lie open to them to look
through and make selection from ac-
cording to the interest the books excite.
In this way only can a library be made
a thing of living, stimulating interest
to children, 29 everyone who looks back
to the companionship of books in his
own childhood knows; and It is good,
at the right time and season, to see how
well it answers here.
The basement of the library, which
opens out most pleasantly upon the lower
level of its lawns and garden, contains-
accessible from without as well as from
the floor above-an admirable rooin for
down upon the garden of the library,
on its western side, and is furnished with
an ample table for its study of photo-
graphs or larger books. It is of easy
access also from the street, for owners of
estates or gardners to consult. readily
its books of reference in passing.
The other room on the main floor, the
one upon the left in entering, is the chil-
dren's room, devoted to their use ex-
clusively. Their books alone fill its
shelves, which lie open to them to look
through and make selection from ac-
cording to the interest the books excite.
In this way only can a library be made
a thing of living, stimulating interest
to children, as everyone who looks back
to the companionship of books in his
own childhood knows; and it is good,
at the right time and season, to see how
well it answers here.
The basement of the library, which
opens out most pleasantly upon the lower
level of its lawns and garden, contains-
accessible from without as well- as from
the floor above-an admirable room for
meetings, and an excellently lighted
stack room, large as the main reading
room above, where the books not needed
on the open shelves upon the upper
floor can be kept in safety and readily
got at as they are wanted.
The library is freely open to all visitors
and readers, from 9 in the morning
until 9 at night in summer, and 10 in
the morning until 9 at night in the winter
-except on Sundays, when it is open in
the afternoon for reading only. An
experienced librarian-o librarian's as-
sistant-is always there, within these
hours, who will assist in finding any
books required for reading or for study
in the library or who will give out books
upon request for reading elsewhere.
The books the library offers represent
a long labor of love on the part of the
purchasing committee, thoughtful selec-
tion stretching over many years and
made by men and women of the widest
reading. The best of the older literature
is there and the best of the new books
that each succeeding year has brought,
both light and serious. A number of the
most valuable books of reference in
the English language were also added to
the shelves of the new building when the
older library was moved there, through
the generous interest of summer residents,
and it can now be truly called a scholar's
library as well as one of general literature
and popular character.
The aim of the directors is to make the
library, with its admirable new equip-
ment and its slow building up from
small beginnings through a generation's
work and interest, serve now the widest
possible ends-both in the town's own
life and in that of its summer residents
and visitors; to make it useful in the
broadest sense, a source of wholesome
nterest and pleasure, a means of educa-
tion and an instrument in aid of study;
but above all, to make it serve as an
awakening suggestion of the higher
life of thought and feeling into which
the world's great literature, both old
and new, is-next to inspiring human
i
contact-the torch bearer and single
11
PROCEEDINGS
Title:
OF THE
NATIONAL PARK CONFERENCE
HELD AT THE
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
OCTOBER 14, 15, AND
16, 1912
OF
E
THE
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1913
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PARK CONFERENCE
HELD AT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK OCTOBER 14,
15, AND 16, 1912.
INTRODUCTION.
On October 14, 15, and 16 there was held in the Yosemite National
Park the second conference of departmental officials and other persons
interested in the development and administration of the national parks.
There were present at this conference the superintendents of the various
parks, the principal Washington officers of the Department of the Inte-
rior who handle national park matters, and representatives of the
concessioners, of the transportation companies tributary to the parks,
and of independent organizations that have been interested in the prob-
lems of park administration. All persons holding concessions in the
national parks were invited to be present and all of the railroads tribu-
tary to the parks were invited to send representatives. Every important
interest connected with the parks both on the side of the Government
and on the side of the concessioners and railroads was adequately repre-
sented. The purpose of the conference was to consider all the questions
that arise in the administration of these reservations, in order that the
department might be able to make such changes in the regulations and
to foster such development as might be for the best interest of the public.
It should be distinctly understood that the views herein expressed are
those of the individuals presenting them, and that the department gives
no official sanction to the facts stated or to the recommendations made.
PERSONS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE.
Capt. J. B. Adams, assistant forester, Washington, D.C.
W. F. Arant, superintendent Crater Lake National Park, Klamath Falls, Oreg.
H. C. Best, Yosemite, Cal.
W. M. Boland, superintendent Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, S. Dak.
Frank Bond, chief clerk, General Land Office, Washington, D. C.
J. T. Boyesen, Yosemite, Cal.
Lieut. Col. L. M. Brett, acting superintendent Yellowstone National Park, Yellow_
stone Park, Wyo.
G. M. Brookwell, Los Angeles Real Estate Board, Los Angeles, Cal.
L. E. Burkes, secretary Automobile Club, San Francisco, Cal.
D. E. Burley, general passenger agent, Oregon Short Line Railroad, Salt Lake City,
Utah.
J. J. Byrne, assistant passenger traffic manager, Santa Fe Railway.
R. H. Chapman, acting superintendent Glacier National Park, Belton, Mont.
5
6
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PARK CONFERENCE.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PARK CONFERENCE.
7
A. D. Charlton, assistant general passenger agent, Northern Pacific Railway, Portland,
C. H. Lovell, attorney for Wawona Road.
Oreg.
F. W. McCauley, Yosemite, Cal.
Maj. Sherwood A. Cheney, Engineer Corps, United States Army.
C. H. McStay, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
H. W. Child, Yellowstone Park Transportation Co., Yellowstone Park, Wyo.
R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer, Geological Survey, Washington, D.
J. W. Coffman, Yosemite, Cal.
George W. Marston, San Diego, Cal., representing American Civic Association.
W. E. Colby, secretary Sierra Club, San Francisco, Cal.
T. H. Martin, secretary Seattle-Tacoma-Ranier National Park Committee, Tacoma,
R. S. Cole, Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Riverside, Cal.
Wash.
J. C. Conwell, secretary Automobile Dealers' Association, of Los Angeles, Cal., repre-
H. A. Meyer, private secretary to the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
senting Ocean to Ocean Highway Association.
A. W. Miles, president Wylie Permanent Camping Co., Yellowstone Park, Wyo.
D. A. Curry, Yosemite, Cal.
Frank A. Miller, Los Angeles, Cal.
J. B. Curtin, Sonora, Cal.
E. H. Mormon, Wylie Permanent Camping Co., Yellowstone Park, Wyo.
W. T. S. Curtis, Washington, representing certain Hot Springs lessees.
John Muir, American Alpine Association, Martinez, Cal.
Mrs. John Degnan, Yosemite, Cal.
H. H. Myers, superintendent Hot Springs Reservation, Hot Springs, Ark.
F. C. Dezendorf, Chief Field Division, General Land Office, custodian Muir Woods,
Fernando Nelson, San Francisco Motorist.
San Francisco, Cal.
P. M. Norboe, State engineer, Sacramento, Cal.
E. W. Dixon, inspector, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
E. T. Off, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
F. Drum, Yosemite, Cal.
O. K. Parker, engineer for Automobile Club of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal.
Coert DuBois, district forester, California.
E. T. Parsons, representing Mazamas Mountaineers, Seattle, Wash.
Ralph Earle, Pathé Freres, New York.
A. C. Pillsbury, 783 Mission Street, San Francisco, Cal.
C. H. Edwards, Secretary, Coulterville Road, Cal.
P. H. Price, Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, Santa Barbara, Cal.
Dr. L. R. Ellis, member federal registration Board, Hot Springs, Ark.
Hon. John E. Raker, House of Representatives.
Charles S. Fee, passenger traffic manager, Southern Pacific Railroad, San Francisco, Cal.
Miss Vera C. Riley, United States Land Office, San Francisco, Cal.
Walter L. Fisher, Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C.
A. C. Ringland, district forester in charge, Grand Canyon.
George Fiske, Yosemite, Cal.
R. K. Roberts, secretary Motor Car Dealers' Association, San Francisco, Cal.
Ex-Senator Frank Flint, representing Southern California Automobile Association,
N. L. Salter, Yosemite, Cal.
Los Angeles, Cal.
Wm. F. Schmidt, general western agent, Missouri Pacific; St. Louis, Iron Mountain &
D. K. Foley, Yosemite, Cal.
Southern Railway; and Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, San Francisco, Cal.
Col. W. W. Forsyth, acting superintendent Yosemite National Park, Cal.
W. M. Sell, Yosemite, Cal.
W. J. French, superintendent Platt National Park, Sulphur, Okla.
David A. Sherfey, engineer, Yosemite National Park.
Walter Fry, head ranger Sequoia National Park, Three Rivers, Cal.
E. Shoemaker, superintendent Mesa Verde National Park, Mancos, Colo.
Miss S. C. Geary, secretary Automobile Club of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal.
Gabriel Sovulewski, supervisor Yosemite National Park.
W. H. Gorham, representing Mountaineers, Seattle, Wash.
W. Steel, Portland, Oreg.
P. H. Greer, president Automobile Dealers' Association of Southern California, Los
Ternes, Tacoma Baggage & Transfer Co., Tacoma, Wash.
Angeles, Cal.
W. Thompson, general western agent Rock Island Lines, San Francisco, Cal.
E. S. Hall, superintendent Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford, Wash.
C. Ucker, chief clerk Interior Department, Washington, D. C.
Maj. H. M. Hallock, medical director, Hot Springs Reservation, Hot Springs, Ark.
W. L. Valentine, representing Southern California Automobile Association, 710
George B. Hanson, Southern Pacific Railroad, San Francisco, Cal.
Johnson Building, Los Angeles, Cal.
F. F. Harvey, manager dining car service, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway,
R. F. Waddell, United States land office, San Francisco, Cal.
American Bank Building, Kansas City, Mo.
Percy J. Walker, president State Automobile Association, San Francisco, Cal.
C. A. Hawkins, White Automobile Co., San Francisco, Cal.
C. A. Washburn, Wawona, Cal.
F. J. Haynes, concessioner, Yellowstone Park, Wyo.
S. Washburn, Wawona, Cal.
H. H. Hays, Wylie Permanent Camping Co., Yellowstone, Wyo.
R. B. Watrous, secretary American Civic Association, Washington, D. C.
J. F. Hickey, Tacoma, Wash.
Col. Harris Weinstock, representing San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Fran-
J. R. Hickey, Monida & Yellowstone Stage Co., Yellowstone Park, Wyo.
cisco, Cal.
James Hughes, Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget Sound Railroad, Tacoma, Wash.
Capt. W. M. Whitman, acting superintendent Sequoia and General Grant National
D. W. Hutchins, Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Riverside, Cal.
Parks, Three Rivers, Cal.
Chris. Jorgensen, Yosemite, Cal.
Dr. Willistear, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Pasadena, Cal.
W.E. Kelly, Interior Department, Washington, D. C.
M. Yost, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, Pasadena, Cal.
O. W. Lehmer, general manager Yosemite Valley Railroad, Merced, Cal.
C.M. Ziebach, acting superintendent Sullys Hill National Park, Fort Totten, N. Dak.
M. O. Leighton, Chief Hydrographer, Geological Survey, Washington, D. C.
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PRUCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PARK CONFERENCE.
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9
MORNING SESSION, OCTOBER 14.
kind. They all raise questions which are very similar in the different
parks, and yet there is no way of coordinating these matters and bringing
Secretary FISHER. Gentlemen, we may as well come to order. This,
to bear for the benefit of all other parks the experiences of any particular
as you know, is the Second Annual National Park Conference, the first
park, or the successes or failures of particular park superintendents or
having been held last year at the Yellowstone, and I am very glad to
other officials.
see SO many of you present here this year.
There has been no machinery whatever in the Secretary's office for
We are meeting one day in advance of the formal announcement, I
this purpose; and SO by process of elimination, by force of circumstances,
believe, as it was not sure that I could get here from Honolulu before
the administration of the national parks has been intrusted primarily, so
to-morrow, SO that a day's leeway has been given. We know there are a
far as routine details are concerned, to the office of the chief clerk. That
very considerable number of people coming up during the day.
office is very heavily burdened with other matters of detail in the city of
The conference is called to discuss the various questions relating to
Washington. It has the handling of the ordinary clerical details of the
the administration of the national parks and issues that have to do
office of the Secretary of the Interior and the handling of the clerical
with their proper management and development. There are a great
matters that come up to that office from all the different bureaus and
many questions to be talked about. Last year we had a number of
subdivisions of the department.
formal papers. We felt at that time that, being the first conference, it
In the very nature of the case, it has been impossible for the chief clerk's
would be desirable to indicate somewhat the character of the questions
office to give the attention to these matters which their importance
we wished to talk about by having formal papers prepared by a number
demands. The offices of the chief clerk and of the Secretary itself have
of people on different topics of interest. It was felt that in that way
never been equipped to handle these matters, if it had been possible to
we would get before the conference suggestions that would lead to
give them the necessary time and attention. Many of the problems are
expressions of opinion or experience or advice from various members
engineering in their character; many of them relate to the broader
of the conference with regard to the problems that were confronting
aspects of park development. The landscape questions, the questions
any particular park or any official of the parks.
relating to the forests and streams in the forest-sanitation and the con-
The situation regarding park administration has not changed in a
struction of buildings of various kinds, both for park administration and
radical manner during the last year. It was, I think, the unanimous
for the accommodation of the traveling public-all require special quali-
opinion of those who attended the conference last year that the national
fications on the part of those called upon to administer them, with respect
parks of this country would never be properly administered until we had
to which Congress has afforded no facilities whatever to the Secretary of
established something in the nature of a national park bureau or other
the Interior.
method of centralized administration. It was fully appreciated then by
Now, as I have said, the discussion of these matters last year resulted
those who were present, not only those connected with the Government
in a practically unanimous opinion-unanimous as far as I am aware;
service but those outside of that service who had to do with park matters,
no dissension of any kind appeared to exist with relation to the mat-
that the system or lack of system that was then in effect was perfectly
ter-a unanimous opinion that we should organize or secure from Con-
hopeless.
gress the means to organize some form of centralized administration.
