Road Development the Taken that way, one of the engineers who worked upon the survey told me afterward, the road from the entrance on the Gorgo through to its turning point in the Homans pasture where it reversed itself to enter on the Ocean Drive, would have costy at conjecture on the data they had, between four hundred and fifty and five hundred thousand dollars, "and nothing" doloomented, "to show for its" At that time the overhead crossing of the County road at the foot of the Tarn planned by Mr. Olmsted and his partner Mr. Hubbard, a very costly matter but only solution of the problem if the route through the Gorgo was to be taken, could have been obtained . I think, from the Town and County, anxious as the Town was to secure the work, which the understanding was, would be done not by contract but by XY day labor and the employment of local men, but no formal consent was either asked or given at that time. But now, will th the road become a State Highway and labor cared for by Federal roller it would be difficult to ressurect that plan, which drops the Highway into a long out round into the Gorge, with the Park road overhead. And no substitute is possible. The route taken was through the gorge, a Blue deep,narrow out between the mountains which continues southward till it passes beneath the sea as Otter Bacon Creek, midway on the extended ocean Drive, not at its beginning. Where the Gorgo engers on the north there is scarce room for the County road between the mountain and the Tarn, and beyond the Tarn construction must be along the mountainside through continuous woodsand over a diffo terrain till the Homans pastureland is reached on the mountain's other side without interest and without view. TNO of the most important foot-traile on the Island, one of them a memorial trail which the Park took over with the obligation on it when it was created and the other going back to earliest settler days, As soon as the plan for this road, sent down from Washington, was exhibited by instruction on tbac Park office wall, a store of oriticism and attacks broke loose and I, who had nothing whatever to do with it, was hold responsible by old friends, who blamed me for it. Undated The roads around Kebo Ridge Kebo Mountain is a long, narrow ridge which prolongs Flying Squadron Mountain northward for half a mile, with Kebo Brook dividing it from Great Pond Hill, the northern spur of Cadillac Mountain; the valley between them, down which Kebo Brook flows, was, in the early days, just wide enough for the brook and the old wood-road. The ridge ends abruptly at the north and the brook sweeps round it in a series of picturesque falls, where there was an old saw-mill past which the trail up Cadillac Mountain ran when I first summer knew it in 1868 and 1869. Northward, beyond the brook and mill, there was an open, grassy field which later became part of the original nine-hole links of the Kebo Valley Golf course, the first along the coast in eastern Maine. To the east of Kebo Ridge there is a level wood- land extending south to Harden Farm, where a broad sweep of grassland descends to the Great Meadow level, on which the deer come out and graze at dusk. Above the woodland and the farm, the whole eastern side of the Kebo Ridge is clothed -- where the crags permit with original forest whose many hardwood trees, too branching and irregular in growth for logging when the mill was operat- ing, turn to rich, glowing color in the fall. 2. The whole forms one of the most delightful spots upon the Island, easy to reach from the village in early days, when people went a-foot, and leading on to one of the most picturesque climbs on the Island, up the Green Mountain gorge between Cadillac and Flying Squadron mountains, where Kebo Brook comes tumbling down magnificently after sudden rains. The motor road and horse road from Great Pond Hill were to be new features in this scene and I was anxious that nothing to disturb the native character of the place should result from them. 1930 When Mr. Rockefeller made his offer to acquire C. and turn over to the Government the necessary lands and build a road connecting Cadillac Mountain with the ocean front, I kept aloof, knowing from experience that he did not welcome suggestion or advice unsought, but when he withdrew from his offer to build the road and the Federal Bureau of Roads took its construction over, I welcomed the opportunity it gave me to take part in working out the plans. 3. The first result of this was the shifting to a new location of the horse-road originally planned to pass around the northern end and through the woods below the eastern side of Kebo Ridge, where there was but space for one, which of need would have to be the motor road, and finding for it a separate, far better route around the Kebos' southern end. Next came the motor road around the Meadow, Mr. Olmsted's plan for which, paralleling on the Meadow level the Town road above, I strongly objected to and & said so frankly, as he and I and Mr. Vint stood to- gether at the head of Harden Farm on his last visit to Bar Harbor, a few hours before he left, adding: "The true way to take the road is where I built mine in the old horse-driving days to open up the Meadow and give the Town another nearby drive." "We know it, " Mr. Olmsted and Mr. Vint exclaimed, "but we did not think the Town would yield up its road.' "I don't know whether it will, " I answered, "but it's worth a trial. n 4. Taking the matter up that fall with friends of mine in the Town and adding to the plan an entrance toward the village over the last land remaining to me from my Wild Gardens project, I got the Town's consent at its next annual meeting to surrender to the Park its road around the Meadow which I had planned and built so long before. The Federal Bureau of Roads engineers, now left in charge, shared my feeling in the matter and laid the new road out, with scarce a change, along the lines of my old one, making them permanent for all time to come. The land which I gave to provide the entrance toward the town, the Long Field we called it, I had had other plans for, plans which would have brought the village residential life down pleasantly to meet the parkland at the Great Meadow, but it offered the only opportunity to win the Town's consent to giving up its road. I gave it freely, not complicating the gift with any legal easement, but stipulated with the National Park Service through Mr. Vint that this and the land I gave before, for an entrance across the [G.B.DORR] 5. Meadow to the Spring and mountain trails, should be devoted to a permanent wild gardens walk, carry- ing out, so far as my earlier and my later gifts extended, my original Wild Gardens plans. Incidentally, the change in road plan saved the Government some seventy-five or eighty thousand dollars over the cost of Mr. Olmsted's plan, as estimated by the Federal Bureau of Roads engineers, on the basis of which an allotment had been granted. These two gifts to the Government comprised in all some forty acres which cost me, acquired for my Wild Gardens scheme, full thirty thousand dollars. To this, to obtain the true cost at the time of gift, interest and taxes must be added, as was done by Mr. Harry Lynam in working out the cost to me of the balance of the Meadow, purchased for the purpose of his road by Mr. Rockefeller, and as was done earlier in the case of the land west of the Long Field, similarly acquired for my Wild Gardens plan, which I sold at cost to the Bar Harbor Golf Association. C UNITED STATES O P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Y NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BAR HARBOR, MAINE December 30, 1935. Dear Serenus, I have been interested from the beginning in Mr. Rockefeller's plan for the extension of his horse-road system into the Bar Harbor area, in- corporating into it my old Hemlock Road along the mountain foot with its primeval trees, unique upon the Island now except for the similar group at the northern foot of Newport Mountain where Bear Brook comes down, to a hitching ground at Sieur de Monts Spring, and thence to the summit of Great Meadow Hill, with its wide, sweeping views, to terminate. When the suggestion of taking it there was 1930 made five years ago, I showed Mr. Olmsted, skep- tical at first as to the possibility of reaching it with easy grade, how and how alone -- it could be done, starting from the wooded valley beyond the meadow to the north whose trees escaped the fire that, starting on the meadow, swept the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BAR HARBOR, MAINE Page 2. whole ridge else back in the eighteen-eighties; and rising thence along a hunters' trail of early days with which I was familiar. With the Park road on the meadow level, the only way to reach this starting point and keep the horse-road system separate was by circling the long slope that bounds the meadow on the south, under- passing on it three successive motor roads -- two town roads and the intended Park road -- and ex- cavating valleys where none exist to obtain the necessary depth for underpassing; and then by cutting out a way along the rocky hillside to the east, above the town road, to the starting point a circuitous and costly route. Thinking over how the change of the Park road to the town road's higher level, the Town consenting, would affect this plan, there came into my mind a path I planned many years ago, and built in part, from north to south across the meadow's eastern edge leading toward the Gorge and Spring alongside a channel that I dug to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BAR HARBOR, MAINE Page 3. take the water from the Tarn and keep it separate from the winding brook across the open meadow that takes the water from the Spring. This path, laid out with reference to the beauty of the view approach- ing from Bar Harbor, extends in direct course to where the hitching ground for horses is proposed among the old maple trees bordering the Spring area and reached from the Hemlock Road. Going north, in the reverse direction, the line of the intended path heads directly into the high earth bank along whose top, with a steep drop of twenty feet or more to the meadow level, the town road runs as it makes its turn toward the south, providing the best opportunity that could be asked for an underpass, leading straight to the starting point for the ascent to the hill. When the thought came to me, I took the Federal Bureau of Roads engineer, Mr. Grossman, out and showed him the opportunity as I saw it. He acclaimed it at once as a solution of the problem that would eliminate all difficulties the former route presented, halve the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BAR HARBOR, MAINE Page 4. distance to be travelled from the Spring to the start- ing point for the ascent, and, built at little cost across the level margin of the meadow, would save, he thought at first conjecture, some seventy-five or eighty thousand dollars at a minimum over the route that would be necessary with the motor road built upon the meadow level with the town road above. Should the Town consent to turn over to the Park its Harden Farm road from the old Harden Farm entrance on, this opportunity will be provided, but before any suggestion gets abroad of Mr. Rockefeller's intention to continue with his plan -- if he does SO intend -- for reaching the summit of Great Meadow Hill, it would be wise that arrangement be made to acquire from Martin Roberts' heirs the tract they own upon the hill. The line between the property upon Great Meadow Hill which Mr. Rockefeller took over from me and this Roberts land lies directly along the course which any UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BAR HARBOR, MAINE Page 5. road to the summit must needs follow. Would it not be well to take the matter up with Mr. Rockefeller? Yours sincerely, (Sgd) GEORGE B. DORR. Mr. Serenus B. Rodick, Bar Harbor, Maine. Dars cherry to Two gifts made to the Government fra land to govt. in 1926 and 1927 father Until the spring of 1926 Acadia National Park wild gorders had no legal access to its magnificent scenic possession in Champlain Mountain other than from the highway through the Gorge upon its western side. The old Bar Harbor trail led up the northern ridge, precipitous on either side, and entrance to it was made over a wood road opening from the public way to Schooner Head. This answered well in early days, when all was free and open and people went afoot, but times had changed and such an arrangement, dependent on the courtesy of owners, furnished no fitting entrance to a great national possession. I owned the land across which this entrance was obtained, part of an early farmland purchased by my father in 1868, one of the first tracts on the Island to be a cquired for summer residence, and I offered the Government an adequate approach in its own right, connect- ing unbrokenly with the early mountain trail. 