As you know, the national parks have never had any method of cen-
The agitation for congressional action was taken up and supported by
tralizing their administration. They have grown up, like Topsy, and
various organizations and individuals. It received support from the
nobody has taken any care of them as a whole. Each individual park
press of all kinds throughout the country-from the newspaper press
has secured from Congress that amount of appropriation and that degree
and from all the weekly and monthly publications which were interested
of
attention that local influence was able to obtain in that body. The
at all in public matters. It received the support of various influential
administration and the Secretary's office in Washington have called the
individuals and organizations. The American Civic Association, whose
needs of the parks to the attention of Congress from time to time, but SO
secretary is here meeting with us again, as its president was last year,
far as I have been able to ascertain at that time or since, the parks as a
made it rather the particular subject of its annual meeting last year. A
whole have never had their matters pressed upon the attention of Congress
considerable discussion occurred and resolutions were passed. Its
until last year. Each of these parks has problems that are also problems
president, Mr. McFarland, and its secretary, Mr. Watrous, together
in other parks-questions of road construction, bridge construction, care
with others connected with it, gave such active support and influence as
and maintenance of the roads and bridges and trails, the concessions with
they could to the passage of a bill by Congress. A bill was prepared,
regard to hotels, transportation, photography, and other matters of that
introduced in the two Houses of Congress, and apparently given favor-
10
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11
able consideration by the committees to which it was referred, but con-
outset. We are going to take up the automobile question on its merits
ditions at the last session of Congress were such that it was impossible
and in due course. The ordinary methods of agitation have been em-
to procure any actual legislation on the subject.
ployed, and my secretary, I think, has finished opening a number of tele-
The discussion with regard to inadequate appropriations produced a
grams, substantial copies of each other, which the automobile associa-
little result in some instances. We got a little start toward an increased
tions have thought might have some influence on this gathering or on
appropriation for the Yosemite, but the policy of the Democratic party,
the Secretary. Of course an official letter by the executive officers of
particularly in the direction of reduced appropriation on the theory of
these organizations would have had just the same effect and saved con-
cutting down expenses of the Government, of course, naturally stood in
siderable expense. However, if the gentlemen who are interested wish
the way, as a general principle. It was very difficult to get any consider-
to show their interest by paying for telegrams, I have no possible objection
ation, and I may say that increased park appropriations did not receive
to that course. I doubt if I shall have time to read them all; but I shall
the vigorous support of some of the gentlemen of another party-my own
have my secretary classify them, and any that contain anything besides
party-that I would like to have seen. I am not discussing the question
a
desire that the parks shall be open to automobiles I will look at. Per-
as a political matter at all, but merely reciting the facts. The result was
haps to-day the best thing to do is to hear informally, publicly, from the
that we failed to get either the increased appropriations or the remedial
various park superintendents with regard to those matters that they
legislation that we very much need. I think, however, we have made
a
would like to call before the conference as a whole, particularly as to con-
substantial beginning in the growth of public sentiment, in calling the
ditions since our last meeting, and a general discussion of any of the ques-
matter to the attention of Congress in an effective way, and I am not
tions that may be presented can be had later-either this afternoon or
without hope that at the coming session of Congress we may be able to get
at some other time, to be determined at the end of this meeting. We
some action taken. There was some difference of opinion with regard to
will later have an executive meeting of the park superintendents, at
the particular form of the action that should be taken-as to whether
which they may wish to discuss some of the questions that they think
there should be a bureau created or whether we should at first, at least,
should be presented in that way.
simply take steps that would enable us to get more effective work in the
To-morrow morning, if we do not find reason to change the plans
Secretary's office without the creation of a bureau-I mean, whether
and have then progressed far enough with the other program, we will
Congress might not prefer the second alternative, and confine its action to
hear from the transportation people, the railroad representatives and
the passage of the necessary appropriations to enable us to employ park
others, and from the gentlemen who are interested in the automobile.
experts and engineers to assist in the administration of these affairs in the
In that connection, I would suggest to the latter gentlemen, if possible,
Secretary's office, together with some additional assistance on the clerical
and I see no reason why it is not possible, that they agree upon, say, two
side for that express purpose. I think a very considerable sentiment
or three persons who will present the special matters in which they are
existed in favor of the latter plan. I know that many Members of Con-
interested, and thus avoid unnecessary repetition of arguments or sug-
gress in speaking to me expressed the opinion that the National Park
gestions.
Bureau should be created, but that possible it might be necessary at first
Again expressing my appreciation that so many of you have found it
to proceed in the way that I have just indicated.
interesting and convenient to come here, especially those who are not in
Now, we have very many questions to discuss here to-day; some of
the official service of the Government, I will declare this meeting open,
them are subjects for open sessions and some of them for executive ses-
and start by asking Col. Brett, as the representative of the park that
sions. There are questions of very great importance affecting all the
perhaps stands out most in the public eye in point of interest and attend-
phases of park administration. One of the important questions now
ance, to begin the meeting by telling about the conditions in the Yellow-
before us is the question of the admission of automobiles to national
stone Park as they are now and the changes that have occurred since
parks and the terms upon which they should be admitted if they are to be
our last meeting.
admitted, either to this park or to any other park. That, as I have said, is
Col. BRETT. Mr. Secretary, Superintendents, and others: The need
a very important question. It is by no means the only question. It is
for a bureau of national parks was particularly emphasized in the
by no means the most important question we have to discuss, but there
Yellowstone this season and in the latter part of the season of 1911.
are a considerable number of individuals here who are enthusiastic users
On the ist day of August, 1911, all the money that had been appro-
of the automobile, and I suppose they regard it as a matter of first impor-
priated for roads, bridges, sprinkling of same, and general improve-
tance-possibly they think it was the purpose for which this conference
ments was exhausted. There was not a rainy day in August of 1911.
was called. If so, it is just as well to disabuse them of the idea right at the
The consequence was that the surfacing of the roads practically blew
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93
travel either in the automobile or animal-drawn vehicles. Now, the
AFTERNOON SESSION, OCTOBER 15.
whole matter it seems hinges on this one point, and it is a matter of
opinion-what is the reasonable protection against such risk; and it
The SECRETARY. I think, perhaps, this would be an appropriate time
seems to me that is a question for the engineers.
to hear from Mr. Watrous, the secretary of the American Civic Associa-
The SECRETARY. Maj. Cheney, have you anything to say on the
tion, who has some matters which we would like to have him present.
engineering question here?
Mr. WATROUS. Mr. Secretary, ladies, and gentlemen, one might hesi-
Maj. CHENEY. Well, hardly in an engineering way, Mr. Secretary.
tate to talk before any audience that has listened as we have listened to
Engineers don't like to discuss engineering questions when they have not
the eloquence of one who knows the Yosemite as Mr. John Muir knows it.
started in an engineering way. I have only made some little personal
But it happens to fall to me to take that hesitating step. Just to be here
observations of the roads. I have been from the floor up to Inspiration
in the Yosemite makes one wish either for the gift of eloquence that he
Point, and last year I went out to Crane Flat over the Big Oak Flat Road.
might voice his impressions, or for the opportunity to retire to the fast-
Not, however, looking at them from a point of view of their use by
nesses Mr. Muir has spoken of to contemplate in silence the beauty and
automobiles. The question was not in my mind at the time and SO I
glory of our surroundings. Most of us will leave the Yosemite without
have scarcely compiled anything of any material value from that source.
indulging in either eloquence or extended contemplation. I surely shall
The SECRETARY. You have heard the suggestion here that we have a
not attempt eloquence, but simply rise to tell you that it is a very great
report of the engineer employed by the Los Angeles people who will
pleasure to be here this year and to represent the American Civic Asso-
prepare and furnish us a statement showing just what he thinks is neces-
ciation, as last year the same association was represented at Yellowstone
sary and we can check that and make our own estimates on it. I sup-
Park by our president, Mr. McFarland, to whom our good Secretary
pose, from what you say, you think it would be better to defer any state-
made such a pleasant reference yesterday.
ment with regard to that matter until you have made such examination
I presume I have traveled as great a distance to attend this conference
and report?
as any of my confrères excepting those officially connected with the
Maj. CHENEY. Yes, sir.
Government, who also have come from Washington. I am here because
The SECRETARY. Well, then, gentlemen, it looks as though the general
the association which it is my pleasure to represent and serve has always
principles were fairly well agreed-I wouldn't want to say it was unani-
taken a very deep interest in the general subject of the preservation of
mous-but I would state my own impression from it that the funda-
landscape and the development of outdoor art, and especially in our
mental question here is an engineering question and it ought to be
national parks and monuments, which, by wise fortune, have been
checked up from an engineering point of view. The engineer from Los
secured and set aside by legislation for the people of this country and
Angeles seems to think we ought to spend $25,000 in one case, and he is
for the people of the world. We are to be congratulated that we are
prepared to make a written report as to just how that ought to be done.
blessed with these parks; that they may be passed down as a priceless
Mr. HAWKINS. May I answer that, sir? There is a considerable dele-
heritage to those who come after us this beautiful park in which Mr.
gation here from Los Angeles. I live in San Francisco. I have no criti-
Muir has spent so many years. Not only this park, but the Yellowstone,
cism of their enthusiasm and their progressiveness. I just want to point
the Mount Rainier, the Glacier, and others, including the monuments.
out to you that by their method they can come by the northern route,
But we are not administering these parks as their worth demands. We
the Big Oak Flat Road, only 24 miles over a great State highway farther
are going along the route of least resistance and leaving undone many
than the southern route, but if we from San Francisco must come the
things that should be donc.
southern route to the valley that is a hundred miles farther than the
If I may indulge in a little vision, it would be that within a very few
northern route, thereby removing this magnificent park 100 miles
years there may be other national park conferences, presided over by
farther from San Francisco and very much nearer Los Angeles.
a Secretary of the Interior-and I could wish that it might be yourself,
The SECRETARY. The gentlemen would just see that much more of the
Mr. Secretary-but with one acting as secretary of the conference who
scenic beauty of this wonderful State, and that extra hundred miles would
is not a chief clerk of the Department of the Interior but a director of
be traversed in machines now in SO short a space of time under the excel-
a national parks service, with all the dignity that might go with such a
lent road system you have it would really be a pleasure.
title, and backed by the authority that might be conferred upon him by
We will now adjourn until 3 o'clock this afternoon.
Congress. In this connection may I pay a tribute-and I think the
Secretary will permit me to pay it-to our chief clerk, who to-day is
handling a great variety of details that pass through his office? I am
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95
not violating any confidence when I say that of all those details he loves
that they have been using pictures given them by the Department of the
best the ones relating to our national parks. Those are the details to
Interior to illustrate those editorials and news items. There is going to be
which he gives his attention in his hours at home in the evening and
a great deal more of that same kind of work. There were reasons during
after hours at the office in the daytime, for we must remember that
the early sessions of this Congress for not making a direct effort for the
the parks under the present arrangement have to receive but such
passage of the bureau bill which was introduced in the early days of the
passing attention as can be given them from day to day after a multi-
session. We believe, however, the time will be ripe when Congress reas-
plicity of other details are cared for. Patents are issued and expire by
sembles to urge the passage of that bill, providing for the creation of a
limitation; pensions are put on the roll and expire with the sweep of the
national park service. It can be passed if the people of this country will
scythe of time; but the parks are to endure through all time, and we must
make themselves heard. I am very glad to appear to-day, by courtesy
see to it that they do endure in just as near their pristine beauty as
of the Secretary, as a representative of the association which has the
possible, without encroachments of any kind. They must be preserved
machinery in Washington through which you can work to bring about
in their natural beauty. But we must be very practical in their admin-
the passage of this bill. We want your cooperation, you men of the West
istration.
and of the Central States, and of the East. We need it and request it, and
As I said before, we have been doing things in a hit-and-miss way.
we want you to be quick to respond to a call that may come to you some
There has been no uniformity of legislation. The parks, as you know,
day to direct letters and telegrams to your Members in Congress, stating
are created under a great variety of acts. It is hard to find out just what
that it is your desire and urgent request that they vote for the passage of
act creates this park and that park; and the same is true of the monu-
the park-service bill. Our association fills the necessary function of a
ments. We must have a uniformity of administration for the sake of the
propaganda agency.
larger results we are to get, for the development and maintenance of the
You know as well as I that the Department of the Interior can not be
parks, and for the sake of efficiency. This subject of efficiency is one
a
propaganda agency. Its officers, of course, want this bureau. They
that is being brought out very prominently before business men and very
realize better than we the folly of giving such meager attention and in
prominently before the people of this country, because in the present
such an unsystematic way to such a large proposition as the control of
administration more attention is being given and will be given to the
hundreds of thousands of acres of park lands. Surely, the parks have
general subject of economy and efficiency than ever before.
gotten beyond the day when they can receive but the passing attention
Most of you are familiar with the initial steps that have been taken in
of a chief clerk. They need the dignified attention of a director who may
the creation of a national park service. The American Civic Association,
surround himself with just the kind of experts Mr. Muir has recom-
more than two years ago, started out with the idea that there should be
mended-landscape architects and engineering authorities-who can
such a service. It has been working to that end, and last year in Washing-
solve the problems we have discussed this morning. Such a bureau can
ton, there was held a most notable meeting in connection with the annual
bring about order and system, and can secure for the parks the appro-
convention of our association, devoted entirely to the subject of national
priations that are necessary.
parks. It was attended by many of the people of the East who are some
The association will have another meeting at Washington on November
day to go West and visit the national parks. Among those who addressed
19, 20, and 21, when again one or two sessions will be devoted exclu-
that meeting were the President of the United States, the Secretary of the
sively to the subject of the national parks. I wish all of you might be
Interior, who is our presiding officer to-day, as he was our presiding officer
transported to that meeting to take part in and lend your enthusiasm to
that night; the president of the American Civic Association, Mr. J. Horace
it. We are not asking legislation for the benefit of any one class of
McFarland, and in addition there were stories of park life by Mr. Enos
business, for any one railroad or all the railroads put together, or for any
Mills, and an illustrated description of some of the parks, by Mr. Herbert
concessioners. We are interested in working for the creation and the
W. Gleason, all familiar names to you. As a result of that meeting, atten-
proper maintenance of the great recreation and playgrounds of all the
tion was directed to the subject of our parks by the newspaper press and
people. We believe that many of our people in the East are making a
the magazine press.
serious mistake when they close their eyes to the beauties of the West
I am not going to tell you just how much letter writing was necessary
and set their eyes toward the beauties of the European and Asiatic
to get the approval of some of the great monthly and weekly journals,
countries. They will some day of course, go to Europe, but they must
except to say the approval was secured, and if you have read the maga-
not confine their travel in that direction. They must be turned this way,
zines and the weeklies as well as the dailies, you know that they have been
and of course, if turned this way, it is going to be a material gain to the
talking national parks in their editorials and in their news columns and
Pacific coast, which is a proper benefit.
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97
I wish that the president of the association might have been here to
identified with any such movement for the reason it would be used
talk to you as he did last year. He wanted greatly to come and asked
against the organization of a national park bureau and prove a detri-
me to convey his particular greetings to you. He is backed by our
ment. This work might be taken up without any organization by
officers and thousands of members in the East and in the West who are
having some one interested take up the work of enlisting the commercial
as zealous as he for the complete development and further dignifying of
organizations of the national park States, and through them reaching
our national parks.
every Member of Congress from a national park State. In that way I
Mr. Secretary, there was handed to me at noon to-day, and before I
think we can carry it through.
had time to submit it to you, a resolution which it is thought might be
Mr. MARTIN. If I am permitted to say anything in response to your
passed by this conference recommending the creation of such a bureau,
inquiry as to differing opinions on the question of the resolution, since
and I submit it to you and ask if it be wise to read it and ask to have it
Mr. Steel has made this suggestion, if you will permit, I would like to
passed.
say just a word to you of the strongest indorsement of the plan that Mr.
Steel has suggested. When I received an invitation to attend this
Believing that the administration of the various national parks and monuments could
be conducted with greater efficiency, that they would receive more and more
conference I was gratified, because I felt that I had accumulated in the
favorable recognition by Congress for their development and maintenance and
year and a half of my residence in the West a great deal of valuable
that there might be brought about a definite, systematic, and continuous policy for
information to which the department was properly entitled. Coming
their administration: Be it
here and hearing these matters so thoroughly discussed, gradually my
Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that there should be created in the
ideas of the importance of my convictions have vanished into thin air.
Department of the Interior a separate bureau for the conduct of all business pertaining
to the national parks and monuments of our country, to be known as the national
The ideas that I had felt have been formed better by others and expressed
park service.
more forcibly than I could express them. Mr. Steel suggests a line
The SECRETARY. You have heard the proposed resolution. I think
that I think admirable, and I would say in that connection that the
this can be included in the record. Has anyone present any objection
Northwest has joined in a hand-in-hand organization that relates to work
to the principle or sentiment expressed in the resolution? If so, we would
for the Mount Rainier National Park, and it seems to me that the spirit
be glad to have our attention called to the matter and the grounds or
and purpose of that organization can properly be extended, and I was
reasons for their difference of opinion.
mighty glad to find the American Civic Association' had taken up this
There seems to be no such difference of opinion. If there is none, we
work, and I have the pleasure to-day of joining, for the organizations
have the necessary information.
that I represent, that association, and pledging to its representative
Now, the next subject that we have before us is the question of the
here our strongest affiliation and effort that we can put behind his work.
private holdings in the national parks.
I don't know, Mr. Steel, just how this can be brought about, but the
Mr. STEEL. Mr. Secretary, before you proceed to that, can I say a
organizations of the Northwest, recognizing as we do the tremendous
word on the question just touched on?
use that lies in these national parks, will be glad to join in that plan
The SECRETARY. Proceed.
and give it all the force that time and money can put behind it.
Mr. STEEL Mr. Secretary, the question, I believe, on which we are
The SECRETARY. Now we will take up this question of the private
more united than on any other, is that of the creation of a national park
holdings in the parks. I think perhaps, Mr. Curtin, we might as well
bureau. That was discussed a year ago and I had the privilege of attend-
take your matter first-the immediate matter here in hand. Will you
ing the American Civic Association meeting in Washington last year
please tell us briefly and in a general way what the proposition is, and
and know the results there. I know the enormous influence it has.
we will take up anything on the map.
It is a very strong factor in working upon the Members of Congress,
Mr. CURTIN. The question I am interested in personally, as well as one
but an idea has occurred to me that it is possible we might also assist
or two of my immediate friends, is the elimination of patented land out
this work very materially. The idea occurred to me last evening, in its
of the park, along the north boundary.
crude form, that there might be an organization here for the purpose
The SECRETARY. It seems unfortunate that there is no way of extin-
of getting the Members of Congress from the national park States together.
guishing them by purchase.
Immediately after that, however, it occurred to me that this is totally
Mr. CURTIN. That is a legal impossibility. Not being able to do that
impracticable for the reason that it would not do for superintendents of
legally, then those who are in the park-holding lands in the park that
parks to have anything to do with such an organization, and it further
are bought, paid for, and patented-either ought to have those lands
occurred to me it would be totally unwise for any concessioner to be
95735°-13-1
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PARK CONFERENCE.
syth and his engineers check it, and then I intend under my official
obligation to decide as between any points of difference which may then
still exist what I think should be done. If it is necessary to enable me
to decide it intelligently to have some one else examine it who is not
representing either you or the Army engineers, this will be done. What
I am after is the facts, and I am going to be just as critical in examina-
tion of the gentlemen opposed to the automobile as I have been in
INDEX.
examining those in favor of them.
Mr. McSTAY. The Automobile Club of Southern California, when the
Secretary gets to the certain point where his hands are tied-it is going
Page.
Advertising, discussion of
Page.
50
Marshall, R. B., remarks by
to take money-let me tell you that we are a live organization-
Automobiles, discussion of
4,125-127
58-144
Martin, T. H., remarks by
not only our southern California people, but California is full of live
Arant, W. F., remarks by
23-26,97,142
27,
Matson, - remarks by
83-84
109, 122-124, 127-128, 137
Mentzer, C. I., remarks by
organizations who are in a position to assist the Secretary in securing
Boland, W. M., remarks by
73-77
36-37
Mesa Verde Park, conditions in
Bond, Frank, remarks by
30-31
these funds, which are absolutely necessary. You put the question to
41,104
Monuments. See National monuments.
Boundaries of Yosemite Park, discussion of
97-109
Mordecai, - remarks by
81-82
us or made the statement that it would probably be necessary for that
Brett, L. M., remarks by
11-13
Mount Rainier Park, conditions in
21-27
$40,000 road. I understand Capt. Whitman's position. Capt. Whit-
Byrne, J. J., remarks by
48-50
Muir, John, remarks by
43
Burley, D. E., remarks by
52
Myers, H. H., remarks by
man knows that that lower road is the natural, practical, scenic road.
134-135
Chapman, R. H., remarks by
18-21
National monuments, condition of
41-42
He knows that the expenditure of $40,000 will open up the highest
Charlton, A. D., remarks by
53-54
Nelson, Fernando, remarks by
90-91
Cheney, S. A., remarks by
92
Parker, O. K., remarks by
68
grades of the mountains of the Sequoia Park and he doesn't want to
Child, H. W., remarks by
52
Parsons, E. T., remarks by
58,141
temporize. He wants the proper road opened. I believe he has got the
Colby, W. E., remarks by
137-141
Patented lands, discussion of
97-109
Coulterville & Yosemite Turnpike Co., let-
Pillsbury, A. C., remarks by
115-117,
proposition, and I want to say that if the Department of the Interior
ter from
74
121,122,143
Crater Lake Park, automobiles in
will avail itself of what assistance we can give in securing the necessary
122-
Platt Park, conditions in
27-30
124,127-128,
Private lands, discussion of
97-109
legislation, we will be very glad to take it up good and strong.
Curtin, J. B., remarks by
68-73,97-98,100-109
Publicity, discussion of
50
The SECRETARY. Don't use that "if." The department will welcome
Dezendorf, F. C., remarks by
142-143
Railroad rates, discussion of
49
Estes Park, automobiles in
125
Raker J. E., remarks by
43-44
your assistance. I said in the beginning and all the way through that
Fee, C. S., remarks by
45-47.55
Rates, railroads, discussion of
49
Flint, Frank, remarks by
61-68
that is what we want. Get busy.
Schmidt, W. F., remarks by
Forsyth, W. W., remarks by
54
13-18,
Sequoia and General Grant Parks, automo-
With that we will adjourn.
01,99-100, 102, 102-104, 106-109, 120, 129-130
biles in
111-122
French, W. J., remarks by
27-30,130-131
Conditions in
Fry. Walter, remarks by
31-35
32-34, 113,117-119
Shoemaker, S. E., remarks by
Glacier Park, conditions in
30-31
18-21
Steel, W. G., remarks by
Grazing, regulation of
96,142
106-108
Sullys Hill Park, conditions in
35-36
General Grant Park. See Sequoia and Gen-
Valentine, W. L., remarks by
121
eral Grant Parks
31-35
Walker, P. J., remarks by
77-81,131-136
Hall, E. S., remarks by
21-23
Watrous, R. B., remarks by
93-96
Harvey, F. F., remarks by
55
Watson, - remarks by
66-68
Hawkins, C. A., remarks by
85-89,92
Weinstock, Harris, remarks by
Hot Springs, conditions at
77
38-41
Wind Cave Park, conditions in
Hotels in Yosemite Park, discussion of
36-37
17-18,47
Whitman, W. M., remarks by
Hughes, James, remarks by
31-33,
56-57
111-113,121,128
Lehmer, O. W., remarks by
51-52,89
Yellowstone Park, conditions in
Lovell, C. H., remarks by
11-13
80
Yosemite Park, boundaries of, discussion of
McLean, M. H., letters from
97-109
74-75
Conditions in
13-18
McStay, C. H., remarks by. 85, III, 114, 122,
143-144
Ziebach, C. M., remarks by
35-36
95735°-13-10
145
O
1911
524
Index to Vol. XXV.
[PARTS
LXII.-LXIV.]
Index to Vol. XXV.
525
Davenport, R. B., Death-blow to Spiritualism, reference to - 417 (foot-note)
Exile and Moore, Cross-Correspondence
Davey, S. J., Experiments in Slate-Writing, references to 106, 426, 440, 441
149, 155, 156, 186, 209, 210, 212, 223, 262, 264, 265, 269-271, 286
Davies, Emma. See The Wem Disturbances.
Davis, W. S., Report on Sittings with Eusapia Palladino, reference to
57, 59,
F.
Dawn. See "The One-Horse Dawn Experiment.
FAY, MRS. Eva, Alleged Mediumship of, reference to
418 (foot-note)
Derrygonnelly Disturbances, the
390
Fechner, Panpsychic View of the Universe, reference to
27
Devereux, Owen, Evidence as to the Enniscorthy Disturbances
-
385
Feilding, the Hon. Everard, and W. Marriott, Report on a Further
Diamond Island Incident
293
Series of Sittings with Eusapia Palla-
Diana, Cross-Correspondence, reference to
105
dino at Naples
57
Dickinson, G. Lowes, A Case of Emergence of a Latent Memory under
"
"
Baggally, W. W., Note on
69
Hypnosis, by
455
"
"
Control, the Question of
Didier, Alexis, Case of, reference to
76
57, 58, 60-63, 64-67, 69
Divining Rod. See Dowsing Experiments.
"
"
Detailed Account of the Table-Lifting
Documentary Evidence, Contemporary, Extant -
115, 116, 472, 473
Incident
63, 64, 65-67
Donaldson. Theatre of the Greeks, reference to
273, 274
"
"
Fraud, Question of
58, 59, 61
Door =Dorr) and Key and Lethe-Dorr Cross-Correspondence
"
"
Negative Conclusions,
58, 59
121-30, 191, 193-204, 219, 222, 226, 229, 234, 239, 250, 285
"
"
Petrovo-Solovovo, Count Perovsky,
"
Summary of
203
Statement and Note by
- 59, 64
Dorr, G. B., Sittings with Mrs. Piper: series of 1908; chief refer-
"
"
Countess Solovovo, Note by
65
ences to 80, 84, 95, 104-105,116, 120, 121, 150-156, 158-166, 176-217,
"
"
"
Commenton by Miss Alice Johnson
67
218-229, 231-237, 245, 251-53, 258, 260-62, 264, 269, 272, 273, 276, 279,
"
"
Previous Series of Sittings, reference to
299-301, 317
373, 420, 427, 445, 446
See also Door =Dorr) and Key and Lethe-Dorr, Cross-Corre-
Fire Test, Alleged Phenomena of
75, 422, 442
spondence, and the Willett Script.
Firth, J. B., The Minstrelsy of Isis, edited by, reference to
251
Doves. See Golden Bough (Doves and).
FitzGerald, E., Translation of Omar Khayyam, Script reference to
262
Dowsing, Barrett, Prof. W. F., on, reference to
365
"
Cup, Cross-Correspondence and
306, 313-319
Dreams, Mental Activity during, Poem composed in
268 (foot-note)
See also Door ( = Dorr) and Key, Cross-Correspondence.
-
Flavicomata Incident
-
See also Premonitions and Telepathy.
149, 160-163, 192
Dublin University Magazine, The Demons of Derrygonnelly, Prof. W. F.
Flournoy, Professor Th., Esprits et Médiums by, Review by the Rev.
390
M. A. Bayfield
468
Barrett on, in,
Dufferin, Lady, Script reference to song by, The Bay of Dublin 263 (foot-note)
Forbes (Talbot) Control
199, 201
"Forbes, Mrs.," Door and Key, Cross-Correspondence
191, 193, 199-204, 222, 250
E.
Fox-Jencken, Mrs., Alleged Mediumship of
415 (foot-note), 416, 417, 419
Echo and Narcissus, Cross-Correspondence
Fox-Kane, Mrs., Alleged Mediumship of
416,417,419
160, 222, 226, 228, 231, 232, 244, 245, 253, 271, 285, 286
Freer. See Goodrich-Freer, Miss A.
Eheu fugaces, Cross-Correspondence, reference to
236
Freud, Professor S., Methods of Psycho-Analysis, reference to
-
347-349
Eglinton, W., Alleged Mediumship of
439, 440
Ellis, Professor Robinson, The Tenth Declamation of (Pseudo) Quin-
G.
tilian, by, Review of, by F. C. S. Schiller
361
G., Dr., Hypnotie experiments of
455
Elongation and Contraction of Mediums alleged (D. D. Home)
-
75, 422
Ganymede Incident
149, 160, 192
Enniscorthy Disturbances, the
380
Gasparin, Comte de, Researches of, reference to
441
Euripides, Cross-Correspondence, reference to
52, 280, 281
Gautier, Théophile, The Hugo-Gautier-Montenaeken Cross-Corre-
Eurydice. See Orpheus and Eurydice.
spondence, Mrs. A. W. Verrall on
320-337
2L
SB
482
lational Parks
508.13
.A4
A44
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION'S MOVE-
1911
FOR A BUREAU OF NATIONAL PARKS
NH
President Taft on a. National
TER
Parks Bureau
ADDRESS ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1911
The Need for a Bureau of
National Parks
ADDRESS OF HON. WALTER L. FISHER
Secretary of the Interior
Are National Parks Worth
While?
ANNUAL ADDRESS BY MR. J. HORACE McFABLAND
President American Civic Association
Smithsonian Institution
C NOV 21 1919
223962
National
Miser
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PARKS SESSION OF
THE AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, HELD WEDNESDAY
EVENING, DECEMBER 13, 1911, IN THE NEW WILLARD
HOTEL, WASHINGTON. D.C., AS PART OF ITS
SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
SMIT
HSUNIAN
For a Bureau of
2003
National Parks
ARE NATIONAL PARKS
LIBRARIES
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT TAFT TO
WORTH WHILE?
CONGRESS, FEBRUARY 2, 1912
SD
ment of a Bureau of National Parks. Such
to the national parks of the United States, with
ton, D. C., December I3, 14 and 15, was devoted exclusively
vention of the American Civic Association. held at Washing-
The one evening session of the Seventh Annual Con-
"I earnestly recommend the establish-
legislation is essential to the proper manage-
ment of those wondrous manifestations of
reference Bureau to the necessity of creating by Congress a especial Federal
make of Parks, within the Department of the Interior, to
nature, so startling and so beautiful that
possible their more adequate administration.
everyone recognizes the obligations of the
Government to preserve them for the edifica-
and introduced the several distinguished speakers of the
Hon. Walter L. Fisher, Secretary of the Interior, presided,
evening, all of whom were staunch advocates of a more com-
tion and recreation of the people.
prehensive development of the great national parks. The
"The Yellowstone Park, the Yosemite,
the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, the Glacier
States, who had in his recent annual message to Congress
most distinguished speaker was the President of the United
creation of a Bureau of National Parks.
(and later in a special message) strongly recommended the
National Park and the Mount Rainier National
Park and others furnish appropriate in-
stances. In only one case have we made
PRESIDENT TAFT'S ADDRESS
anything like adequate preparation for the
use of a park by the public. That case is
Ladies and Gentlemen:
the Yellowstone National Park. Every con-
sideration of patriotism and the love of na-
is the first ambition of any one responsible for a
It costs a good deal of money to run a government, and
sition economy-at least it ought to be. Therefore, government the
ture and of beauty and of art requires us to
to add a bureau or a department sends gooseflesh propo- all
expend money enough to bring all these
in over the body of anyone who has any sort of responsibility
natural wonders within easy reach of our
respect to the finances of the government, for it
people. The first step in that direction is
Yet another nucleus for the increase of governmental expenses. means
be, a modern government, in order to be what it ought to
the establishment of a responsible bureau,
must spend money. Utility involves expense.
which shall take upon itself the burden of
supervising the parks and of making recom-
wonders, and in that lazy way we have in our Government
Now, we have in the United States a great many natural
a first taking up one thing and then another, we have set aside of
mendations as to the best method of improv-
what number of national parks, of forest reservations, covering
ing their accessibility and usefulness.'
"national monuments." We have said to ourselves, "Those
ought to be national parks, and what are called
cannot get away. We have surrounded them by a law which
makes them necessarily Government property forever, and
(3)
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
4
5
we will wait in our own good time to make them useful as
Secretary Fisher, in following the President, explained in
parks to the people of the country. Since the Interior De-
detail "The Need for a Bureau of National Parks," pointing
partment is the 'lumber room' of the Government, into
out the limitations of the existing provisions for their admin-
which we put everything that we don't know how to classify,
istration and emphasizing the larger and more dignified
and don't know what to do with, we will just put them under
administration that would be possible with a regularly
the Secretary of the Interior." That is the condition of the
constituted bureau.
national parks today.