2. In making the offer, I made clear its purpose: The construction of a road and footpath from the public highway by which to reach the mountain foot and I anticipated prompt action to follow. The gift was accepted but no action followed. All construction- - al activity at that time was centered in the west, and, important as the entrance was I had difficulty in ob- taining the small amount required to make it. A year later I again made the Government an offer of land for road construction, this time on the Great Meadow, for a direct approach to the group of mountain trails rising from the Gorge over Picket Mountain and the Flying Squadron. And with this I included a considerable tract upon the Meadow, giving the Park a distinct and striking entrance from the public highway. The land was accepted, the project approved and appropriation made for commencing construction. Work upon the road began and for a time all went well, but presently word came to halt construction: Secretary Work had promised Harold Peabody that no further road construction should be made in Acadia National Park. 3. This was an aftermath of the attack made two years before on Mr. Rockefeller's horse-road and motor-road construction in the Park, to meet which I had to organize the whole State of Maine in its defense. It is this unfinished entrance that, in making my recent gift of the Long Field, giving approach to Bar Harbor from the Park's new motor road around the Meadow -- the Town road formerly to whose surrender by it to the Park this approach was a prerequisite, I ask the Government to make into a wild gardens path in remembrance of my earlier project. [G.B.DORR] no With Regard to the Continuation of the Park Motor Road from Sieur de Monts Spring to the Oceanfront west of the Sand Beach Two routes are physically possible: The one, alone the western side and round the southern end of Champlain Mountain from the Tarn-foot on; the other, past the northern face of the mountain and along its eastern side. Both routes arrive at the same point in the former Homans pasture east of the mountain's south- ern end, which the western route reaches by circling the southern end of the mountain and making a quick loop-turn, in reversal of direction, in the Homans pasture; the other route, leaving the northern base of the mountain in an ascent from Bear Brook Quarry, continues on thence in a direct course southward to the same point in the Homans pasture, from which point on the course taken by both routes is the same. There can be no question which course offers the better route from the landscape point of view. The one west of the mountain holds no feature of interest from its commencement on, passing continuously through woods, 2. and reaches its objective, the eastern end of the former Ocean Drive, by a course circuitously paralleling the Drive through woods below the mountain's southern foot. The eastern route, starting from the same point at the northern end of the Tarn, where an overpass of the State highway is made by either route, offers in its course three great contrasting features: The abrupt and finely-wooded northern faces of Champlain and Picket Mountains, seen across the glacial, water-filled basin of Beaver Dam Pool; the view eastward across the entrance to Frenchman's Bay from a high point on Champlain Moun- tain's northern ridge; and the view from the meadow at its base of Champlain Mountain's magnificent east cliff. This route, reaching the same point as the other in the Homans pasture, continues on to enter, in natural and direct progression, the reconstructed Ocean Drive at its eastern end. No one desires the western route, now that the greater interest and beauty of the eastern one has been explored and recognized; on the contrary, should it be 3. again brought forward it would again be bitterly assailed as it was when first proposed five years ago. Then three features on it especially were bitterly attacked: (1) The closely paralleling course to the State highway past the Tarn, disfiguring one of the Island's most cherished spots of roadside beauty; (2) Destruction by the road's invasion of the entrance portion of the important Beachcroft Path lead- ing up from the Tarn-foot to Huguenot Head, Picket and Champlain Mountains; (3) Obliteration by the road of the oldest and one of the most interesting footpaths on the Island, going back to early settler days when it gave connection through the pass between the Beehive and Gorham Mountain between the early farming and fishing settlements in the Schooner Head and Great Head areas and that at Otter Creek. Regarding the obliteration of this footpath by the projected road, Professor Dana, the geologist, one of the earliest summer residents at Seal Harbor, writing in inquiry as an old friend, said that it would be "a crime. If 4. That the feeling aroused five years ago against this western route when proposed in Mr. Rockefeller's published plan should be awakened again in its old bitterness is on all accounts to be avoided. Mr. Rockefeller talked this fall concerning the difficulties the eastern route was encountering on per- sonal grounds from Mr. and Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Livingston not only with me but with Bishop Lawrence, who told me of his talk with him, and with my neighbor, Arthur Train, whom, finding him friendly, I put him in touch with. Mr. Train, if I remember right, speaking to me afterward of his talk with him quoted him as saying that it might be good strategy to give out that the Government would take the western route if it found obstacles it could not surmount to the eastern one, because the opposition, he thought, to the western route would exert a pressure on Mr. Palmer to withdraw his objection to the other; but no such pressure would result. It would only result in 5. the whole scheme of the road's continuation from the Spring southward being assailed, and pressure only on the Government would ensue to use the Town and County roads to connect the Park roads at the Spring and ocean- front. The true strategy, if strategy it should be called, would be for the Government to announce a clear- cut stand that it would build the road where it should go as a Park road, around the mountain's eastern side, or not build at all; and there to let the matter lie until the road to the Spring, with the employment it will rive to the working classes at Bar Harbor, is under construction and the end of employment on it appears in sight when strong pressure will make itself felt in the Town and from the State to secure continuation of work upon the road. To this pressure I feel quite sure that Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, the chief obstacles to the eastern course, would yield; if not, that condemnation, where no damage to the landscape or property can be shown, would follow. In further negotiation in the matter it would seem to me desirable that Mr. Rockefeller should not appear, 6. as he did of necessity five years ago, as its chief proponent but that the Federal Bureau of Roads, chief authority on road design in the country, should take his place in recommendation of the road's continuation and its route, with the Federal Government, the State and the citizens of the town supporting it. (6.B.DoRR) copy The Long Field The Long Field which I gave the Government two years former N F ago for an entrance toward Bar Harbor from the new road cost me five hundred dollars an acre for its greater part, bought in a single piece from one Nate Ash, but the northern portion more, the part next the town, for it had been in part sold off for small shanty lots, bought speculatively and held at prices ranging high. I had occasion to have what I paid per acre for the whole looked up for me by Mr. Harry Lynam a few years since with reference to some additional land the Golf Club needed, and found that, with straight interest and taxes added, it stood me at the time at something over eleven hundred dollars an acre. At the time I purchased this land, recognizing its importance, now nearly thirty years ago, it was rapidly developing into one of the worst slums in the town, the water company refusing to extend its pipes to it on the ground that it had reached a point where it was hopeless to do anything to improve it; it had got a slant that way, like a bicycle for the road ditch when one first learns to ride, and it needed a direct order, which I obtained, from the State Board of Health before it took the matter up and brought the water in. [First of Two essays on "Long Field"] 2. I gave this land freely to the Government because, if I did not, the Town would not have given up its road around the Meadow and the Park would have been saddled for all time, there being no alternative, with the Olmsted road below upon the Meadow, with a great opportunity lost. Appropriation for the road had already then been made on the basis of the Olmsted survey and my gift of the land for the entrance toward the Town, now made, which brought the Town's cooperation and the surrender of its road, saved the Government, by Federal Bureau of Roads Engineers' calculation, not less than five times what the land I gave had cost me, high though that had been. Far more will be saved over the estimated cost of the road's continuation through the Gorge if the new line round the mountain's eastern side be taken, not counting the immeasurable gain it offers in scenic interest and beauty, and I am more than friendly to the plan, but see no reason why I should again be called upon to give my land without the Government or others sharing in the cost. Second of two Long Fieldessays Long Field The