Those of you who have first been in the Yellowstone Park
ADDRESS OF
and admired its beauties, and thought of the ability of the
army engineers to construct such roads as are there there,
HON. WALTER L. FISHER
and then have gone on to the Yosemite and have seen its
Secretary of the Interior
beauties, and found the roads not quite so good, and then have
gone to the Grand Canyon, and found a place where you could
During the past summer, or early fall-I have forgotten
n.p.
bury the Yellowstone Canyon and the Yosemite, and never
for the moment the exact date-there was held at the Yellow-
know that they were there, and found no roads at all, except
stone Park the first conference that had ever been held of
a railroad that was built at a great expense, and probably at
the people who were interested in a practical way in the
great loss, to the side of the Canyon, and only a trail called
administration of the national parks and in the various in-
the "Bright Angel Trail," down into the Canyon-down
terests that lead up to and are connected with them, such as
which they would not let me go because they were afraid the
the railroads and the concessionaires for the hotel privileges,
mules could not carry me-you will understand that some-
transportation privileges, photographic concessions, and
thing needs to be done in respect to those parks if we all are
matters of that sort within the parks. I have not seen the
to enjoy them.
tabulation of the roster of that conference, but my recollection
I am in favor of equality of opportunity, and I resent an
of it is that there were in attendance something in excess of
exclusion from the enjoyment of the wonders of the world
one hundred. This conference was the result of an effort
that it only needs a little money to remove!
which had gone on for some considerable time on the part of
Now the course that was taken in respect to the Yellow-
the chief clerk of the Department of the Interior, Mr. Ucker,
stone Park ought to be taken in respect to all of our parks.
and Mr. Carr, who is the next in command in that line of
If we are going to have national parks, we ought to make
administration, and the other people connected with the
them available to the people, and we ought to build the roads,
administration of the parks in the office of the Secretary.
expensive as they may be, in order that those parks may
They were joined in this, however, and had been in the pre-
become what they are intended to be when Congress creates
liminary arrangements and discussions, as I understand it,
them. And we cannot do that, we cannot carry them on
by the representatives of this organization, the American
effectively, unless we have a bureau which is itself distinctly
Civic Association, and others who were interested in the gen-
charged with the responsibility for their management and
eral subject of the improvement of our national parks. The
for their building up.
conference that was held was a very practical one. There
When the Secretary of the Interior, therefore, asked me
were a great number of developments considered by those
to come here, and told me the subject of the meeting tonight,
who had been asked to prepare suggestions upon particular
I was glad to come. It is going to add to the expense of the
phases of park management and control and other matters
Interior Department, and it is going to swell those estimates,
connected with the national parks, and they were followed
but it is essential that we should use what the Lord has given
by general discussions from the floor, and, of course, much
us in this way, and make it available for all the people. We
discussion and much talk quietly during the various recesses
have the money. It is not going to take enough to exhaust the
and in the evening.
Treasury. It is a proper expense, a necessary expense. Let
The American Civic Association, very naturally and
us have the bureau.
properly, was represented at that meeting by its long-time
6
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
7
president, who is so well known to you and to the country
at large for his work in this direction. The discussions that
may be three or four parks where these problems are so
went on, of course, related mainly to the question of what we
similar that the general specifications, the general principles
could do to improve our national parks to make them more
that should be applied, are identical, but they may differ
from another class of these parks.
accessible to the public, and more attractive to the public.
Take many of the other questions that are raised in the
I do not know whether I shall in any way intrude upon the
field which is to be covered by Mr. McFarland in his address,
parks. The whole question of the protection and disposition
of the trees, the concessions, how the hotel concessions shall
or by Senator Smoot, but I think it is proper I should call to
be managed, what requirements shall be made of the hotel
your attention, for fear that they may not speak of, or be
able to include in their remarks, some of the things that we
proprietors, what regulations shall be made with regard to
the casual ordinary visitor for his protection and so that he
often pass by, but which may be interesting and instructive
may receive the proper sort of service. These are very similar
to you and I think are to be considered.
in all these parks, or, at all events, it is quite apparent that
In the first place, the national parks, like Topsy, have
"just growed;" at least that is the impression which has been
an examination into any given question in one of the parks
would throw a great deal of light upon the same problem when
produced upon my mind from such investigation and dis-
it arises in other of the parks.
cussion as I have given to them. There is no consistent
I mention these things, simple as they may seem, to call
theory of legislation with regard to the national parks. While
your attention to the singular fact that, although there has
some of them follow the general lines of previous statutes,
been a great deal of talk of improved efficiency in our Govern-
there are wide variations in the statutory authority under
ment affairs, we have absolutely no machinery and no legal
which the parks are carried on today. The whole park work
authority to use any machinery for the coordination of these
of some states is wholly different from that of others, and
parks so we may state this problem as a whole. The only
the situation in detail is almost radically divergent. For
thing we can possibly do in the way of coordination in the
instance, I find some such question as this: Whether the
Interior Department is to see that questions that come to
revenues derived from a particular national park shall be
us for determination are referred to the same individuals in
available for the use of that park, its improvement and de-
the Department. We can see that the chief clerk, or his
velopment. We have no consistent action. Two of our
assistant, shall primarily pass upon these matters; we may
important parks are without statutory authority to that
say that the assistant secretary-as distinguished from the
effect, so that such revenue as is derived from the park
first assistant, there being two-shall be the person to whom
itself in any way has to go back into the general fund of
appeals shall go, the person to whom the chief clerk shall go
the Nation, to be used in such a way as that derived from any
for final determination of questions of importance; and we
other general source is used, and appropriated directly and
do. When we have done that we are through. We may use
specifically for that purpose. In other parks a very large per
our Division of Mails and Files. We may use our Division
cent of the money available is directly available without
of Publications and get a certain amount of effective work
appropriation. The same thing is true with regard to appro-
there; and we have Mr. Schmeckebier of that Division, who
priations which Congress gives to the parks. The importance
has accomplished some quite remarkable results, in my
and the political pressure which a particular park possesses
judgment, in the publicity line simply in getting out some
bring to it appropriations larger than those which may be
material to those who are eager to have it. We have found
given to another. The result is that we have no consistent
that the American public is greedy for real news about the
theory of park administration.
national parks; that it is genuinely interested in the national
There are many questions which any one could see at a
parks and ready to get anything that is not simply per-
glance are similar in all these parks. Take, for instance, the
functory news upon this subject. But when we have done
question of road-making. We have practically the same prob-
these things the Department of the Interior is through. That
lems in all of the parks with regard to road-making; at least
is all that it can do toward coordination. It would seem
in a very considerable number of them. For instance, there
that it requires practically no argument to convince that the
8
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
9
one thing we need at once for the efficiency of administration
established as promptly as possible a Bureau of National
and economy in expenditure is to get these parks together
Parks, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, so
under some division or bureau where they can receive the
that that Bureau might coordinate these parks and their
benefit of a central staff, where we can take the men who are
administration and vastly improve their condition and their
now studying road-making, or the management of roads, or
advantage to the public. In this conference, this was not
the sprinkling problem-which is, after all, to the traveling
merely the expression of foresters, of those interested in the
public probably the most important question connected with
parks from the theoretical point of view, but the conviction
the administration of the parks, because the hotels will do a
of men who attended there representing the large railroad
certain amount of looking after their own interests along the
systems which lead up to those parks and which are directly
lines of intelligent and enlightened selfishness. And the
interested in them. And it was a very significant thing to
revenue is there. But if the roads are to be sprinkled and
me, as I think it will be to you, to find that the Northern
taken care of, that must be done purely as a matter of ex-
Pacific Railroad Company, whose road leads to one of our
penditure, and unless it is looked after by the administrative
principal parks, was, and is, much in favor, through its rep-
force it will not be looked after at all.
resentatives, of having a National Park Bureau established,
Now it is perfectly apparent what we ought to have. We
embracing other parks as well, purely from a scenic point of
ought to have some sort of a central organization, something
view. In other words, each particular railroad, which led to
in the nature of a bureau, with a head and subordinates, so
a particular park, was not interested solely in working for
we can get proper expert talent and men who will devote
that park, but these men have reached that degree of en-
their time to these matters, not merely with regard to one
lightenment in their selfishness-in their self-interest-that
park but all the parks where the questions arise. It is per-
they have come to the conclusion that it was for their own
fectly apparent that if we were studying any one of these
best interest to have a National Park Bureau established.
questions with regard to any one of these parks, and were
I have talked this matter over with the President, and
confined to that and the appropriation for that park, we
I know that he is favorably interested init, and that he gladly
could not get as good a man to study the problems in the
accepted the suggestion that he come over here this evening
case of the others. And, in the second place, after we have
to meet this audience and express his own views in favor of
done it once, unless we can utilize his advice and experience
this movement in which the American Civic Association is
some place else we won't get it at all. Then, another thing.
taking so prominent and leading a part. But you do not
We get rid of a good many of these isolated and separate
expect me to fill the stage this evening to the exclusion of
and distinct appropriations. We would not have several
those who have been regularly selected as speakers, and
appropriations made distinctly for the Yellowstone Park
particularly not to take the place of, or infringe upon the
and made for the Yosemite Park and so on down the line,
time allowed to, Mr. McFarland, President of the American
and each appropriation confined to that particular park or
Civic Association. Recognizing, as I do, the practical and
some particular function or interest in that park, but we
vigorous manner in which he has gone into this, as he has
would begin to learn that many of these problems are alike,
into most of the other problems in which the American
that it is not enough to treat one park in one way and another
Civic Association is interested, I feel that we have gained an
in another way. We would have our Bureau bring forward
ally-I should not put it that way-that we are allies with
the things in our parks which now do not receive particular
him, and that we are willing to help him and this Association
attention, very largely through ignorance of the subject
in carrying on this work and see that we get from this coming
because the experience of the particular man who has that
Congress, if possible, a bill along the lines of that which
park in charge has not been so great as has been that of
Senator Smoot has advocated, which will permit of the estab-
some other man.
lishment of a bureau of the sort I have described.
The result of all these reflections was that the conference
I take pleasure in presenting Mr. McFarland. [Applause.]
to which I have referred was, so far as we were able to ascer-
tain, unanimous upon the proposition that there should be
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
II
raged in Greater New York around the idea of diverting a
ADDRESS OF
portion of Central Park from the service of the relatively
MR. J. HORACE McFARLAND
few in the way of purely pleasure development to the service
of the very many through the establishment of well-equipped
President American Civic Association
playgrounds.
Yet inquiry has developed that, in 1909, 74 American
"ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?"
cities owned 41,576 acres of parks, an average of about four-
tenths of an acre to the 100 of their population, and spent
There can be only a negative reply to the query of the
upon them that year for maintenance-that is, to make them
subject, unless it be conclusively shown that the national
of service to the people-an average of $91.42 per acre.
parks add definitely something of value to the life or the
Some of these cities are in what I call the honor class of
resources of the Nation. Mere pride of possession cannot
American communities, in that they own and maintain an
justify, in democratic America, the removal from develop-
acre or more of parks for each hundred of their people.
ment of upward of five millions of acres of the public
Such cities are Council Bluffs, Minneapolis, Harrisburg,
domain.
Colorado Springs and Springfield, Ill.
THE AMERICAN PARK IDEA
PLAYGROUNDS-THE FIRST AIDS TO
To establish true value, real worth-whileness, therefore,
CHILDHOOD
it is necessary to put the national parks on trial. Indeed, as
the national parks are but a larger development of municipal,
This American service park idea, into which we are in-
county and state parks, we may quite properly put on the
quiring critically as to its true value, its relative efficiency,
stand the whole American park idea.
has its intensive development in modern playgrounds-those
It is necessary to call the recent rapid development of a
first aids to endangered American childhood, of which few
certain kind of parks in the United States an American idea,
examples are found abroad, and not nearly enough in our
for it has no close parallel abroad. Examining, for instance,
own county. We have multiplied schools in which to culti-
the admirable plan upon which the capital of Belgium has
vate the brain. but have delayed long in providing adequate
been developing since 1572, we note in Brussels an almost
facilities to develop and keep in order the body which houses
entire absence of such parks as those of Boston. The present-
the brain, Our cemeteries, our juvenile courts and our
day plan of Paris shows that inside the old city there had
reform schools have increased much more rapidly than the
been provided almost as large an area of cemeteries in which
means by which the city can hold back the population of the
to store the dead as of parks in which to restore the energies
one and decrease the business of the others.
of the living. Great London has barely an acre of parks for
Chicago, for instance, has notably discovered the truth
each thousand of her people-only a tenth of the ideal
as to this relation between crime and disorder and the small
American provision of an acre for every hundred inhabitants.
park and social center. It is a departing relation; for in 1909
Even model Berlin is long on municipal forests and short on
it was discovered that within a half-mile radius of her twelve
well-distributed municipal parks. The recently published
splendidly equipped and maintained breathing-spots, veri-
Encyclopedia Britannica, written abroad, devotes just
table life-saving stations in the midst of the sea of industrial
3I lines to the discussion of the word "park," and I7 of these
strain and stress, juvenile delinquency had decreased 44 per
lines refer to its military significance!
cent, while in the same year it had increased II per cent in
So the American service park is a New World idea, and
the city as a whole.
it is even quite new in the New World; for, at the date of the
Here, then, is the first evidence for the defendant at the
Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, parks in the United
bar-the American park idea. The service park, the ordered
States were few in number, small in extent, and largely upon
and supervised playground, act immediately and favorably
European models. Within five years, indeed, a contest has
on the health and the orderliness of the community, and
12
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
13
consequently increase materially the average of individual
of the grimy mill town, the malodorous wharves along our
efficiency. In other words, they pay dividends in humanity.
navigable rivers? Is it even the lofty metropolitan sky-
scraper, or the great transcontinental steel highway?
AMERICAN PARK SYSTEMS
No; not one of these produces patriotism. Listen to
the most sordid materialist who is American in birth or resi-
The park idea we are examining has a development in
dence, as he boasts: it is always of the beauty of his town,
another way. The joining of separated parks by a highway
his state, his country! Our devotion to the flag begins in that
of green, usually called a parkway, is the step taken when a
love of country which its beauty has begotten; it may end,
community develops from the simple having of parks to the
at the last supreme test, in the beauty of soul that makes
proud possession of a park system. The one may merely
the patriot ready to die for his country in battle-if just
have happened; the other is always the result of a careful
battle there may ever again be.
plan. Minneapolis, Hartford, Kansas City, Boston, Buffalo
Now these parks that have been presented to you, and
and other prosperous and advanced American cities have
those I am yet to present, are, all of them, planned to show
such systems. Chicago has a great plan for a park system,
forth the beauty of the land. Never a service park have I
and owns some links in the chain which is to bind it together.
seen or heard of that failed to use to the utmost the trees
An adequate park system, looking toward the future of
and the plants, the grass and the flowers that stand for our
the city, and giving to every inhabitant easy access without
native land. Playgrounds are sometimes, perforce, on limited
expense for transportation to the relief of a spot of green, to
city spaces, but always there is at least the attempt to get
the recreation of a playground, is the most profitable invest-
the blue of the sky opened to the boys and girls. Into the
ment a city can make. It is profitable in promoting the wel-
brick and concrete heart of the city the park brings a little
fare of the people; it is profitable in providing along its borders
of the primeval outdoors, and here grows best the love of
increased taxable values. For instance, Kansas City's Paseo,
country which sees with adoration the waving stars and
cut through her length, has cleared fully its cost in increased
stripes.
values, and even old Central Park in New York has returned
So I hold that, in safeguarding and stimulating the essen-
to the city more than eight times the total amount spent in
tial virtue of patriotism, the beauty of the American park
purchase and development within sixty years.
stands forth as most of all worth while. I urge that, as an
I bring then before the court the second witness for the
antidote to the teachings of social disorder, as a counter-
character and worth-whileness of the American park idea.
irritant to the saloon, as a relentless foe to the slum, the
Well-considered park improvements always react favorably
American park idea in the playground is most completely
upon community values. Proper park investments are usually
justified.
placed at what amounts to compound increment.