Long Field I rember walking out to one Sunday afternoon in the summer of 1879, when our Oldfarm house was building and we were boarding at the DesIsles House in the village. Colonel John Markoe and Mrs. Markoe were spending the summer in a house nearby which they rented from one George Douglas, of whom there is incidentally a talo to tell, and it was with them and a gay group of younger folks who were staying with them that I was walking. Tall spruoes of the native wood that had covered it had just been out and the ground was being cleared of roots, the soil sold and hauled away to make the lawns of summer homes along the Bar Harbor shore. There was then no town road that led to it, nor to the Great Meadow beyond, which remained hidden from any view from any public road until twenty years later, when I planned and built the road connecting the County road to Otter Crook with the Town way to Hardan Farm. Entrance to it was obtained only by a haul-way around the northern end of Strawberry Hill, avoiding the brook which swept the narrow gorge below from side to side. 2. Some sections of this early way still remain, for few things are more enduring than a roadway once established, however crude. The Great Meadow basin was then completely locked away, shut in by woods, no road approaching it. A single farm, called after its owner 'Harden Farm, reached down to it on the northwest, at the foot of the Kebo range, and a right-of-way road lod to it from Cromwell Harbor road to give it entrance. Climbing one looked down on the Meadow from its enoirolement of mountains; else, near as it was to Bar Harbor, it remained when life was at its fullest in the big hotel days and early period of summer home construction unvisited and unseen. But an old Indian trail, leading through the Gorge from the northern shore to Otter Creek, ran past it on the west, around the mountain base, along whose line I later built the beautiful Hemlook Road past Sieur de Monts Spring. 3 In 1899, to obtain for my mother and our friends and neighbors on the Eastern Shore a short and pleasant drive, not leading through the Twon but connecting with its western side, I made the Town & favorable offer to obtain the right-of-way and build E, road around the Western side of Strawberry Hill, connecting the Otter Creek county road with the Town's right-of-way road to Harden Farm, limiting the Town's expense to $2,500, an estimated one-half of what the road would cost, making myself responsible for the rest. The Town accepted, the road was built for me by the Mount Desert Nurseries and opened to use in the Spring of 1900. This road, opening up for the first time the Great Meadow basin made a beautiful quiet drive for use with horses. The meadow, its drainage blocked by the silting up of the brookbed, was a bog, with wild cranberries growing anid swamp grass on its eastern side, which turned to beautiful color in the later season, while on its western side, and embayed by the extension of the forest onto it grew the swamp-loving rhodora, mingled with Labrador pea and similar wild plants of the northern bogs, and forming brilliant sheets of color every spring. 4. Road construction requirements were simple in those horse-driving days, I drained the road-bed well and graded it, using such material as I found along the way and the Town has never had occasion since to make expe nditure upon it, other than on surfacing it for motor use. Fifteen years later, when motor cars had come in use, I built, owning then the land, a road around the Meadow's southern end, continuing my e arlier road, so that people coming from Seal Harbor or beyond might take this shorter, better route to reach the Building of Arts for concerts, flower shows and the like, XVX/ the Kebo Valley Golf Club, with its nine-hole course, or summer residenceson Bar Harbor's western side. 5. When, in 1930, Mr. RockefeAler, having acquired the land on the Island's ocean front, from Sand Beach to Hunter's Brook, asked the Town if it would surrender to the Government its Ocean Drive that he might build,fo the Park, replacing it, a motor road along this whole magnificent stretch of shore, bridging the Creek, and the Town agreed, he included in his offer the construction of a road connecting the Cadillao Mountain road where it rises over Great Pond hill with this ocean drive. His offer accepted, he brought surveyers down from New York to study this connection, who worked the whole following summer through, consulting also, in regard to it, eminent landscape architects, before giving the route publicity. But the result was not a happy one, limited as the study was to lands the Park already owned. And ultimately Mr. Rockefeller, giving the lands he had acquired for carrying out the plan, withdrew from his offor, leaving it to the Govern- ment to continue with it,placing it for execution with the Federal Bureau of Roads for further study. In this, familiar with the whole territory as I was, I was able to help. b The road originally surveyed was laid out over the Great Meadow's boggy bottom, where construction would be costly and no compensating view could be obtained. at high level The road I had laid out and built, around the Meadow basin M was clearly the place where the rod should go. In this, once started, all agreed, but none had thought it possible the Town would yield the road to the Government. I thought it would, if given good p rmanent connection with the road when turned over to the Park and thi 8 connecti on Iwas in position to make possible through my ownership of the Long Field, the one traot still left to me of the land I had originally secured for my Wild Gardens project. This I gave. The Tonw, the matter being laid before it at its next annual meeting, agreed, and my road of thirty odd years before round the Meadow's northern YA end and eastern side, was taken for the new Park road, leaving free from road construction the lake- like moadow bottom and incidentally saving the Government a full half its estimated oost. In making my gift to the Government of the land down the Long Field, which alone made it possible to obtain the Town's consent to the relinquishment to the Government of its road around the Great Meadowm I asked in return one thing: The construction, planting and maintenance of a path over it and across the Great Meadow beyond, connecting the Town with Sieur de Monts Spring and the mountain trails which rise from it. This path, long since planned and partly built, lies wholly in its course over land of my giving and recalls, being full of association for me, my Wild Gardens plan which led on to the Park's creation. To this, referred to Washington, the Government, represented by the National Park Service, agreeed, as it did also to my having the plants intended for it grown in advance in-m under my direction by the Mount Desert Nurseries. Copl of [The great Headow and Ocean Drive] The Great Meadow ground out by the over-flowing ice-sheet thousands of feet in thickness, as its bottom ****** was arrested by the granite mass of Mount Desert Island's eastern mountains and ground deep into the underlying rock by the onward movement toward the sea of the ponderous, unimpeded mass above. All the principle lakes on the Island, unless perhaps Jordan's pond, were made that way including Somes Sound Fiord. The Great Meadow accordingly has a lake-like character and a lake it must have been when the ice melted, leaving masses of the finest clay behind it which were washed into the glacial lake-basin with the melting of the ice. Peat from the decay of vegetation on the mountain-side around and the growth of mosses in the pool, filled it gradually to the basin rim and trees sprang up upon it on the weste(n side where streams brought down granite sand to mingle with the peat and make a soil. That, in brief, is Great Meadow's history. No solid foundation for a road such as modern times demand can be had upon it and 2. Mr. Olmsted rejected road, though it clung closely to the northern side where the depth should be at least to the rock bottom of the basin, required at one point, the Federal Bureau of Roads engineers found by sounding, twenty-six feet of fill to give it solid base, and thirteen feet average for two thousand feet of road length, involving -- if rigidly carried out -- an immense expense and disfigurement of the Meadow surface. It would have been better and cheaper to have floated the road across it, if need were, as Stevenson did the railroad across Chapmoss outside of Liverpool, or to have driven piles to bear it up, like the houses on the Back Bay in Boston. I floated a horse road across it for a few hundred feet, where the depth of peat and water near the western mountain- side was beyond my sounding, and got a road that motor cars afterwards though one could feel it shake as they passed over. But such a road as that would not pass muster with Federal Road engineers, insisting on solidity. Block the Great Meadow 3. out though, raising the water level by a yard or so and it would be no other than a northern musiced dreaded xxx yeyond all esle by horses on the trail and wild phain cattle. Champlain Mountain is the easternmost of the Mount Desert Island's granite peaks. Its northern base fronts directly toward Bar Harbor, a mile and a half away. The Ocean Drive, fronting the open sea, defines upon the shore 1ts southern end; eastward, it is founded from the Great Meadow ice- south by the deep, excavated gorge of Otter Creek. Sinking the coast level two hundred feet or so would send the tidal current rushing through it, making it a mountainous rock-island, which it must have been, there is good evidence to show, during the last glacial period. The Ocean Drive must be entered from its eastern end, the actual entrance planned being on the Homans pasture. Whether it be reached from the mountain's eastern or western side, all cars must come. to this same point to enter on the Ocean Drive if coming by Park Road. The northern base and eastern side of the mountain are magnificent, full of interest and variety. The western side, though bold, is forested throughout and without view and interest, because the Government land extends unbrokenly over it and want of familiarity with the great scenery on the eastern side, that Mr. Rockefeller planned his road. Two costly crows of Civil engineers brought down from New York worked a whole season through on this survey, but nothing came of it; / their work was idle. It would have been a road without view or feature, exceedingly costly to build and double the length of a road upon the mountain's other side. And at the mountain's southern end it evaded and would have ruined the oldest and one of the most interesting trails upon the Island. It aroused the bitterest opposition and letters attacking it came pouring in to the National Park Offices at Washington, which I was asked to read, assort and comment on. Then in the midst of it all Mr. Rockefeller awakened to the fact that his road should have gone on the mountain's eastern side, not upon its western. And that is where the matter lies to-day. Mr. Olmsted's to me comment on it/was when this stage was reached, "that it would be better to wait for fifty years than not take the eastern way. The western route in any cane is dead beyond ressurection. The