THE NATION'S LARGER PLAYGROUNDS
WHAT FOSTERS TRUE PATRIOTISM?
It is but a step across the country and the state park to
But there is another witness for the defendant. It is
the national park. There come, increasingly in these work-
typified in the American flag, the emblem of our national
filled American days, times when the tired spirit seeks a
existence, the concrete, visible essence of that love of country
wider space for change and rest than any city, or indeed, any
which manifests itself in the essential virtue of patriotism.
state, can provide. The deep forests of the Sierras call, the
Consider what it is that inspires us as we sing the national
snow-capped peaks of the Rockies beckon. The roar of
hymn. Is it our wonder of mining, showing in the hideous
Niagara can drown the buzz of the ticker. Old Faithful's
ore dumps, the sordid mining village? Is it in the burned-
gleaming column of silver spray shuts off the balance sheet.
over waste that has followed the cutting of much of our forest
El Capitan makes puny the capital of any state, or of the
wealth? Is it the powerhouse in which is harnessed the beauty
nation. The camp under the oaks of the Hetch-Hetchy
of Niagara? Is it the smoking factory chimneys, the houses
Valley, near the ripple of the Tuolumne, restores vigor, up-
14
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
15
lifts the wearied spirit. What cathedral of man's building
tenance of individual patriotism and federal solidarity. The
shows forth the power of God unto health of soul as does the
true ideal of their maintenance does not run parallel to the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado? The glacier wonderland
making of the most timber, or the most pasturage, or the
of the Northwest gives us lessons on the building of the
most water-power.
continent, and the giant sequoias of the Pacific Slope teach
Our national parks are young. They are yet undeveloped
us of our own littleness.
to any considerable extent. But one of them, the Yellow-
These national parks, then, are our larger playgrounds.
stone, is comfortably accessible. Their value to the nation
Everything that the limited scope of the city park can do
is potential, more than instant, simply because they are not,
as quick aid to the citizen, they are ready to do more thor-
as a whole, yet known to our people. The nearest east of
oughly, on a greater scale.
them is fifteen hundred miles west of the country's center
To the vast open spaces, the sight of great mountains, the
of population in Indiana. Our people yet cross three thou-
opportunity to live a mile or more higher up, they add pos-
sand miles of salt water to see less impressive scenery, less
sibilities of real life in the open just touched upon as yet,
striking wonders, less inspiring majesty in canyon, waterfall
even though more than three thousand horses this year
and geyser, than they have not seen at home, because the
drew their owners on camping trips into the Yellowstone
way to Europe has been made broad, comfortable and
alone.
"fashionable
The national playgrounds./too, can, if they are held in-
violable, preserve for us, as no minor possessions can, our
THE NATIONAL PARKS BUT LITTLE USED
unique scenic wonders, our great natural mysteries, The
spouting geyser basins and marvelous hot springs of the
In 1910, barely two hundred thousand visitors to our
Yellowstone, the atmospheric splendors of the Grand Canyon
thirteen national parks and our twenty-eight national
of the Colorado, the silver threads of the Falls of the Yosem-
monuments were reported, but all the east-bound Atlantic
ite, the ancient homes of the cliff-dwellers on the Mesa
greyhounds were crowded to their capacity. We have not yet
Verde, the ice marvels of the Montana glaciers, the blue
begun to use the national parks; we have not commenced to
marvel of Crater Lake, the towering temples amid the big
attract to them a share of the golden travel tide which is said
trees of the Sierras-how long would they last unharmed and
to have taken from America to Europe $350,000,000 in 1910.
free to all the people if the hand of the Federal Government
Indeed, we are not ready for visitors in our national parks.
was withdrawn from them? Ask harassed, harnessed Niagara
We have, as yet, no national park system. The parks have
-depending right now for its scenic life upon the will of this
just happened; they are not the result of such an overlooking
Congress-after, indeed, Congress alone has saved it until
of the national domain as would, and ought to, result in
a
now from state neglect
coordinated system. There is no adequately organized
control of the national parks. With 41 national parks and
monuments, aggregating an area larger than two sovereign
THE DIFFERING FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS
states, and containing priceless glories of scenery and wonders
AND PARKS
of nature, we do not have as efficient a provision for admin-
The nation now has, it should be said, vast and admirably
istration as is possessed by many a city of but fifty thousand
handled national forests, potential with profit for all the
inhabitants for its hundred or so acres! In a lamentable num-
people. But there must be no confusion between the differ-
ber of cases, the administration consists solely in the posting
ing functions of the forests and the parks.
of a few warning notices !
The primary function of the national forests is to supply
lumber. The primary function of the national parks is to
LACK OF PARK MANAGEMENT
maintain in healthful efficiency the lives of the people who
must use that lumber. The forests are the nation's reserve
Nowhere in official Washington can an inquirer find an
wood-lots. The parks are the nation's reserve for the main-
office of the national parks, or a desk devoted solely to their
16
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
17
management. By passing around through three departments,
Niagara, never more in danger than at this moment,
and consulting clerks who have taken on the extra work of
must eventually, if it is to be a cataract and not a catastrophe,
doing what they can for the nation's playgrounds, it is pos-
come under the federal mantle as a national reservation as
sible to come at a little information.
President Taft has again recently urged. In no other way
This is no one's fault. Uncle Sam has simply not waked
can America be saved from the lasting disgrace that now
up about his precious parks. He has not thrown over them
threatens our most notable natural wonder. A nation that
the mantle of any complete legal protection-only the Yel-
can afford a Panama Canal cannot afford a dry Niagara!
lowstone has any adequate legal status, and the Yosemite is
There is something inspiring in the thought of a national
technically a forest reserve. Selfish and greedy assaults
park sacred to the memory of the great liberator, and adding
have been made upon the parks, and it is under a legal
to the beauty and dignity of the city in which he poured out
"joker" that San Francisco is now seeking to take to herself
his last full measure of devotion. A Lincoln Memorial
without having in ten years shown any adequate engineering
National Park, joining the lovely forests between Washington
reason for the assault, nearly half of the Yosemite. Three
and Baltimore and Annapolis to the Potomac, would be a
years ago several of us combined to scotch and kill four
thousand times more fitting tribute to the glory of our first
vicious legislative snakes under which any one might have
martyr than a mere commercial highway.
condemned at $2.50 per acre the Great Falls of the Yellow-
He whose genius made the nation, and whose wisdom
stone, or even entered upon a national cemetery for the
planned this Federal City to be a fitting capital for a hundred
production of electric power at the same price for the land
millions of free people when yet there were but a scant three
Now there is light and a determination to do as well for
millions clinging to the Atlantic seaboard ought also to be
the nation as any little city does for itself. The Great Father
thus memorialized. Why shall not Mount Vernon and its
of the nation, who honors us tonight by his presence, has
environs come into a great Washington Memorial National
been the unswerving friend of the nation's scenic possessions.
Park which shall link together anew, as it reaches the
He has consistently stood for the people's interest in Niagara;
Potomac, the fame of our two greatest presidents, and for-
he now stands for their interest in the nation's parks.
ever blot out a line once fought over in civil warfare?
His Secretary of the Interior, the presiding officer of the
Nothing is more certain than that eventually the nation
evening, has applied his great constructive ability to the
will come to own memorial areas, which shall serve a double
national park problem. It was at his invitation that the first
purpose in their tributes to the departed great and their
national park conference was held in September last. He
beneficence to the living. Delay means but enhanced and
has visited most of the parks, and, coming from a city where
compounded cost. With such a truly patriotic provision for
intensive park development has proceeded to be a greater
the future as well as the present as would be involved in the
beneficence than in any other in the world, he comprehends
creation of a great national park system, available to the
fully the American service park idea.
people of the East as well as to those of the West, our federal
scenic possessions would come to attract the travel of the
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS
world. Inadequate though they are now, inaccessible as
they are now, unadministered as they are now, our national
There is, then, hope for the parks. The Congress will not
parks have added very definitely to the resources of our people,
refuse, I am sure, to enact legislation creating a Bureau of
and are well worth while. When they shall have been given
National Parks, to the custody of which all the nation's
the attention that is in the minds of our President and our
pearls of great price shall be entrusted. Under such a
Secretary of the Interior, they will increase in efficiency, in
bureau, aided by a commission of national prominence and
beauty, in extent, and in benefits open to all the people, so
scope, I predict that there will be undertaken not only such
that they will even more be entirely worth while.
ordering of the parks as will vastly increase their use and their
usefulness, but such a survey of the land as will result in the
Secretary Fisher: "I am sure that there is no one from
establishment of many new national parks, before it is too late.
whom this audience and the country would rather hear on
18
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
ARE NATIONAL PARKS WORTH WHILE?
19
this subject than the chairman of the Public Lands Committee
of the Senate, who has shown in many ways his interest in
MR. HERBERT W. GLEASON. OF BOSTON
park questions, and I take great pleasure in introducing to
The session concluded with the presentation of "Some
you Senator Smoot, of Utah, who will speak on the subject
Picturesque Features of Our National Parks," by Mr. Herbert
of 'What the National Parks May Mean to the West."
W. Gleason, of Boston, illustrated with more than one hun-
dred exquisitely colored stereopticon views, the result of Mr.
HON. REED SMOOT, SENATOR FROM UTAH
Gleason's own observation and visits in the national parks,
over a period of many years. These pictures presented
The difficulties which are now experienced in administering
features unsuspected by the average citizen of the United
the affairs of the national parks and in developing them
States, and, in particular, drew emphasis to the exquisite
after any given plan were emphasized by Senator Smoot.
floral life of the national parks. President Taft remained
"Separate appropriations are now made for each park, making
during nearly the whole of Mr. Gleason's address, which was
it impossible for the Secretary of the Interior to concentrate
listened to with the utmost gratification.
the efforts of his department in their behalf," the Senator
said, and in this connection he referred to the subject matter
of a bill, which he had introduced in Congress which, he
said, would correct this evil and would also result in a
saving.
"If we do thus centralize the control of the parks," the
Senator continued, "I am sure it will make the greatest
playgrounds of the nation of vastly more benefit to all of the
people. Instead of the expenditure of many millions of dollars
traveling to Europe, we will then see the money being spent
on American railroads, in American hotels, for American
guides and with American merchants and farmers. The
PUBLISHED BY THE
time will come when it will be both popular and fashionable
AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION
for Americans to have seen the marvels of the National
Parks."
UNION TRUST BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Senator spoke of the increasing popularity of these
great Government reservations of the West and said that
while the number of visitors last year was only 186,000, the
number of visitors this year was 224,000. But, he declared,
the value of the parks cannot be estimated in mere sordid
dollars and cents; for if the city parks can be said to be the
lungs of the city, the national parks can be said to be the
lungs of the nation.
MR. ENOS A. MILLS, ESTES PARK, COLORADO
Mr. Enos A. Mills, of Estes Park, Colorado, well known
as a lecturer and writer on nature subjects, was listened to
with rapt attention as he told a delightful story of "Wild
Life in a National Park."
1912
January 26, 1912.
H/B1 C
George B. Dorr sq.
,
18 Commonwealth Ave.,
Boston.
Dear George:
The Estate of George Homans who was the brother of Charles D.
Homans of Schooner Head, belongs one-third to the widow of his brother
John, one-third to the children of his brother John who inherit
through their Aunt Sarah, and one-third to the Priestley grand-
children of Charles D. Homans. It includes in a general way 200
acres of land suitable for the Trustees of the Public Reservations
and 2 acres of land which make a hole in the Hadley lot on School-
House Hill St. between Otter Creek Road and the old site of the
Otter Creek post office.
To perfect title would require probate in Maine on a number
of the persons in the line of title from George Homans. I want to
buy the land on School House Hill so that it will not interfere with
my larger lot which surrounds it from road to road.
But I do not
particularly want to bear all the expense of perfecting the title
on the 202 acres in order to get title to the 2 acres which are of
little value.
It occurs to me that if I could have a very moderate cash
offer from the Trustees of Public Reservations to take care of the
minors and perhaps of one or two of the children of John Homans who
would not otherwise convey, I could combine that with my own desire
to purchase and perfect title to the whole.
I would like to see you about this at an early date as if
the title is to be perfected, there are a lot of minor jobs to be
done.
Yours very truly,
L
Herry Lynam]
June, 1938
Acquisition of Sargent and
Pemetic Mountains.
The trubles
The two extensive mountain tracts -- Jordan
and Sargent Mountains on the west and Pemetic Mountain
on the east of Jordan Pond -- purchased by the summer
1912
resident group at Seal Harbor and given to the Trustees
of Public Reservations were not only of great help to
the Trustees in widening their holdings but vitally
important to Seal Harbor for the protection of its
water supply and for the control and freedom of use
of the trails over these two splendid mountain masses,
rising directly from the lake upon either side. The
one upon the western side, of little timber value, had
been purchased for a song in early days by Mr. Charles
T. How, an enthusiastic summer visitor at Bar Harbor,
at a time before there was any hotel or summer resi-
dential development on the Island's southern shore,
and held by him idle until he had died some years
before.
The land on the eastern side of Pemetic Mountain
had been acquired at the commencement of the boom-time
2.
period at Bar Harbor by a group of outside speculators,
who planned a summer resident colony in the Bubble Pond
valley separating Pemetic Mountain from the southern
ridge of Cadillac, and who built a road into it --
the Boyd Road -- then dropped the project when the
speculative enthusiasm of the boom-time waned, abandoning
the land. This tract, extending across the Boyd Road
Valley and over the bare, steep western slope of Cadillac
Mountain, I purchased, giving it to the Trustees, lay
partly in the town of Eden, now Bar Harbor, and partly
in that of Mount Desert, in which Seal Harbor lay.
We divided it accordingly, the Seal Harbor summer
resident group acquiring what lay on their side of the
Town line, and I what lay upon the other, but both
tracts went to increase the holdings of the Trustees
of Public Reservations.
The Bubbles, sharp little conical hills at the
northern end of Jordan Pond, not lying in either town,
I acquired from a member of the old Hadlock family of
Cranberry Isles, whose first ancestor in the region
established a cooperage business there and employed
upon it the earliest representative of the Clement
3.
family, who, as he worked at his trade, a descendant,
Dr. Clement of Seal Harbor, owner of its one remaining
hotel, told me, used to look across at the beautiful
little Seal Harbor Bay with its bordering woods and
thought how pleasant a place it would be to live in.
And presently, taking a day off, sailed across and
found all as his mind had pictured it, establishing
his home upon it, purchasing two hundred acres -- of
whom I am not clear.
The land on the western side
of Jordan Pond had splendid trees upon it, pines and
others, as the great, slowly rotting stumps cut, often,
when the snow was high, still show.
The lake, spring fed, deep and cool, with little
water flowing in, is naturally a splendid trout pond,
needing protection from over-fishing only to remain SO.
The whole shore, from here to Southwest Harbor, with
good sheltered harborage throughout and Somes Sound
fiord opening through the mountains at its midst, is
one of the most attractive sections on the coast which,
excellently located for pleasure boating which has taken
strong root there lately and bids fair to become a
notable and permanent yachting center.