choiee now lies between taling the r load along the ******* eastern side or giving the project up of a continuous Bark roadway. [G.B.DorR] 1 cap 1930 The Harden Farm Road in its course around the Meadow 1899 In 1899, to obtain for my mother and our friends and neighbors on the eastern shore a short and pleasant drive, not leading through the village but connecting with its western side, I made the Town a favorable offer to obtain the right-of-way and build a road around the western side of Strawberry Hill and northern end of the Great Meadow, connecting the Otter Creek county road with the Town's right-of-way road to Harden Farm, limiting its expense to $2,500, an estimated one-half of what the road would cost, making myself responsible for the rest. The Town accepted, the road was built for my by the Mount Desert Nurseries and opened to use in the Spring of 1900. This road, opening up for the first time the Great Meadow basin, made a beautiful, quiet drive for use with horses. The meadow, its drainage blocked by the silting up of the brookbed, was a bog, with wild cranberries, growing smid swamp grass on its eastern side which turned to beautiful color in the later season, while on its western side, embayed by extensions of the forest onto it, grew swamp-loving Rhodora, forming brilliant sheets of color every spring, mingled with Labrador Tea and similar wild plants of the northern bogs. Road construction requirements were simple in those horse-driving days. I drained the road-bed well and graded it, using such material as I found along the way, and the Town has never had occasion since to make expenditure upon it, other than on surfacing it for motor use. Fifteen years later, when motor cars had come in use, I built, owning then the land, a road around the Meadow's southern end, continuing my earlier road, so that people coming from Seal Harbor or beyond might take this shorter, better route to reach the Building of Arts for concerts, flower shows and the like, the Kebo Valley Golf Club with its nine-hole course, or summer residences on Bar Harbor's western side. a3 When, in 1930, Mr. Rockefeller, having acquired the land on the Island's ocean front from Sand Beach to Hunter's Brook, asked the Town if it would surrender to the Government its Ocean Drive that he might recon- struct it and extend it as a Park road to Hunter's Brook, and the Town agreed, he included in his offer a road connecting the Cadillac Mountain road at Great Pond hill with this ocean drive. 3. His offer accepted he brought from New York to make a plan for this connection surveyors who worked the whole season through. But the result was not a happy one, limited as the survey was to lands the Park already owned, for there was no opportunity for good connection through the Gorge. The route proposed in this plan was through the deep, narrow cut between the mountains which continues southward till it passes beneath the sea at Otter Creek, midway on the Park's extended ocean drive, not at its beginning. Where the Gorge commences on the north there is scarce room for the County Road to pass be- tween Picket Mountain and the Tarn; beyond the Tarn the only course a separate Park road could take would be at the mountain foot through continuous woods and over a difficult terrain till the Homans pasture-land is reached on the mountain's eastern side, a route with- out interest throughout. Two of the principal foot-trails on the Island, one of them a memorial path which the Government took over with the obligation to maintain it when the Park was created, the other of historic interest, going back to earliest settler days, would have been ruined by the new road. 4. As soon as the survey map showing the projected road, sent from Washington, was exhibited by instruction on the Park Office Wall, a storm of criticism and attack broke loose and I, who had had nothing whatever to do with the preparation of the plan, was held respon- sible. [G.B.DoRR] Assurance with regard to the carrying out of what 1. was agreed to concerning the Wild Gardens Path down the Long Field. If arrangement can be reached with regard to con- tinuing the road around the Great Meadow by underpass across the County road into Bear Brook Valley and on to the eastern side of Champlain Mountain, such arrangement needs to include assurance that what the Government agreed to in return for my gift of the Long Field, which brought it the Town's surrender of its Great Meadow road, will be faithfully executed and carried out as a unit in connec- tion with what is now proposed along identical lines for Bear Brook Valley. What I asked for at that time was clearly stated and was agreed to. But in making my gift I did not wish to complicate the situation by making it a condition in my deed and what is wanted now is assurance that it will be done and given permanence. How can such assurance be given and made safe as an obligation which the Government has entered into in return for value received? The land I gave the Government two years since, for the purpose of an entrance toward Bar Harbor for its mountain- to-shore road, brought from the Town the surrender to the Park of its Great Meadow Road and thereby saved the Government, 2. according to the estimate of the Federal Bureau of Roads engineers, some seventy-five to eighty thousand dollars. This land, known as the Long Field, was the last land re- maining to me of what I secured from twenty-five to thirty years ago for my Wild Gardens project. What I asked the Government in return, but did not enter as a condition in my deed, was the carrying out over it and over the land across the Meadow to its southern end, a path leading to the Spring, the Delano Wild Gardens, the Gorge and mountain trails, and to plant it, this path lying wholly over land of my giving, in accordance with my Wild Gardens intention, simply and appropriately carried out. For this, as I stated at the time to Mr. Vint and he to Washington four things are necessary: First, completion of the path itself throughout its length; second, provision of good soil for planting; third, planting and purchase of the necessary plants; fourth, maintenance of path and planting after the work is done. My plan for the entrance to the village and my gift to the Government of the Long Field to provide it, bringing the Park the Town of Bar Harbor's former road around the Meadow, east and south, saved the Government, according to the 3. Federal Bureau of Roads engineers' estimate from seventy-five to eighty thousand dollars in addition to a great scenic gain which would far more than compen- sate what I ask. The continuation of the Park road across the County road by underpass, which I have planned pro- visionally and to which I have obtained the Town's consent, should it be carried out, would save the Government yet more over it's former plan and avoid the injury to the County road which it would entail. [G.B DORR] ## The Government receives the Great Meadow where the course of the road to the Spring is now under study not alone from Mr. Rockefeller but in good part, too, from me, who deeded such part to the Government in person- al gift on the clear understanding that a road across it over the land I gave and in accordance with plans I sub- mitted should be built. The gift was accepted and work in accordance with my plan was begun, but was held up presently by the promise given Harold Peabody and his friends, antagonistic to Mr. Rockefeller's work, that no further road construction of any kind should be made in the Park. The road has remained, since then, in the condition it was in when work on it was halted. The plan I then had now gives way rightly to the larger scheme which Mr. Rockefeller's purchase and gift of the Harden Farm land and other properties on Great Pond Hill makes possible, but the road I planned provides certain features to which I strongly hold. The first of these is that any road across the meadow should be led out clearly into the open meadow where the magnificent 2. amphitheatre of mountains and hills surrounding it shall be given full effect and not be lost by being taken below its eastern rim, whose lands I secured for this very pur-- pose over twenty years ago in a dramatic contest for its possession with local land speculators of the period, guessing at the Government's future need. A second purpose that I had in mind when I made my gift was the utilization of the northeastern corner of the meadow as it bays into Strawberry Hill with flowing springs and peat deposits for a Wild Gardens development beneath the sheltering woods above on Strawberry Hill, spared by the great fire that, starting in the meadow, swept the whole hill besides in the 1880s. To this plan also I will strongly hold, connected with the plans I have in mind, and recalling as it does the larger 'Wild Gardens of Acadia' scheme I failed for lack of support to carry out, but which led me to secure and preserve at personal sacrifice the whole meadow basin. As Mr. Rockefeller's interest, represented by Mr. Olmsted, is consulted rightly in regard to the development in the public interest of the land he gives, 3. so I feel that my interest over the lands it has received from me should be consulted also, though not in either case to sacrifice the best result. luin Kobel aim och ACADIA NATIONAL PARK been occunted Mount Desert Island, Maine Report of Visit August 14, 1930. by L. H. Zach feel w.6. OTTER CLIFF ROAD Spent the first part of the morning with Mr. Hill and Mr. Ralston. Mr. Hill has a very small gang working mainly because they are slowed up so terribly by the ledge cut from station 4 + 50 to 5 + 50. It is comparatively soft stuff that breaks up badly with the dynamite. They are getting prac- tically no wall stone out of this cut for use in the big fill from station 6 to 7. This wall stone will have to be brought in from outside quarries. The fill is not a third done across the little valley at this point and it is of course impossible to get tractors or trucks across to get at the necessary big cut. More of the subgrade shows up to a nice finish. I again went into detail with Ralston and Hill, voicing the same feeling I had on my last trip that they are doing more heavy construction work than is necessary by putting a stone foundation in with full 22 foot width; but they return their same arguments and agree between them that this .is their most economical way of working. We chose a section of 30 or 40 feet between stations 1 + 50 and 2 for Ralston to try out a sample to show side graded slopes, wells around trees in fill, parapet, 2 foot berm in turf, etc., for review at the time of my next visit or by Mr. Olmsted on his first visit this fall. Decided to hand lay some rock at the base of the side graded slope on the west side of the road from its take-off at Ocean Drive to about station 2 + 50 in order to keep the surface water from tearing out the base of the swale formed at the point where our side slope meets existing slope. Since Mr. Rockefeller has not yet arrived on the Island and Ralston dares not use the mountain trail from Ocean Drive near the Naval station into the point near station 32 on the new road, they really are held up; they will not use a larger crowd until they have Mr. Rockefeller's permission to go ahead with the other end of the road. LAZ M Acadia National Park -2. 8/14/30. WILD GARDENS OF ACADIA Although I had wired Mr. Dorr on Tuesday that I expected to visit on Thursday and hoped that he might make arrangements for a conference for me with Ledyard Stebbins or Professor Johnson, I found upon meeting him at 11:00 o'clock that he had thus far done nothing about it. After considerable tele- phoning we discovered that both Stebbins and Professor Johnson are not on the Island, the former abroad and the latter away and likely to come back only for a few days in the fall before his return to Johns Hopkins. Mr. Dorr then called Dr. Little, who was also not on the Island, but whose secretary gave us the information that the only botanists this summer are two or three young students who could be of but little service to us. Mr. Dorr then took me to Salisbury Cove where he hoped that some of the biologists might know of someone else on the Island who could give some information about the Great Meadow. Dr. Neal and Dr. Bumpus, both appar- ently leading lights at the Biological Station here, seemed exceptionally interested and an interesting but not particularly valuable discussion resulted from our visit there. The two professors and another (former director) name forgotten, all stated that plant biolo- gists had been sadly in the minority this summer and they were afraid I would not get much information. I was finally directed to the New England Botanical Society where Mr. Fernald they thought might be of help and where Mr. Stebbins is now at work on a new Rhodora. With Williamson and Hill spent most of the afternoon in and around the Great Meadow, stopping first at the weir. The knife edge top which had been suggested as a good thing to add to the top of the log turns out to be a piece of 2 by 6 plank nailed to the face of the log adding considerably more height to the whole dam (it is not a weir of course) than was intended. Roughly the water level has been raised about 1.9 feet instead of the one foot originally intended for this summer. I had Williamson take me to the different gauges and was distressed to find that two of them had been located in the bed of the Tarn Brook which has been dry for sometime, two more of them in the Spring Brook where flowing water from the spring is naturally continuous (50 gallons a minute at the spring) and readings on these gauges valueless so far. Acadia National Park -3. 8/14/30. I had thought that at the time Mr. Olmsted and Mr. Miller were together on this matter that it was under- stood that the gauges were for the purpose of discovering the rise in the water table as a result of the backing up from the stop plank weir (now a dam). As far as I could see the three weeks of measurements thus far taken are not worth much and I took Williamson to six different points where I thought gauges should be established, most of them being in places where the peat has been excavated to a depth sufficient to show up the present water table; the hope is of course that all of the raising of the water table which may be expected from the dam has not taken place in the three weeks (plus) since the dam was put in place. The whole meadow is excessively dry on the surface and there is no difficulty walking anywhere. I found occasional plants of the Rhodora with leaves definitely curled up and more or less limp, not unlike the effect to be seen on any Rhodos during a serious drought such as WE are having these days. The Labrador-tea seems in satisfactory condition and the Spiraea in bloom now is flourishing. Although I have not made enough trials tc be absolutely certain, I am quite sure the long grass areas are also the areas under which the heavy blue clay occurs and I believe we could draw onto the plan which I intend to make from the airplane photographs a line which would fairly accurately define the change from clay to peat. It is amusing, and instructive to see that the Spiraea is practically completely confined to the east side of the main brook through the middle of the meadow, while the Labrador-tea and Rhodora occur mainly between the brook and the rim of the woods that bound the Great Meadow on the west. I had with me the enlargement to a scale of 300 feet to the inch of the first Great Meadow airplane photographs which had come out at the scale of approxi- mately 820 feet to the inch instead of 1000 feet to the inch as ordered and took some notes on the existing vege- tation particularly with reference to the interlopers on a plan I had made by tracing some of the foliage off the airplane photograph. The larger scale photographs which were not taken until & week ago, August 7, have not arrived. I learned from Phillips, Pilot, and Newhall, photographer, during a brief visit at the field in Rockland at the time of my last Camden visit that these larger scale Acadia National Park -4. 8/14/30. photographs were taken at 4800 feet. This will give a scale of 400 feet to the inch which will be enlarged in the New York Office to 300 feet. I expect these photo- graphs to give much better details in the outline of different kinds of vegetations. As Mr. Dorr had asked to accompany me on my studies in the Great Meadow, I went with him at 5:00 o'clock and with Dr. Bumpus who is very interested, but spent only a little time in the meadow as Mr. Dorr thought it was much more to the point for me to see the meadow from Dry Mountain. We therefore climbed the moun- tain getting successively better views of course until we reached the overlook about half way up. I found that from this height with the aid of field glasses it will be easily possible to pick out the different kinds of vege- tation to be spotted onto the plan made over the 300 scale photographs if such a detail plan is considered necessary. (I here make note, although I know not whether it is any of our business, that I was amazed and surprised at Mr. Dorr's activities since the visit I made prior to my trip to Bermuda. The work that he has done in the Great Meadow may be all to the good, namely the cleaning out and shaping up of the now dry channel which takes the overflow from the Tarn. The considerable quantities of good peat which his men are removing in the process of widening this channel he is storing on his own property north of the Harden Farm Road for what purpose I know not I had thought that the Great Headow had changed hands by now and it had become Rockefeller property which if true would make it somewhat questionable if Mr. Dorr ought to be doing anything in this area now. His other main activities have been in the area between the open lawn at the Sieur de Mont and the gravel pit in the Tarn. In this area he has developed a great number of paths which are to give access to the different parts of the future "Delano Wild Gardens". The whole valley in- which the Tarn Brook sits is cut up with these paths which for the number under construction seem to be wide enough for two way roads. Mr. Dorr says, however that they will eventually narrow down and be kept only wide enough to allow for a light truck for maintenance purposes. The road material for these paths, as far as Hill and William- son and I could discover was all coming from the gravel pit at the Tarn, which will mean all the more work for somebody else later in filling back a gravel pit to the grade shown on our last grading plan. I understand from Williamson that Mr. Dorr does not like our plan for over- ?? pifts 1905: My work to save the Great Meadow began years before there was any thought of the National Park, over twenty- five years ago in those early days I saved it three D separate times from ruin. A Now, in the larger scheme which Mr. Rockefeller's gifts of land make possible, I desire to record my long-continued interest in it and the gift of land across it on its eastern border, which I made the Government in 1926 for the purpose of a road, by preserving as a footpath the road then planned and partly built but halted by its becoming involved in the controversy which sprang up under Secretary Work over Mr. Rockefeller's this road constructions. The plan for road for whose purpose I gave thereard was the best that could have been devised, for course and entrance at ptime Editori. al Notes : Examples of draft documents involving Pitman short-heard] My work to save the Great Meadow began years before there was any thought of the Park, over twenty-five years now ago, and I saved it three times in those early days from wish t would like to record my interest in it and the ruin. gift of land, acrossity I made the Government T. footpatient in / 1926 for G a Apartly road purpose froad a aerose it to Park ownerships beyond by preserving as built path approved by the National Park Service at the time, which I built across 10 on extra but which, halted in consequence of the controversy over Mr . Rocke- feller's road constructions and promises made by Secretary Work to the opponents to it, has since remained unfinished. 3 My work to save the great Meadow began years before there was any thought of the Park, new over twentyef ve years ago early like and I saved it three times in those days from ruin I would to 6-Fort-1926 record my interest in path into which the history of my No with interest is written and which I built over the land I gave the acre Government in 1926 to carry a Park Road across its ********* eastern border from an entrance opposite the then Ledgelawn Avenue to the County road near the entrance of to t he Gorga and lands then owned already by the Government through work that I had done. My work to save the Great Meadow began years before National there was any thought of the Park, over twenty-five years ago, and I saved it three times in those early days compute from ruin nous Fr have to record my in it and the desire gift of land across it on its eastern border, which I made the Government in 1926 for the purpose of a road, by preserving as a footpath the road then planned and partly built, leading from the further connecting gift of land down the Long Field, which I am proposing now to make the Government, in direct foot-way course from Bar Harbor to the mountains. job A but halted Ch by ~ R's road constructions X plant my 1 E 12 over road >340 for W,G S canps Pouls yr best course of entrance tell fulling control devised Nice GNT now unless r I YM139. you The plan for the road for whose purpose I gave the land approved at that time by the National Park Service, was future extri The Oarr the best for course and entrance and the Government's future control that could at that time have been devised or could be now unless for the larger scheme of including the whole Great Meadow Basin as a feature of the Park, which Mr. Rockefeller is gifts, supplementing mine, ) Courset eurrance 1905 4. All the land that now remains V me to tell of my Wild Gardens of Acadia dream is the long field, east of the Golf Links, extending to the Meadow from Cromwell's Harbor Brook, over which I have offered the Federal Govern- an Essential feature ment the entrance to Bar Harbor which forms Apart of the plan recently presented at Town Meeting and favorably acted on overt for turning the Harden Farm Road, in the portion that I built encircling the Meadow, to the Gorge, to the Government for inclusion in its intended Park-way from the