[CRORGE B.DORR]
Mount Desert Islander
Maine and New England's Best Weekly
VOLUME 12 NUMBER 15
WWW.FENCEVIEWER.COM
2012 MOUNT DESERT ISLANDER
32 PAGES
2 SECTIONS
$1.00
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012
Your Locally Owned Community Newspaper
Volunteers
AT
Walsh hotel work
1
TITANIC
100
needs new OKs
Pages 7-9
By Robert Lovin
the area for 63-space parking lot
riovin@ mdislander.com
those spaces would be combined
with nine new parking spaces be
BAR HARBOR - Hotelier Tom
hind the hotel and 15 parking credits
Walsh must return to at least four
from reconfigured green space areas
Classified
town boards for approval of new
for total of 87 spaces. At the same
parking plans and other changes at
time, the number of rooms in the ho
his West Street Hotel before the build
tel would be reduced from more than
ing is approved for use, officials say.
100 to 85, in order to comply with the
100
Mr. Walsh's property manager,
parking ordinance, which calls for
Eben Salvatore, was issued a letter
one space for each room
from code enforcement officer An-
Mr. Salvatore told the Islander
Ads!
gela Chamberlain on March 28 de
earlier this year that the parking lot
tailing the need to amend the hotel's
along Rodick Street would be tem
original plans. An application from
porary measure while Mr. Walsh and
Mr. Walsh's North South Construc-
the town tried to work out an agree
tion company to the planning board
ment for a public/private parking ga
2
subsequently was submitted on April
rage on the site of the town's Backyard
4. Applications to other boards have
parking lot behind the hotel The area
not been addressed.
along Redick Street would be much
Among key changes at the West
better suited for commercial develop-
Pages 6-10
Street Hotel site is the elimination
ment than parking garage, he said.
of plans to build a two-store parking
Town councilors have discussed
garage along Rodick Street for hotel
the public/private garage concept in
guests, Mr. Walsh now intends to pave
see WALSH page 16
Titanic disaster echoes on MDI
Schools chief banks
By Earl Brechlin
Arthur R. Rverson. senior mem-
of recent feature films and books
ebrechlin@mdisiandsr.com
ber of the Mount Desert Reading
about the disaster. most know the
Room, and Clarence Moore, a
core story of how the ship, can
E
xactly 100 years ago Sun
former judge 2% the Bar Harbor
sidered unsinkable, hit an iceberg
on second job offer
day. the infamous RMS
Horse Show.
on its maiden vovage to New York
Titonic plunged to the bot
The man who owned the
and sank in just few hours The
By Dick Broom
people on Cape Ann. There are two
10m of the Atlantic, taking with
White Star Line, which built and
story was the biggest of its day and
dbroom@mdislander.com
schools in the Rockport school dis.
1,517 souls, changing the course
operated the Titanic, was Bar Har
breathless, flowery feature stories
trict, an elementary school and a mid-
of history on Mount Desert Is
bon summer resident John Pier-
about what happened, tales of
BAR HARBOR - Rob Liebow,
dle/high school.
land in ways both obvious and
pont Morgan.
those who perished and first-
superintendent of the Mount Des
As the MDIRSS superintendent,
sublime.
The drama was real. the emo-
hand accounts from those who
ert Island Regional School System
Mr. Liebow oversees the administra.
Among the great liners' pas
tion palpable. as newspaper re
survived. ran for weeks in nearly
(MDIRSS), withdrew as 3 finalist for
tion of nine schools in eight TOWTIS. He
sengers were some of Mount
porters in the days before com-
every newspaper in the county,
the superintendent's job in Ashland,
has been the superintendent here since
Desert Island's most well-known
mercial radio and TV unearthed
including the Bar Harbor Record.
Mass., on Tuesday afternoon, just
2004.
summer residents and others
and shared the last words and
An unbylined story in the May
hours before the Ashland school com-
Before withdrawing from considers
with family ties here includ
deeds of people for whom money
I
edition recounted the arrival of
mittee met to select a new superinten-
ation in Ashland, he was one of four
Play
ing John lacob Astor, Isidor and
and power provided no insulation
survivors in New York.
dent.
finalists for the superintendent's posi-
kla Straus. lack Thayer whose
from death in the icy grip of the
"Never in maritime history
However, he remained as one of
tion there.
daughter still resides in Hulls
North Atlantic.
there been sadder scene than
Ball!
IWD finalists for the superistendent's
Mr. Liebow has said be decided to
Cove and George Dunton
Thanks to publicity about the
witnessed Thursday night when
job in Rockport. Mass. The school
explore the possibility of accepting the
Widener Others included
anniversary, and the popularity
see TITANIC page 6
board there was scheduled to make its
posts in Massachusetts to be closer to
choice Wednesday night.
family who live in that area.
Rockport is a town of about 7,000
education.fenceviewer.com
1
Bill to toughen tree
Pages 10-11
growth tax system fails
Legislature calls for study of compliance
Analysis by Dick Broom
required that anyone who en
the Legislature
dbroom @ mdislander com
rolled property in the free growth
Gov. Paul LePage has not in-
program in the future would
dicated whether be intends le
Editor's note: This is the sec
have to be "actually engaged in
sign the bill into law.
Home
and of is two-purt report on the
harvesting timber and not using
Maine's tree growth law pro
state's Tree Growth Tax Program
the land as property tax shelter
vides large tax breaks for people
Sweet
and land on Mount Desert Island
without harvesting.
who set aside acreage for "has
that is enrolled in the program.
The amended version of the
vesting of forest products that
the Maine Legislature failed
bill. which was enacted by both
have commercial value." But that
Home
last week to pass what
the House and Senate on April
doesn't mean timber harvesting
would have been the most
directs the Maine Forest Service
is required A bulletin on the law
significant reform in the 40-year
10 conduct "periodic random
issued by the Maine Bureau of
ISLANDER PHOTO BY bick BROOM
history of Maine's Tree Growth
sampling" of land enrolled in the
Revenue Services in 2010 listed
SECTION
Tax Law But did approve two-
tree growth program to assess the
many types of forest products
DREAMWEAVERS
Third grade students Leuo Nelson, left. and Alex Burnett
2
year study of the level of compli-
rate of compliance. The Forest
that could be harvested in com
make dreamcatchers during Arts Week at Mount Desert Elementary School on Tuesday.
ance with the law statewide
Service would have until March
pliance with the law including
The original bill would have
1. 2014 to report its findings to
see TREES page 13
Pages 13-16
Copper, antique thefts
Almanac
draw grand jury charges
By Mark Good
attorney Mary Kellett. The metal
Mr. Dicesare is accused of
APRIL MOONS
mgood@mdisiandar.com
was never recovered
starting the Feb. 6 fire at 24-
Mr. Chakirelis was arrested
foot camper on the Millvale
ELLSWORTH - A Trenton
in October after allegedly steal-
Road that was being used as
man accused of thefts at two
ing items from the Old Cream
residence causing more than
10:05 a.m.
Ellsworth businesses is among
ceryantiques store. He reportedly
$8,000 in damage. According to
4:49 a.m.
10:47 a.m
the 17 people indicted last week
aroused suspicion while trying
Ms. Kellett. witnesses claim Mr.
5:34 p.m
11:13 p.m
by a Hancock County grand
to pry open display case in the
Dicesare was intoxicated and
11:52 A
jury.
store. He is accused of taking
decided to burn the camper be
Micah Chakirelis, 27, was
three Huramel figurines with
cause the person living there had
12:21 am
indicted April 5 on two counts
total value of $3,000, silver bar
owed him $50 for two years.
7:43pm
12:56 p.m
of theft by unauthorized taking
reties valued at $90 and it $999
Mr. Dicesare has been incar-
1:25 a.m.
or transfer and single counts of
diamond ring.
cerated at the Hancock County
1:54p.m
April 17
2:23 a.m.
theft be deception and criminal
The theft charges are class
lail since his arrest in February
9:30p.m
2:46p.m
mischief.
crimes, panishable by up to five
unable to raise the $5,000 cash
3:14am
ISLANDER PHOTO BY POBERT LEVIN
April 18
9:54 a.m
Thetheft by deception charge
years in prison.
bail set by the court. Ms Kellett
10:14 p.m.
3:33 p.m
WALK THIS WAY
Crews from Gardner Construction begin work on a complete
stems from an incident in Au-
The grand jury also indicted
said.
WWW.FENCEVIEWER.COM
gust. in which Mr. Chakirehs al
an
Orrington man who is ac
The state fire marshal's office
rebuild of the walking path leading to the Conners Emerson School in Bar Harbor
legedly charged $2,000 worth of
cused of setting fire to camper
investigated the fire. Arson is
on Tuesday The project includes a new drop-off zone along Edem Street, and is being
copper flashing and wire at EBS
trailer in Bucksport.
class punishable by up
paid for with a $174,000 grant from the Maine Department of Transportation.
Building Supplies to his former
Andrew Dicesare, 24, was in-
prison.
Construction is expected to last into late May.
employer. said assistant district
dicted on two counts of
16
91759
7
Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont. renton, Cranberry Frenchboro and
PAGE 6
SECTION 1
Mount Desert Islander
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012
TITANIC/1 Infamous 1912 maritime disaster took cream of MDI summer society
the Cunard steamer Carpathin
Eventually he managed to get
came to her dock at her pier in
"I will not be
to an overturned lifeboat where
New York bearing the survivors
he spent the rest of the night
of the passengers and crew of
the lost Titanic, the story began.
separated from
with other shocked survivors.
Newspaper accounts from
TITANIC
"Of these there were but pitiful
my husband. As
the time outline what lack said
662 left. or less than one third of
he witnessed as the ship went
those aboard the world's great
we have lived,
down. The shouts from those
World's
est `unsinkable' floating palace
thrown into the ky water
Many of the survivors were ill.
SO will we die,
swelled into one long continu-
WHITE STAR
Largest Lince
some of them dangerouslv so.
ous wailing chant. he said.
others WCTC in state of nerveus
together."
sounded like locasts
collapse from the shock. and
on a midsummer night in the
still others were reported on the
Ida Straus
woods," he continued "This
verge of insanity.
terrible cry lasted for 20 or 30
"Among them were newly
minutes, gradually dying away,
made widows, while many, per-
as one after another could no
haps is majority, had been torn
scribed Mrs. Astor when she
longer withstand the cold and
from loved ones in the last black
turned to land.
exposure."
hour before the gigantic liner
"Pule, trembling and appar
Other survivors said the
had gone down'
ently ill, Mrs. John Jacob Astur
deathly silence that quickly
A gallant last stand
was one of the first survivors of
settled over the sea shortly of
Perhaps one of the most well
the wreck to pass down the Car-
terwards was the worst sound
known Bar Harbor summer
pathia's gangplank, She stepped
of all.
residents.org the Titanic was John
from the Carpathia wearing
Young lack's father, John
Jacob Astor IV also known as
long black astrakhan coat.
Borland Thayer. Jr., perished
"Colonel Astor for his service
in
small toque covered by a blue
in the sinking. lack's mother,
the Spanish American War.
chitfon veil, and at her throat re-
Marion, survived and was re
The 47-year old Mr. Aston
posed large diamond and pearl
united with her son aboard the
described as the liner's wealthiest
sunburst.
Carpathia,
SOUTHAMPTON
passenger. was returning from
Mrs. Astor was completely
In interviews a few years
NEW
YORK
an extended honeymoon trip to
broken down by the harrow
ago, Mrs. Frazier said her
VIA CHERBOUNG
QUEENSTOWN
Europe and Egypt with his new
ing experience she had passed
grandmother never recovered
bride, old Madeline who
through and the loss of her hus
Isidor and Ida Straus
from the loss of her husband.
was pregnant with their son. Ac
band, and when asked to say
He was last seen. according
cording to newspaper accounts
something cried in heartbroken
to family stories, standing be
at the time the divorced Colo
tones; *I can't can't are un-
Mrs. Astor was too stunned at
ship slowly slipped into the sea
neath the ship's second funnel
ished possession of George's
lege of the Atlantic trustee. and
nel Astor met the attractive lass
speakably ill!"
first to recall any of the incidents
"They saw John Jacob Astor and
with George D. Widener of Phil
grandson, the late Fitz Eugene
his wife Beth, an art patron and
when he hosted her family at his
Mrs. Astor's mental suffer.
of the sinking ship Other pas-
Major [Archibald] Butt standing
adelphia, another man with ties
Dixon, who summered in Win
master gandener, lived for many
Bar Harbor estate, Islecote. the
ing was terrible, though physi
sengers said that Mrs. Astor dis
together on the Titanic's deck
to Northeast Harbor
ter Harbor. Upon his death in
years in Somesville
previous summer.
cally she was not much harmed
played remarkable courage dur
the Bar Harbor Record reported.
A promise to return
2006, it was passed OR to his
What if?
The paper recounted
Mr.
Physicians gave orders that net
ing the days on the Carpathia,
They must have gone to death
A survivor of the Titunic
daughter. Ellen.
Local legend in Bar Harbor
Astor's last moments as heroic.
ther she nor her maid should
walking about the decks and try
together."
disaster recalled that Eleanor
Together until the end
holds that the High Scas man-
"John Jacob Astor, handing his
be permitted to talk about the
ing 10 cheer up other survivors
Along with Mrs. Astor. her
Elkins Widener did not want
One of the most enduring
sion on Schooner Head Road
wife into the beat despite her
Titanic and this rule was strictly
whose surrow seemed beyond
nurse and maid survived. The
leave behind her son, Harry
stories about the strength of the
was built by man for his fiancee
protestations. allaying her fears
observed. "Nevertheless, before
relief.
family's valet and pet dog did
Elkins Widener, and husband,
human spirit to emerge from the
who reportedly was one of the
by asking politely if he could
the order had been given, she
According le one account,
not. Mr. Astor's body was recov
George Widener, as she was led
Titanic disaster involved the un-
women from first class
be allowed to accompany het
told Vincent Astor (her hus-
"Colonel Astor was walking
ered with more than $2,500 in
Lifeboat
yielding devotion of an elderly
on the Titanic. While that wom
for her protection in what she
from previous mar-
the Jeck at the time the Titanic
cash still in his pockets.
"Mrs. Widener kissed her
couple who refused to part, even
an, Edith Evans, was friend of
deemed fraul and tlimsy shelter
some of her memories
strick the iceberg. He was ap
family torn asunder
husband goodhye." said Rob
when faced with certain death.
the man, Rudolph Brunnow
from the sea. as compared to the
thought she recalled seeing
proached by frantic waiter and
For Lois Frazier of Hulls
ert Daniels "He told her not to
Isidor Straus. one of the
officials at the Bar Harbor His
magnificent palace she was leav
Astor by her side. just
to put on his life belt. The
Cove, the story of the Titanic is
worry, as it was possible that all
founders of Macy's Department
torical Society said there is no
ing against her will. and calmly
she got into one of the
had several in his hands.
not just an abstract drama
it
would be saved. and the danger
Store in New York City. and
evidence they planned to marry.
turning to help other women
She imagined he was safe
Colonel Astor waved lum away.
changed her family forever.
did not seem great." Both father
his wife Ida were returning to
While the loss of those with
and children to safety when re-
it was only when she
"Pooh" he said. This is noth
Mrs. Frazier's father. then
and son died when the Titunic
Ameria from Germany
ties to MDI produced ripples
fused, this permission which he
the Carpathia that she
ing There is no need of life belts."
17-year-old Jack Thaver III, was
down.