mountain to the shore. Much that enters into the story df the Park, its origins and development, is written into this Great Meadow area, which, if the plan presented at Town Meeting exclusive should be carried out, will become the unique possession of the National Park, and its telling in some part at least, may be of interest to others in the future. Fa without it thE Park wared not hair been UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK BAR HARBOR, MAINE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT August 16, 1932. Dear Richard: I will take care of your three placards about the Black House, placin one in the Per office. onein the pump-house at Sievr de Monto Spring, and the third in our ran- per station on top of the mountain. I have spoken to Mr. Had- ley about it and he will attend to it. this brinza up a point which I want to bring before you while it is in my mind. I are laying down a principle in re- card to the mountain to- that no notices or placards, no monu- ments, plaques or memorials shall be placed there out-of-doors whether on the survit or alone the roadside leading to it to distract neorle's attention from the one purpose of the road: To exchibit the landscame. The whole mounta I feel, now opened by the road, should remain 9.3 will as the foot-naths have left it heretofore with the single exception of what good mristration makes necessary 5m the way of ranger shelter and a four simply designed rock tables on the summit, Indicating what one is looking at as he turns toward the different points of the COMPLES. Some low building where tea may be served or simple meals be had and visitors if they wish may rest will be needed but my plan is that any such development shall be kept wholly to the west of the little revine that runs across the mountain top, north and south, dividing it into two portions of which the western one, slightly lower but with a superb sunset view, is wholly unused in our present layout. This can have its own separate entrance and parking ground and not be visible e'ther on the sky-line from below or conspicuous from the road. Have the placards left at the Park ffice. With regards, Yours sincerely, GBD-0 Richard 1. Hale, Esq., Box 688 Bar Harbor, Maine. Page lof 2 [M.D.I. Roadside Developments During the past month two further projects of exceptional public usefulness have been entered on in extension of the Great Pond Camp's Roadside Beautification and Improvement program. Thes consist in the development of a Highway-bordering Village Green in the town cf Southwest Harbor, wherein the Park is situated and, of a neighboring playground area for the combined Grade and High schools of the Town, also bordering the highway and important as con- tribution to the children's playtime safety In connection with these, provision is also being made for removing OS rked automobiles from the roadside in the Town by giving them entrance to a parking area the Town will provide at the rear of the Village Green, which will constitute a great improvement both in anpearance and in freedom from cor- gestion on the street. In all those the Town is cooperating fully, having made a considerable appropriation for the purpose at its recent annual meeting. Trees well grown and of such size as can be transplanted readily have been offered in contribution to the project, and loan and road material, the Camp furnishing labor only and the use of trucks, etc., which it has available. Theseprojects when completed will constitute a great and permanent improvement earnestly desired by the Administration and citizens of the Town, who have been throughout cooperating generously with the Par and Camp officials to make the Camp's work effieient and be rmanetly useful. 2 of2 2. A second project, on which roadside-clearing work has been going on this month, continuing work already done along an important roadside area devastated a number of years since by fire, is along the road to Beech Mountain and Beech Cliff, two of the most beautiful and important landscape features in the Park which have been practically inacessible for years past owing to the virtual abandonment by the Town of Mt. Desert of the road as public highway which formerly gave access to them. In this work both the Town of Mt. Desert and Lr. Rockefeller personally, from whom the Park received a dozen years are the Beech Cliff property in gift have made substantial contributions and gravel from one of the best sources on the Island has been freely contributed and is being contributed by the Wild Cardens of Acadia. This work must continue through the spring but when it is done a majo improvement to the Park, and through the Park to the public, will have been accomplished and one that will be permanent. [GBDDRR] ALL MAINE JOINS EXPRESSING EE ORGANIZES APPROVAL OF PARK ROAD PROGRAM Guy Torrey la Chairman and Governor Gardiner, The Maine Legislature, Newell Emery Secretary MAP OF MOTOR ROAD Maine Developement Commission, Muni- of 1931 Committee ON PAGE TODAY cipal Governments and Chambers of Com- At the organization meeting of the warrant committee held last Friday A map showing the route of merce Join Mt. Desert Island Citizens and evening, Guy E. Torrey was elected the motor road that Mr. Rocke- Organizations in Praise for Rockefeller chairman, and Newell Emery was feller has offered to built for Conservation and Construction Work and elected secretary. At this meeting the Acadia National Park appears on page nine of today's TIMES. in Urging Completion of 1930 Construction various committees were named as follows: Public Safety, S. B. Rodick, Copy for the plate appearing in Offered by Mr. Rockefeller. chairman Sawyer, Vesta Foster, THE TIMES was furnished by the office of Acadia National Park A. D. Smith, and Linnie Smith; General Government, L. Lee Abbot, and was made by photographing John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s request to the Department of the chairman W.. B. Marshall, Lena and re-touching the photograph Interior that he be released in large part from his 1930 offer of Potter, A. B. Hodgkins, and A. W. of the original map. road construction for Acadia National Park has aroused, not Brown; Education, A. B. Hodgkins only in Bar Harbor but throughout Maine, a tremendous ex- chairman, A. F. Sherman, Mrs. Ethel Conners, Kenneth McLean, and MR. ROCKEFELLER pression of approval for the work of conservation and develop- ment which this distinguished citizen has so generously support- Linnie Smith: Health and Sanita- ed. Governor Gardiner has written Secretary Wilbur urging that tion, A. D. Smith, chairman, L. Lee Abbott, Ethel Conners, Walter Le- THANKS THE CLUB that the Rockefeller withdrawal be not immediately accepted. land, and J. H. Sawyer; Recreation Both Houses of the Maine Legislature have memorialized Secre- and Advertising, A. F. Sherman, retary Wilbur requesting that the Rockefeller program be con- chairman. Archie Getchell, S. B. tinued. The Maine Development Commission has expresse 1 its e Rodick, Ethel Keucher, and Lena President Archie L. Getchell of approval of the program. The Selectmen of Bar Harbor have it Potter;Highwaya and Bridges, Walters Luncheon Club Gets Note G. Hill, chairman, Clarence Dow, wired Mr. Rockefeller and Secretary Wilbur. e. From Donor of Park Road e Archie Getchell, H. M. Hodgkins, Dave H. Morris writes to the Citizens Committee offering n D. W. MacLeod, and John Stalford. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., has writ- his assistance in furthering the program Edward T Stotesbury IS The time limit for admitting the ten to President A. L. Getchell of the wires from Palm Beach expressing his approval. Miss Edith G. al articles to the warrant elapsed Feb. Bar Harbor Board of Trade Luncheon 9, and the various committees are Bowdoin wires from New York to urge the continuation of the Club as follows, thanking that organi- now considering the warrant itself. zation for its expression of confidence program. Mrs. Cadwalader Jones agrees with the sentiments In the near future the warrant will be and endorsement sent by telegraph expressed in Dr. Francis G. Peabody's letter of last week. and posted. last week: urges that the road building program be carried to completion Judge A. T. Clearwater writes from Kingston. New York, to PHYSICAL TRAINING AT 26 Broadway THE Y. M. C. A. THURSDAY express his regret at the withdrawal of the Rockefeller offer New York February 4, 1931 James Grant of Hall Quarry Mrs S J McFarland of Otter Exhibition and Drill by Pupiis of Mr. A. L. Getchell, Creek and Walter Moore or Elkins Park Pennsylvania are Public Schools, Showing Bar Harbor, Maine among others who write favoring the road building project Work of Year Dear Sir: William Otis Sawtelle, founder and director of the Islesford I am in receipt of your telegram of IS Thursday evening there will be an collection and authority on Mount Desert Island history broad the third, conveying to me the reso- or exhibition and drill at the Y. A., lution passed by the Bar Harbor cast from Station WLBZ in Bangor on Monday urging Maine held under the direction of the director Board of Trade Luncheon Club at its people to back the program of of physical training of the public weekly gathering. Please thank the Many town and CITY governments chambers commerce schools, Howard L. Disque. Dumbell club on my behalf for this gracious IS drills, tumbling, pyramid building, expression of confidence and endorse- boards of trade, fraternal organizations clubs and others through e clowning, and many drills, including ment which is deeply appreciated. out Hancock County and Maine have given expression of their dumbell, free hand, and calisthenic Very sincerely, approval of the work that Mr. Rocketeller has done and TS doing ly exercises, performed by various classes John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in and about Acadia National Park from the schools, will feature the d exhibition. The exhibition will start Bad Baby Molar," by several pupils Both Maine and metropolitan newspapers have g en their promptly at seven-thirty. of the schools. The play is directed editorial support to the road building program A feature of the evening work will by Miss Elizabeth-Newb who is in Continued on Page 70 he the presentation of a play, "The (Continued on page 2) park Island, on the by John B Jr. of by way other to build new 0808 consin imable 74,000,000 who do of the totand for years roads. E the Desert have the time Wit the strength to summers.a Seal Harbor, tained an State plote sections of the no.: inac southern shore. He has ex- penditure'of w cresible, about $8,000,000 in the build VED economic loss also tog bridle paths through the forests be borne by and much of Aly en especially in these and Trokd along side of Cadillac of Mr. ment. The road syste would proceed over the highest of the peake in the national have riven years of to be open to er anto ployment to reserve. Last June he proposed to arts of many laborers. The Harbor Board Our public complete the road to the.summit and of Trade is taking immediate action recognized the Mount to connect it with a highway along such to prevail upon Mr. Rockefeller to Encouragi the coast; the national park represent any way reconsider his action, and at the meet. tatives approved the plans and