As the ship's crew was filling
that are obvious with the demise
probably never expected. is one
realized he was not among the
Colonel Astor reportedly was
one of the few survivors. One of
The May 1, 1912, edition of
up the fewlifeboatsavailable,Mr
of any prominent resident, the
splendid example:
rescued.
last seen on the starboard bridge
young Jack's grandfathers was
the Harbor Record carried an
Straus Was reportedly told that
echoes of the Titunic's sinking
Reporters in New York de
most of the survivors,
wing smoking a cigarette as the
Alexander Cassatt, owner of
account of the last hours of Ma
he could accompany his wife.
can be seen as well in who sur
the Pennsylvania Railroad and
Butt and Mr. Widener, telling
He refused, saying that younger
vived
brother to famous painter Mary
of "George D. Widener, going
men on the ship should go first.
Jane Gray of Great Cran-
Cassart.
after women of his acquaintance
He then helped the couple's maid
betry Island wonders "what il?'
Historic Record
Jack
became
separated
and guiding them through the
Ellen Bird. into a lifeboat. Mrs.
in connection with her grand
from his parents and, unable
crowd to the boat with coolness
Straus reportedly handed the
mother who canceled her reser
to get into a lifeboat, eventually
which knew no fear Every
fur coal saying. "I won't
vations on the Titanic at the last
jumped into the swirling North
heart must swell as imagination
need this anymore."
minute
More 'wireless' operators urged
Atlantic and began swimming
conjures the figure of Major Ar-
Mrs. Straus was offered seats
"Mv grandmother had reser-
away from the hull.
dishald Butt, in whom the Arrry
in other lifeboats but refused to
vations on the Titanic to come to
The ship seemed to be sur-
of the United States may take a
without her husband and de-
America from Scotland with her
rounded with glare. and stood
glowing pride as attaches to
cided to stay on the ship "I will
six children ages 2 to 13 years
By Deborah Dyer
tached to anyone except those
out of the night as though she
the most illustrious of its heroes.
not be separated from my hus.
old," she said in response to a
Bar Harbor Historical Society
"Wireless is a
authorities who failed to insure
was on fire The mass of pou-
who lost their lives fighting for
band. As we have lived, so will
request for Titanic stories on the
that every wireless instrument
ple on board were surging back,
their country. His cheery Good
we die, together," she is quoted
Islander's Facebook page. "Her
From the pages of the Bar
most important
on the seas could be able at
always back toward the floating
bve, God bless you, to each de-
saying
husband. my grandfather, was
Harbor Record from May 1,
all times to receive and deliver
stern." he later recalled "The
parting boat with its quota of
The couple, married 41 years.
already here. At the last minute.
1912
ne of the lessons of the
factor and the
messages.
rumble and roar continued with
women and children will not
was last seen. sitting side by side
she changed her mind because
The Marcon Wireless Tele-
even louder distinct wrenching
Titanic to which special
most valuable
be forgotten when the words of
in deck chairs, holding hands,
couple of the children had
graph Company has trained
and learings of boilers and en
many of the military heroes now
and then a large wave washed
chicken pox and she was afraid
attention is called by
and turned out something like
gines from their beds Suddenly
recorded in history have been
them into the sea. In the 1997
that she would get turned away.
the London papers is that more
asset of those who
1.000 operators of these about
the whole superstructure of the
erased from memory."
film "Titanic" the couple is de
She came instead month later
Marconi (radio) operators are
500 are employed on the ships
ship appeared to split, well for-
News accounts at the time re-
go down to the
picted holding hands together
on the S.S. Caledonia. Three
wanted the Standard says:
of the British mercantile ma
ward to midship. and bow or
ported that the senior Widener
bed in their stateroom at the
more children were then born in
"The fact that the first call
rine. British ships filled with
for help sent out by the Titanic
sea in ships."
buckle upwards.
removed an emerald ring from
end.
America. one of which was my
wireless installations number
One of the ship's funnels fell.
his linger, placed it in his wife's
More than 6,000 people at
mother," she explained.
was missed by the steamer Pa
about 450. This means that
narrowly missing him. ``The
hand and told her he would re-
tended the couple's memorial
is definitely kind of weird
risian, because the operator
about 50 ships carry two op
suction of it drew me down and
trieve it when they met again in
service.
because if she had come on the
off duty, throw glaring light
erators and can maintain an
down struggling and swimming
York.
The Straus' grandson, the late
Titanic, might not even be
upon still another lamentable
efficient service. The remain-
take their chance. The
practically spent, be said.
The ring later became cher
Donald Straus, a former Col.
here today."
and reprehensible deficiency
or any other authority that is
in those regulations which are
framed with view to insuring
making them efficient
supposed to be framed and
that the fullest possible benefit
would be exactly the salary and
enforced for the purpose of
shall be derived from this. the
board of one additional opera-
guarding the safety of ships and
most valuable of life saving ap:
tor. install on vessel wire-
their human freights
pliances.
less instrument which may at
"After what has happened
The Parisian was only 100
any moment prove the means
since the inception of the Mar
miles away from the scene of
of saving hundreds of lives and
coni system of wireless telegra-
the disaster and did not hear
take no notice of it in hours
phy and its application to
the Titunic's call for help be
is little less ridiculous than put
going vessels no one will dis-
her operator was not
ting lookout in the crows nest
pute that the wireless is most
duty. No blame is to be at-
by day and sending him IC bed
important factor and the most
tached to the operator. He had
by night without replacing him.
valuable asset of those who go
hard day of constant work
"Vessels should be outfitled
down to the sea in ships. The
and his captain had ordered
with the necessary apparatus
wireless has already saved hun
to bed.
and provide as many operators
dreds of human lives and
the same circumstances
requested. So far the demand
dealt with in a proper, common
20 ships might have been 20
has not been equal to the sup-
sense manner. will save hun
miles from the Titanic and not
plv. Most of the large vessels
dreds more.
known that turn of the
like the Luisitunia, Mauretania.
"Yet there is not single reg
helm would have saved 1,000
Franconia, Cedric and Olympia
ulation of the Board of Trade
no blame could
carry two operators
John Jacob Astor
George Widener
John B. Thayer
Jack Thayer
GOTT'S DISPOSAL
The MDI Working Waterfront and Maine Sea Coast
Small Animal Clinic
Mission are raising money to benefit the MDI Working
9 Toothaker Lane, Ellsworth, Maine 04605
WE ALSO CAN PICK UP YOUR RECYCLABLES!
Waterfront Financial Assistance Fund. If you would like
207-667-2341
Call for more info
your business name or boat name listed on our T-shirts,
AK
Tootbaker
VMD
A.E. Barkdoll V.M.D.
B.D.
Leeth
D.V.M.
M.S
please submit a $25 donation, All shirts will be for sale on
244-7461
June 3. 2012 at the Bar Harbor Town Pler.
2012 Rabies Clinic Schedule
DEADLINE IS MAY 5. 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Call Beth or Tim for
Name to be printed
Southwest Harbor Veterinary Clinic-
Dumpster/Roll-Offs or Pick-up
Mailing address
Saturday, April 2012
Town
State
Zip
Small Animal Clinic, Ellsworth 3 to 4 p.m.
Columbia Falls Veterinary Clinic a.m. to 12 p.m.
Rabies Price for each vaccine $10.00
Blown-in Insulation
Send checks payable to:
Maine Sea Coast Mission
Distemper for both cats and dogs and Parvovirus for dogs
Memo line: MDI Working Waterfront
also will be available. Price for each vaccine $10.00
Mainely Vinyl Inc.
127 West Street
Leukemia and FIP boosters will be available at the
667-8354
1-800-564-5141
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
regular price of $25.00 each.
JOHN A. PETERS
OFFICES AT
COUNSELOR AT LAW
PETERS & KNOWLTON
ELLSWORTH AND
BAR HARBOR
JOHN F. KNOWLTON
COUNSELOR AT LAW
Ellsworth, Me.,
May 13, 1912.
Mr. George B. Dorr,
Bar Harbor, Maine,
Dear Mr. Dorr:-
I made a trip to-day to the western side of the Island in an
automobile. The roads are very rough and in addition it has rained about
all day. Measures must be taken to get these roads in better shape. I am
writing the Selectmen and Road Commissioners of these towns suggesting to
them to put on the split-log drag immediately. The most of the way the
roads are free of rocks and only need to have them dragged with a split-log
to fill up all the holes and smooth the ruts out.
This is incidental, but
it will help property in that locality very much.
I met Ober by appointment at Pretty Marsh and with him went
all over the property, or over enough of it SO I could tell who owns the
whole of it.
Ober has previously been trying to buy parts of it from time
to
time, but with no success. He is somewhat familiar with the prices they
ask for it. The following information I gathered from Ober and various
sources:-
The smaller point, including everything to the westward of the
first narrows, (not the Squid Cove narrows, but the narrows nearest the head-
land) being the main headland and the point extending south from it and con-
taining in the whole some three-hundred acres, or, possibly, more, is owned
largely by the Samuel estate and the Maine Company, which is a corporation
organized by Samuel and the stock of which is probably owned by him.
The whole ownership of Samuel and this Company is not in this
headland, I think some fifty acres lying to the eastward of it.
In addition to the ownership of Samuel and the Company I find
that the point extending south from the big headland, which point contains
about fifty acres, is owned one undivided half by Daniel S. Emery, Charles
S. Cook, Eben B. Cook and some others, of Portland (the other half is owned
by Samuel).
About a year ago Ober offered these Portland people $100.00
an acre for their holdings and it was refused.
Of
course Ober regarded $100.00 as a moderate price. It is
certainly a very fine point.
Next north of this point comes an ownership in Thomas W. Burr
and
others,
of
Bangor.
They own about fifteen acres.
It was bought by
them a good many years ago during an activity in land on that coast and pro-
bably stands them at a pretty high figure, but it does not follow that they
would insist upon that figure if they had an opportunity to sell.
The other side of the Burr ownership towards the east and
running down towards what I call the narrows, being a low place, which is the
shortest distance across from water to water, comes Allen Freeman with about
fifty acres and a very good and fairly large white house and some out-build-
Dorr 2-
ings.
This can be bought and probably at a fair price. The only trouble
would be that he might think the house was worth more than it would be worth
to any purchaser.
It is likely that a purchaser of the whole tract buying would want
Freeman to remain right there. Certainly he or somebody would probably
have to live in the vicinity.
Going north from the Burr land, which comes next the southern
point, there is on a summit overlooking a large territory a small lot of an
acre and ninety-eight rods owned by Ephraim Freeman with a building on it.
This goes down to the water and takes the summit and he asks $1200.00 for
the land and buildings. Going north again you go over some Samuel land and
at the very end of the point on the north is a small lot owned by the heirs
of L. B. Wyman and by heirs of Dr. Bridgham.
I know the active one of the Wyman heirs and the Bridgham heirs
are represented here by Mr. F. L. Mason, a Lawyer. Ober has previously
had some talk with Mason in regard to selling and offered $200.00 for the
interest represented by him, but could not buy it for that. I do not know
just how large it is. It is quite small.
Alanson Phillips, formerly of Ellsworth, now of Boston, owns one
acre near this point. He was a class-mate of mine in College and it is
probable that I could buy this at a fair price. This Phillips' lot came
out of the Barren tract, which tract was acquired by Samuel.
The town road runs right down through this property to an old
wharf on the shore.
I am told that the Lorings have desired to buy something in this
vicinity for the purpose of an automobile station. The Lorings own half
or two-thirds of Bartlett's Island, which is directly across.
This is a very beautiful country where I have been and it pro-
bably can all be purchased, most of it for a reasonable price. If your
friend wants to buy it I should recommend that he proceed as follows:-
Make a trade to buy the Samuel interest first and do not let it
be known that he has made the purchase when it is made. If it were known
that the Samuel interest were sold rumors would start about development
there, which would greatly tend to increase the asking price of the other
property. At present it is rather dead stuff and if authority were given
to buy for cash the rest of it could be picked up, some of it quite cheap
and probably all of it, 80 that the price would average low.
If I were to engineer the thing I should buy part of it through
Ober, who is closely in touch with some of the owners and Bome of it I would
buy direct myself. of course the titles would have to be carefully examin-
ed and some examination should be made before much of anything further is
done, some of the ownerships I have mentioned above may have changed since
the local parties knew anything about them.
It is not only advisable, but necessary to employ Ober to some ex-
Dora 3-
tent, because he not only feels that he has sort of a lien on some of this
property where he has been trying to buy it some time, but it is probable
that some of the owners like Freeman would not sell, except through or by
consulting Ober.
You should pay Ober a commission of 5% on what he could buy under
my direction and such reasonable bill for his services and expenses in con-
nection with the balance of the property as he would have. He would feel
that I was, in a sense, taking this opportunity away from him, did I not
have the opportunity to tell him that he would be paid.
You understand
that he and I have been operating in real estate together for some years
and while I knew nothing special about these offers he has made in years
past, if they had been accepted he would have expected me to take half of
the proposition with him. I have confidence in his judgment in these
things and would take half of anything he would buy, the same as he would
take half of what I bought in that general vicinity.
So far as I am concerned, of course, any interest that I had in
the pretty Marsh point would be 80 remote and vague that I would consider it
of no value and would cheerfully, on your account, turn over any advnatage
I had growing out of the association with Ober.
I forgot to mention Ober has been making attempts to buy the
Samuel property and it is his judgment that if a man went right to
Philadelphia and saw the Trustee and the other party interestdithat you could
make a better trade and that the property could be bought at a very reason-
able figure and I judge, by the figures that you gave me, that that is the
fact.
Yours very truly,
Winters
AVIII
Mary (Howard) Murray to George B. Dorr
Ref
J24/7
Beckley the Manor
Overstrand
Norfolk
July 16, 1912.
My dear Mr. Dorr:
Happily we were still in Oxford when Mr. and Mrs.
Eno brought your introductions of January. The time,
however, was very short and Gilbert full of engagements
(I think they telephoned one morning and were going away
the next and he was engaged for dinner) so all we could
do was to ask them to tea and have a good talk. Thank
you for all the trouble you took in writing and in tell-
ing U.S about them. We were so glad to see them, but it
seems funny to think that we have seen you since you
wrote those letters.
We had a happy time in America after seeing you.
It was very arduous at first, so many lectures and so
much company and so much travelling, but the kindness
and sympathy and appreciation were a good tonic and I
am very sure my husband came away better than he went.
(July 16, 1912)
2.
We returned to a shortened and very full term
and have only lately got away to this seaside town,
when -- in this heat-wave -- Gilbert had to go to
London yesterday to preside over a conference of Im-
perial teachers discussing the Classics
I hope you are well and enjoying your seaside.
Always sincerely yours,
Mary Murray.
Mrs. Gilbert Herray
Rosalind
and Howard
COPY.
Bar Harbor, Maine.
August 26th, 1912.
Dr Charles W. Eliot,
Asticou, Maine.
Dear President Eliot,
This is what I think with regard to the automobile situa-
tion here: that it will be idle to attempt to exclude them from Bar
Harbor beyond the present year; that it has been plainly inevitable
for the last two years at least that the town must in the end be
opened to them and that the only way to have postponed such opening
was by the substitution of a special road to bring the touring
public to the town and take them out - a compromise whose oppor-
tunity has now gone by, I think; that there will be gain as well as
loss in their coming, wider possibilities of residence, of social
intercourse and of excursion; that the detriment which they will
cause when once the change is made has been exaggerated, while
whether their coming be a gain or loss any scheme of permanent
exclusion has now become Utopian. Opinion here among the summer
residents is no longer by any means unanimous in opposition to their
coming but much divided, many wanting them for reasons of quicker
communicati on or economy and some for preference and the increasing
habit of their use elsewhere. A large majority of the townspeople
here are strongly in favor now of opening, because they think it
means increased prosperity to the town, and in this I believe them
2
to be right so far at least as hotel life is concerned, or a wider
residential life. That the lesislature at its next meeting will
give the town back its local option in the matter I also believe
to be unquestionable, and that any further contest must be made not
before it but at town-meeting.
Personally, I have taken no attitude et ther in favor of their
introduction or in opposition to it since I S8W you last, a year
ago. I made my contribution to the subject in urging the adoption
of a special-road plan which should carry with it a general agree-
ment securing so far as possible postponement of further introduc-
tion for a term of years, and in the survey which I had made for
such a road. The present condition seemed to me two years ago the
obvious alternative to such a scheme; complete exclusion, impracti-
cable. Now, the attempt to prolong it in our town would only result,
in my judgment, in prolonging bitter feeling and an uncertainty not
permitting us to reap the benefit of either course. That any effec-
tive opposition can be made at Bar Harbor to next year's opening I
do not believe, so large the number of those opposed before who have
changed their attitude either with regard to the matter itself or
with regard to the usefulness and desirability of further opposi-
tion.
Believe me ever
Yours sincerely,
[George B.Dorr]
Note: See 2/7/1911 G.B.D. letter to Charles Shea,this Series.
cauncil
entrance
to
we
Nursery
con
opposite
Field Developments
for
the
season's
Creek
George B. Dorr, always alert
and haved pened their
Meyer D D4 of Long
Schooner
Head
Roads,
has
been
for everything that is for the better-
rooms in the Butterfield Block
the
Congregation
opened for this purpose to which
ment of Bar Harbor residents both
Main street.
from the
round and summer. has been
cordially
invited
to
indicated
wife
and
leads there trained and competent
doing great real to make beautiful
W, H. Puffer lost fine yearling
services and to hear Dr. Meyer
florists will be in constant atten-
and fine thea thletic field on lower
colt
on
Saturday
Its
death
preacher
and
dance, as at the Nurseries store in
Main street
cansed by eating green which
and
previous seasons, while orders giv-
Just where the brook crosses the
has been thoughtlessly placed in
spiritual Insight and rare felicity
en by telephone at he Nurseries' of-
street a great deal of tree planting
box and set on the ground in the
the
today
expression gives him a place foremost
known
fice. 16-2, or sent by mail, will re-
has been done. A large number of
pasture near the stable.
A. as they
Among the religious leaders of our
celve prompt attention, delivery be-
fine whitea shes have been set out
three of for
day,
ing made as usual by the Nurseries,
creating a path with arow of trees
Mr. Eben L. Hodgkins of Trenton
and Miss
while orders for decorative work
one either side, from the brook
was in town over Sunday visiting
Joy's
rived and
MT. KEBO SPRING WATER
of every kind will be carried out by
Northwards to Livingstone Road.
on Greeley Avenue.
ste for the
haven
You will drink to your own health
skillful men.
This tree is one of the finest in
July 3rd, at
Kebo Spring Water is your
The new entrance to the Nurser-
New England and Dorr knows
Some men miss the comfort they
Dancing
nd death
summer beverage. See that a liber
ies is directly oposite the junction
of a specimen that is eight feet
could have out of light clothes in
public.
y friends
al supply of it is kept on hand at your
of the roads leading to Otter Creek
through the butt, 24 feet in circum-
the summer months. The Hart
see them
home and office properly cooled; thes
on the right, and the Schooner Head
ference. The white ash is one of
Schaffner & Marx goods that H. S.
A strange
een great
you can quench your thirst at any
road on the left. Part oli the
the valuable timber trees. Just
Nason & Son is selling would be a
the sights
was Mr.
time without fear of unpleasant con-
spruce hedge has been cut away and
West of this group of ashes, and
relief.
where the T
sequences. Mt. Kebo Spring Water
two heavy stone posts from Mr.
skirting the brook, is a pine grove
dawned upo
is that delicious and pure water which
Dorr's quarry will be set to, mark
group of yellow birches has also
Allan W: Milliken was chaplain of
that probabl
ridge and
is so popular here and in the best
the entrance, Upon driving through
of very thriving young trees. A
his class at the commencement ex-
for the Tow
York ar-
metropolitan homes. It is 4 truly
directly at the right, will be seen
been planted nearby. Standing at
the Foot of School street and look-
ercises at Kent's Hill seminary.
erly the Tow
ideal table water. healthful in every
a photograph exhibition gallery,
the Shore P
summer
drop. and can be had conveniently
about forty-eight feet long. R. H.
ing across the athletic field Northerly
cottage
Miss
Alice
Lord,
a former Bar
on application to the Mt. Spring Wa-
Moon is the contracter, carrying
it will be seen that Mr. Dorr has
planted three rows of trees on the
Harbor girl, who has been teaching
The pasto
on Way-
ter Co. Harden Park.
will ar-
out Architect Fred Savage's plans,
in East Corinth academy last
preaches his
East side of School street making
winter was visitin relatives in town
day morning
AUGUSTA HOSE REEL RUNNING
electricians. In this new building
a double Mail across the Field. When
these trees have several years'
Thursday and Friday. She left Sat
TEAM WILL COMPETE AT BAR
will be on exhibition for the public
urday for Southwest Harbor.
The Mothe
ork came
HARBOR
a magnificent collection of photo-
growth this will be one of the most
2:30 at the
last week
The Kennebec Journal, August2,
graphs that, without a doubt. is
charming sections of the Field.
J. H. Sawyer and Perley P. Pond
sewing for
cupy the
unique in this country. Mr. Dorr
On Ledgelawn avenue there has
says:-
of Bar Harbor, Isaac T. Moore and
story telling
The hose reel running team of the
has an unrivalled collection of pho-
been planted on the Field a large
George E. Turner of Northeast Har-
tographs of the Wild National Parks
number of white spruce which will
Augusta fire Department, which will
.bor were among those initiated into
Robert E
servants
of the West and a great many pho-
make a beautiful green background
compete. July 4, at Bar Hail has
the mysteries of Mystic Shrine in
visiting frie
open up
been selected by P. Edward Duffi-
tukgraphs of flowers. The gallery
both for the people who dwell there
ing. Harrison Wakefield, James Shea
day mornin;
for the
who has been selected as captain and
1g ideally located and from its win-
and for the beautifying of the Field
Dr. Hinch, William Pierce and G.
land,
dows the visitors will have a view
itself.
manager by the Fire Apartment
E. Marcyes also attended the Shrine
Mrs. A.
Fourteen of the 22 men chosen were
of the planted grounds of the nur-
Near the brook there a notable lit-
meeting in Bangor.
spending th
series, immediately North of it, the
tle grove of arbor vitae containing
G
out for practice Wednesday night, or
coast arriver
distant Gouldsboro range off hills,
some very fine large trees. A large
Sewall street. using the hydrant
the corner of Winthrop and Sewall
number of willows not native, of
Miss Margaret Koch, formerly field
last Saturda
1 Meeting
with a stretch of blue water between
secretary of c. E. for Maine, now of
the Grand
July 15th.
in the far away distance. The room
Asia originally and rapid and sturdy
streets. Unusually fast time was
will have one half width petitions
growers are also here.
the Bethel Bible school, Spencer,
in Arizona,
of Arts.
in the practice run. Practice will
All in als the Athletic Field takes
Mass began her duties as pastor for
gon, and W
11 be an
again be held on Bewall street, Fro
set from the wall, Your in number.
on new aspects of attractiveness and
the summer months on Sunday
the Canadia
ning and
day night, while, next week, the boys
each section with its own window.
meeting.
giving double wall space for the
beauty yearly and in time be a park
morning, June 16.
see the glac
will come down onto Water street
tains. Whi
legro and
for practice, in order to get access
hanging of photograjhs, and in each
of exceptional value under the expert
Addie Bowden, the little six year
urday. Ju
up in
tomed to the concrete pavement upos
little stall-like alcove there will be
management of landscape gardeners of
old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. H.
heavily in/t
oversight
which they will have to run at Bal
a table on which books and pictures
wide experience and, sound taste.
Bowden, 9 Albert Meadow is in the
the hotel a
of Prin-
Harbor.
also Include the wild flowers of New
Bar Harbor hospital for perhaps
order.
LAST WEEK'S PRIMARIES
Institute.
The members selected for the team
England as well as garden plants.
three weeks.
of this
are: P. Edward Duffy. William
and all will be ready for the public
Moniday. June 17
A C
a notable
Leighton, George Hutchinson, Fred
to visit by the first of July.
The result of the Republican vote
Shirley McFarland who has been
re issue.
erick Morton, Roy Thayer. Earle
A shady walk connects this build-
CC
at the primaries at Bar Harbor Mon-
employed this winter in a Hartford
Harvey Lancelot Cooper, Berry
ing with the other buildings and
market Hartford, Conn., returned
Editor of R
day was Burleigh, 193: Heaths 50;
lis, Fred Thompson, William Town
greenhouses of the nurseries, pass-
on the Morso Friday for a &hort va-
We wish
Powers 17, in the senatorial contest.
will give
send, A. Parsons, W. Wall, Lewis
ing by the planted beds and taking
For governor. Haines received 210;
cation.
yor many r
Forsyth. William Corbett, Frederick
the visitor to the great nursery plots
we witness
the home
Boothby, 86; Shaw 18.
dd. "Eeg-
that cover so many acres.
driving on
*Chase, Earle Grenier. Everett McDon
Callahan had 295 for state auditor
sadays in
ald, Charles Breen, Frederic Holder.
To the left of this building and to
The work off grading the grounds
namly. the
In the senatorial contest, Hannibal
ptions $5
/ the North of it, that is just to the
ros
John O'Brien (mascot). An opening
Hamlin had 246.
are open
left of the entrance, is latticed over-
on High street is nearing comple-
The family
remains on the team for a few more
head screen forty feet long, to be
The vote for state senators was,
tion. and the grounds will be much
of five
Chatto, 72: Hagerthy, 80; Patten 232;
streaming
good runners but they will have
be given
covered with canvas, and under this
improved. The front is being raised
get into the game at once, in order
Savage
was a pitat
in artistically aranged banks, under
above the sidewalk so that the water
few house
ay morn-
to have the necessary practice.
For county attornoy, Crabtree re-
the careo f an expert, will be banked
will run off, the fences straightened
aged to S&\
in the
William Leighton, who starts
celved Googins, 240; Mason 16.
the cut flowers for exhibition and
new walks built, and the front of
penniless al
church.
tle slowly. but is one of the faster
Nate
Mahoney had 246 for registry
of
the grounds will be covered with a
Perhans
L. B. Deasy, President
Bar Harbor Banking & Trust Co.
W. H. Davis, Vice President
Fred C. Lynam, Treasurer
Mt. Desert Block
Vernon G. Wasgatt, Ass't Treas.
Capital, $50,000.00
Surplus, $125,000.00
Bar Harbor, Maine, Sept. 17, 1912.
George B. Dorr, Esq.
Bar Harbor, Me.
Dear Sir:-
We enclose your € 1500 note dated October 26, 1911
marked paid having received from Mr. George J. Stebbins a check
in payment.
Yours
truly, Asst. Treas.
1537.50
1500-
Bar Harbor, Me., Oct 26 191/
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1911-12
Page | Type | Title | Date | Source | Other notes |
1 | File folder | File contents. 1911:Jr. letter (10/24) to Deasy re: land abstract for Seal Harbor Eyrie property; Publication of Dorr's stttings with Mrs. Piper in Proc.Soc.for Psychical Res. 1912: Acq of of Jordan + Sargent Mts; HCTPR Charter threatened, offer to US govt. GBD to S.A.Eliot (11/11/24); Visit by May + Gilbert Murray. | 09/05 | Compiled by Ronald Epp | |
2-3 | Letter | Letter to Mr.Deasy re: draft | Jan. 19, 1911 | Chapman Archives. Document Example.1A,B | |
4-6 | Letter | Letter to Mr. Charles Shea from George B. Dorr re:automobile question | February4, 1911 | The Chapman Archives. JDR Jr. Papers.B.143 D10 | |
7 | Letter | Letter to Mr. Charles Shea from George B. Dorr re:automobile question | February 7, 1911 | Chapman Archives. JDR Jr.Papers. B.143.D10 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
8 | Letter | Letter to Mr. Appleton from Charles W. Eliot re: speaking engagements | March 21, 1911 | TOR. Appleton Papers. B6.f40 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
9 | Newspaper article | "Woman Frightens Burglar" | Aug 12, 1911 | New York Times. Proquest | |
10-17 | Magazine article | "Unique Mount Desert" | August, 1911 | Schauffler, Robert. The Century Magazine. Vol.LXXXII (August,1911), pp.477-480 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
18 | Title page | The Jesup Dedication: August 30, 1911 | September 6, 1911 | Bar Harbor Record | |
19 | Letter | Letter from Ronald Epp to Nancy Howland, JML Librarian | 4 August 2000 | Personal correspondence of Ronald Epp | |
20-23 | Published article | The Jesup Memorial Library history by George B. Dorr | 1911 | JML.H.1-4 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
24-28 | Government document | National Register of Histor Places: Jesup Memorial Library | Jan 1991 | US Department of the Interior.National Park Service | |
29-31 | Newspaper article | Jesup Memorial Library | January 23, 1915 | JDR Archives | |
32-40 | Proceedings | Proceedings of the National Park Conference | October 14-16, 1912 | Washington, D.C. Government Printing Office | |
41 | Index | Index to the Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research listing George Dorr | 1911 | Index to Vol. XXV. Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research. 1911 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
42-51 | Textbook excerpt | "Are National Parks Worth While," inc. Taft remarks and Gleason photography | 1911 | Seventh Annual Convention of the American Civic Association. December 13-15 [Smithsonian Library] | |
52 | Date page | 1912 | Ronald Epp | ||
53 | Letter | Letter to George B. Dorr from [? Harry Lynam] re:Homans Estate land acquisition | January 26, 1912 | Chapman Archives.JDR Jr. Papers. B.143.R3 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
54-56 | Report | Acquisition of Sargent and Pemetic Mountains | 1912 | ANPA B3.F5.6-8 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
57-58 | Newspaper article | "Titanic disaster echoes on MDI" | April 12, 2012 | Earl Brechlin. Mount Desert Islander | |
59-61 | Letter | Letter to Mr. Dorr from Judge Peters re: Pretty Marsh land | May 13, 1912 | Chapman Archives.JDR Jr Papers.B.143.D24 | |
62-63 | Letter | Letter to Mr. Dorr from Mary Howard Murray re: visit | July 16, 1912 | Castle Howard Archives. J24/7 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
64-65 | Letter | Letter to President Eliot from George B. Dorr re: automobile "situation" | August 26, 1912 | Chapman Archives. JDR Jr.Papers. B.143.D10 | |
66 | Newspaper article | new entrance to the Nursery | June 26, 12 | No source | |
67 | Receipt | Bar Harbor Banking & Trust Co receipt of payment to Mr. Dorr | Sept. 17, 1912 | Chapman Archives. JDR Jr. Papers.B.143.R13 | |
68 | Title page | Proceedings of the National Park Conference | October 14-16, 1912 | Washington, D.C. Government Printing Office. 1913. HFLC.HC | |
69-72 | Textbook excerpt | National Reservations for the Protection of Wild Life | October 5, 1912 | Superintendent of Documents. United States Department of Agriculture.. | Annotated by Ronald Epp |
73-74 | Letter | Letter to John Muir from Herbert W. Gleason re: West trip | Oct. 21, 1912 | Concord Free Public Library.Uncatalogued Robbins MS. B2f29 | Annotated by Ronald Epp |