their made by Gove ing of the Ellsworth Chamber of Hale and Cor uties of execution was instrusted to Frederick lasting Commerce Luncheon Club last Thurs: Law Olmsted, the landscape archi- Governor Bre d. day, the expression of sentiment was tect. Then there developed unexpected anticipate tha OLVED unanimously in favor of the road- opposition, an opposition which had will promptly that Mr. building program. Mr. Getchell, of expressed itself in a muttered remon- sive of hope ti 1 request the Bar Harbor board, was present at strance at the "guly gash made in not be allowed to con the luncheon, and was asked to ex- Cadillac's side" by the first road, but We have no bad. press to the Bar Harbor board the which roared in no uncertain terms Chamber of willingness of the Ellsworth chamber "the desecration of Mount Desert's prompt supp Master to cooperate in any way It is pretty natural beauties" if Mr. Rockefeller's for the same son, Sec. poor thanks to Mr. Rockefeller, after new plans were carried to completion. zations thro all he has done for this section, to that assistant b criticise,1 plans for further improve- This situation presented a curious ed by the N ment. We trust that he can be made puzzle for the park authorities. The ciation and to realize that the great mass of the difficulty in most of the public domain fessional zations and has been to obtain funds for needed r passed people do appreciate what he has Mr. Rockef development, not in refusing money nd sent done. that the sta for increased accessibility. Whether ckefeller Mt. Desert solicited or unsolicited, the authorities ek. Portland Sunday Telegram his generous soon found letters pouring in setting that it shal forth the advantages of each side nbers of Mr. Rockefeller can hardly be shall procee of the controversy. Mrs. David B. of Bar blamed for withdrawing his offer of Perhaps it Ogden of this city, the owner of the and apr that such $4,000,000 for roads in the Acadia property sought for the new road, kefeller, National Park at Mount Desert manifested withheld her consent to its sale until ervation Island for, no doubt, he was pestered few oppone shekkew the sentiment of the summer protestants standing in residents and also that of the year- progress Fornald, Mrs. Gladys Bryant, Mrs. McCree, ell. Mrs. Mc core and Mr. wo direles put et which was people of the he tables were h candles and dinner of fruit hed potatoes nd layer calee mitters were: ring the dinner, Butler, Mrs. Cad: Mountain Orcutt, Mrs. nq.: on decor Candage, and n distracting ing on tables Bracy, Mrs. Grindle, Mrs. Damon, Mrs. Nina Pinkham, irs. Watson. al Ash Wednes .30 p.m., at the tional Church Carroll of the e speaker. This St. Jude's and urch. : McCrae spent Bangor, visiting Ernest Andrews. d Smallidge are of a-baby boy. the Bar Harbor e and the baby in Jordan have the house with ATTER e work. Cestif Garbers Ht tions Amountain D o's chool, wership. meet thin week, Jumette McKen the rieb T ool. worship Somesville contributed their ued critics basis, has persevered in his extreme February 9, 1902 on the question. them 88 years ago. We have 10r The year round residents were in- generosity in the island development, Mr. Albion F. Sherman known a certain point of .land of favor the Rockefeller project. development that has vastly magni- The Times Seal Harbor as Ingraham's Point Mount Besert, somewhat remote from fied the scenic beauties by making Bar Harbor, Maine But if you ask anyone where such center of population, with no them accessible, and ,enhanced them Dear Mr. Sherman: point is the answer is "I don t know. or oxcursion boats or trains to bring in by bridge construction and by forestry Mr. Francis Peabody in his splendid The name is known as "Blue Point "trippers," was never overcrowded. of achievement, in which undertaking he has received the constant cooperation letter has perhaps hit on a compromise And it is right near the Champian word To these residents the improvement the roads would mean more entertain- and zealous effort of George B. Dorr, which may be a solution of the road Monument. I often wonder what ment for visitors and a otresponding superintendent of the National Park. question upon which there seems to become of Dry Mountain. Flyin The advantages that would be ex- be equally strong feeling on both sides. Squadron is it not? infrux of tourista They had no object- tended by the Rockefeller plan would In the elaborate report which Mr. We get mixed up with new name ion to the "democrativing of their be by DO means confined to Mt. Morris and others distributed to win- and are like a ship without a rudda After considering all the ter and summer residents alike, it was The good old names are homely his proposal Mr. Rocke- Desert island alone but would be very beneficial to Maine and its people. strongly recommended to leave wild true to life. the area around Newport and Gorbam Yours sincerely feller recently wrote to the Bat his Bangor's interests are large for we Mts. and the Beehive, for future C. H. Clement Harbor TIMES. pro- consider Acadia National park as one for have no desire to be put in the of our area attractions. Bangor and generations to enjoy. As this report fine position of forcing upon even a small was made after a careful study of the State should aid in every way to minority of the people who frequent bring about the culmination of Mr months by one of the best landscape FRESHMAN CLUB WINS PRIZE FOR BEST PLAT an Mount Desert Inland something they architects in the country and was tions at Rockefeller's magnificently generous do not want, nor do I care to be the conception of the duty of wealth, now apparently acceptable to every one The Freshman Club won the pri d com- should continuing cause of the regrettably unfortunately stayed by an opposi- no dissenting voice on it being heard- would it not be best to !adopt Mr. for the best one-act play present Develop bitter criticism and comment which tion, extraordinarily conceived, that have been expressed not only in some the antithemia of the public spirit Peabody's wise suggestion and let before the Girl Reserve department of the letters published but in other this part of the island retain its the proceeds of the plays to go building manifested by Mr. Rockefeller. ways as well. I prefer, therefore, to natural beauty and accept with much Tennis Court Fund. The plays we all well acted and presented. the undertaking rather than gratitude and appreciation Mr. Rocke- the circum SALISBURY COVE feller's generous gift of a continuation The Seventh Grade club RE MOTHERS CLUB MEETS of the Ocean Drive around Otter "Marching Home," a one att Cliffs, across Otter Creek, etc.? If we describing Lincoln's visit to the So He made this supplementary per The most successful meeting of the must have a bridge across the Creek during the Civil War, and descri xplanation: Eden-Salishjury Cove Mothers' club let us have it now when Mr. Olmsted his reception by the children Tb HC nature It never occurred to me the motor was held on February 5 at the Bay can build it as we all know his beauti- taking part in the play were have road especially would be received View Grange, who very generously ful bridges throughout, the country. Beard, Agnes Foley, Virginia Higgi VL Arlène Byard, Harriet Stanley option of with anything but general favor, have the use of the hall to the club for Mr. Peabody in his letter refers to Dunham, Hilda Leland, Kathar I had not forgotten that some this occasion. About fifty people were the sacrifices necessary for the march Ingalls, Dorothy Shiro, Gladys Frc the present park motor present among whom were the mem- bers of nursing and nutrition of progress and mentions the automo- lin, Margaret Hollis, Louise Spenc rigorously opposed by a few biles 85 an example. May I say that Helen Young, Grace Ireland, who asked for a hearing in committee of the Bar Harbor Branch on that question E was never in sym- Talbot, Valerie Webber, Ella ton before the Secretary of of the Red Cross. pathy with those opposing their com- Williams, Bestrice Stuart. The speaker of the afternoon was the that they might voice ing on the island, because it seemed The Eighth Grade club present also of Miss Campbell, assistant professor of that Oil, H Home Economic of the University of to me unfair not only to the residents "The Sunshine Fairy," telling of the island but also to their frienda story of how the Sunshine Fairy Mini Campbell spoke very on the responsibility of upon the mainland. However, there entered the Princess' sick room parents to adequately train their are often cases when we Americans made her well. Those taking part Bls enjoyment, of it. children in proper habit formation. unnecessarily sacrifice beauty to the the play were Beverly Carr, The march of progress For example, when Cass, Dorothy Leland, Patricia lly Delicious refreshments were served supplied iointly by members of the brick blocks were springing up every by, Marguerite Soper, Ruth Hig club. Walter Russell was it where in Boston it was thought that Florence Harriman, Eleanor of refreshment committee. in the march of progress and Janet Higgins. from the Ballsbury Cove would have and the The Freshman club gave old John Hancock house on Beacon Trape Triangle, the story of Hill was love Mair of Spaghettic of special feature of the hurdy dance by Dorothy Hi Beatrice People titbes the taken IN retain to.the WAS expressed. ain Augusta depected TESTS ate House, where I apention with opposition was vohemently COLD Perhaps It's too late, I hope it innto do anything but every person within Opce can help, if he or she Chamber of Commerce retronce to forwer copy of There is.no local issue. but nation to Mr one. We in Maine but Httle realiz what a remarkable haveright suriously here at home in Acadia National NH for the Road section sad Park: we are really too close to K to benefit at the proper perspective. We are too The Zeps of Bluehin acting BE IT LOS With R OLVE 12 prone to take everything for granted under the leadership of E G wis that :3' has never occurred to us of whose liams sent telegrams to Joan D existence Mr. Rocketeller has never Jee to Hon. Ray Lyman to be released from other to heard that our expression of grateful Houri Secretary of the Interior and struct the above mentioned road. appreciation and approval would be to Senator Frederick Hale, in the in- Signed any moment. Mount Desert Island terest of the road project, and urging N. Lee Hanscom, to Da national asset." that the original plan be adhered to Gertrade Thompson, See poor thank all be has We are part of the Great East. Our regarding the building of the road. neighboring Canadian provinces on The Bluebia belegrains which were Business Women's Club mant the north are wide awake to the im sent read as follows: portance of carefully planned road Senator Frederick Hale The Business and to realise that building programs. The Perron bould U.B. Senate Women's Club of Bo, Harbor passed people do ap 1 vard around the Gaspe Penizeula in Washington, D.C. the following resolution and sent done. remarkable example. The projected Sincerely request you put forth copie of the game to Mr. Rockefeller scheme for a provincial highway to every possible effort to induce Mr. and Secretary Wilbur last week. Portla the Island of Cape Breton and the RockefeBer to reconsider his action in creation of a National Park at Louis building road Acadid National Park RESOLVED: that the members of Rock bourg you will soon hear about. We on Mount Desert Island. the Business Women's Club of Bar blamed for already have our National Park and Citizens of Bluehill Harbor express their thanks and ap $4,000,000 fo if we hadn't I would venture to say By E. G. Williams preciation to Mr. John D. Rockefeller National P that there would have been a descrat Jr. for bis interest in the vation Island for ion at Mount Desert Island worth Hon Ray Lyman Wilbur of the natural beauties of Mt. Dearr to death worrying over when spruce pulpwood Sec. of Interior island and endorse this exceedingly who did was around $15 to $18 a cord. Washington, D. C. generola offer to build the proposes for the I say you can help and I mean it. We sincerely hope Mr. Rockefeller automobile road making available might thr Get your letters of approval of Mr. will reconsider and build the road. additional beauty spots of the island the Maine Rockefeller's road building plans in Would appreciate all you can do in Business & Professional Acadia National Park into Washing- There's favor of origin plan. Women's Clab ton at once. You are too late today Citizens of Bluebiit seek to stay to get your letters into the mail which ment in this By E. G. Williams Sent to Mr. Rockefeller and Ray leaves Portland around nine o'clock are not Lyman Wilbur, Sec. of the Interior tonight on the State of Maine End John D. Rockefeller, Jr. pestiferous. Washington, D. C. press for Washington 26 Broadway Bar Bri But catch the mail tomorrow. New York, N. Y summer Write Congressman John E. Nelson We sincerely hope you will tecon- Woman's Study Club is glad to and Congressman Donald F. Snow, sider and build the road in Acadia where wou! depending upon the district in which Park which would mean so much to The Woman's Study Club of Bar age their you reside. Write Senator Frederick us all. Harbor passed the following resolution not built Hale, our senator, or if you feel the Citizens of Blueh!!! at a meeting last week. all was clined to heed the By S GS Williams for that idle don't write-telegraph The Womena' Study Club of Ba: the people Surry Expresses Ito Views Harbor, Maine, consisting of thirty federal, NEIGHBORING TOWNS member. wish to express to you theb VOICE THEIR APPROVAE The Selectmen of the Town of Surry sincere endorsement of the proposed provide sent the following tele ram to Senator motor road in Acadia National Part Nearby Towns and Cities back Hale. as outlined in Mr. Rockefeller's off Acadia Park Development of June 27, 1930. Program We the Selectmen of the Town of Womens Study Club Surry Maine, heartily endorse Mr. Bertelle Sawyer, Pres. With Bessie D. Williams Act. Sec. Harbor Otter Creek, the reof the To the Editor Feb. 1981 unbiased, in New York believe that It Times thinking just I am not only of the now seems to but Depert, Mone short time. Depert. and Acadia N should not (the entire State of tion to the words to tion, caused by project be carried out Mr. John D. Rocke, amongst some papers, the original on National Park, to ranerously planned. JR proposed building on Mt of letter wrote ex year. to the voted by the Board Access X Island and in the National New York Herald. At that time there was going on in the New York to those who would of Bar Harbor, Moine It was with great régret that Newspaper a controversy-pro And the wondrous Birth E. Libby, Chairman in your last week's edition of around and about that Killien Amery Turn that, due to certain let. con-regarding the roads then being written by a few of the summer built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and IG would be hard Alvah L Abbott his associates on Mt. Desert island. permanent residents Frank E Higgins nts of the island, against the roads Mr. Rockefeller Of course, we had heard down this ing of these roads, and venture to say who would UNCHEON CLUB need to be released from his way. then, and years before then, UNANIMOUS FOR ROAD much said "about it, and about. the heated which entailed the spending of Then, as now, the men and women Providence; R. I. corres four millions of dollars. you issue of Feb. 6th. (198 of Trade Group Passes me, native of Hancock County, engaged in these arguments were fine, refined, intelligent people, devoted to There are no "gashes" op Resolution at Meeting last any years, nd of the town of MC. Desert Island and all the Natural the slopes, sides, flanks Tuesday Desert for about five years, it is Beauties contained thereon. of those grand old hills. receivable that anyone could con- Then, as now. some were afraid, and wistful charm of the The Bar Harbor Board of Trade for an instant, the turning down are not being destroyed suncheon Club unanimously passed a proposition as Mr. Rocke- dreaded, feared and prophesied de's- body." No one is being in following resoluation at its zular truction to those dear and lovely meeting Jast week, all that has been written, places. The roads then in discussion "places of peace and well understand Mr. Rocke- have been mostly completed, and all These road scratches can envisage the good derived there hill sides do not prevent RESOLVED That the Bar Harbot position in his desire to discon- from. finding sequestered quiet of Trade Luncheon,Club at it. the project. But on the other I wonder if any of you, Mr. Then, as now, the road controversy my soul can commune with rathering takes this opportun- was conducted by minds which dis- with nature's god. If to express to Mr. John D. Rocke feller in particular, have thought its heartiest thanks and note that the majority of those played broad tolerant vision, and by deep yearping the great woods is still there and Appreciation for all he has done and written to the "TIMES" against those, I am sorry to say, who showed whisperings round. doing for the preservation and de- building of the roads, were from meager spirit and limited view. Before proceeding further in this It is still " land of of the scenic beauties md of the olden summer residents, of Mt. Desert Island; road discussion, Mr. Editor, I must reaching round about in have practically lived their ing still stretch their old jorse heartily his most recent and feel sure, are now living, hand you, now, my token of admis offer of building the proposed sion, which I note is the fashion set with spots of sunny op much in the past. Tis surprising with nook to lie and obile road opening up additional don't realize that the old order of by others. It is over 50 years ago into brooks, and II about beauties without injury to the shas passed. Times have chang- since I first visited Mt. Desert Island or the sanctity of thin and for 30 years winter and summer, keep leafy house and sin people must change as well! these mountains and I have been con- in and out the boughs, would we be if we just stood stantly and intimately acquainted. a lovely sky of blue, dow I? I have witnessed the mountains laugh through, and here SAWTELLE BROADCASTS Many of those letters gave the im- FROM BANGOR STATION clothed in their seasonal colorings, every part are mossy sease sion that the natives should have voice in regard to anything of never daily the same. I have traversed, the open trails, some in I think, every path and trail and with low'ring leaves Founder of Islesford Collection portance concerning the island. I which eye looks up half streetly Authority on Island Hie- nk that Mrs. Ogden was more fair climbed to the top of every hill and half wfully-places of nesting tory Asks Maine People to mountain. I have enjoyed the solitude en the suggested that it might be for poets made." Still-there and there Support the Program of the woods, the glens and quiet t to a vote; a vote of the summer idents and natives alike. Yet we places, the charm of the vales and need be no distress because of the ust not lose sight of the fact that lakes and the glorious grandeur df thin road's wrinkle along the moub- William Otis Sawtelle of Islesford, mountain top scenery. So these have tain's brow. Nature still ret m in HI founder of the Islesford Collection is matter concerning the whole been me all these years, not only a her lovely grandeur. The wild flowers and widely known authority on early source of pleasure, but a companion- still blossom and bloom, in fragrant history of the Mount Desert Island tion shade and open bower, and this dear nation. broadcast from Station WLBZ Then there are those who seem to ship, helpful and charming, which has complaining summer sojourner for Babgor on Monday, urging Moine ink that we natives have no right added much to the spiritual and finer years, will still find sweet Bolace to voice their approval of the for the beauty which God has values which life should be made up generously spread all around us of. As Age comes on one, slowly but when gentle spring returns. teleller construction program From gloomy winter's city modda adi National Park. Mr. Sawtella re OZ this island! I remember the surely, one becomes more appreciative reat Chbrill I experienced on beholding of the manifold beauties in, Nature, these road laments arise. I from under the auspices of the Ban- reen Mountain from the balcony of the madding crowd by Jordan's and Chamber of Commerce which has and if the propellspirit is in one, there will be no begruding others a share Bubble ponds, around Eagles, Echo, ally supported the road building be William Miller cottage, for the and other lakes, over hills and dates, fram from the beginning rst time, quite a few years ago. in nature's loveliness. I believe with with that thrill came the heart-felt through lovely vales, in sweet silence, MR Sawtelle said in part Glenn Frank that 'Beauty is better where the mountain glens overber realizes the paramount when the suggested that it might be mountain. 1 nav d of the woods, the glens and quiet for poets made." Stilltenero put to 8 vote; a vote of the summer places, the charm of the vales and need be no distress use of the residents and natives alike. Yet we thin road's wrinkle along the mouth- William Otis Sawtelle of Islesford, lakes and the glorious grandeur of tain's bro Nature still in MI tounder of the Islesford Collection must not lose sight of the fact that mountain top scenery. So these have this is matter concerning the whole her lovely grandeur. The wild flowers and widely known authority on early been to me all these years, not only a source of pleasure, but a companion- still blossom and bloom, in history of the Mount Desert Island nation hade and open bower, and this dear broadcast from Station WLBZ Then there are those who seem to ship, helpful and charming, which has think that we natives have no right complaining summer sojourner for Bangor on Monday, urging Maine R added much to the spiritual and finer thirty years, will still find sweet Bolace to voice their approval of the to care for the beauty which God has values which life should be made up when gentle spring returns. eleller construction program bin in so generously spread il `around us of. As age comes on one, slowly but surely, one becomes more appreciative From gloomy winter's city moods Acadia National Park. Mr Sawtella here OF this island! I remember the these road laments arise. Far froth spoke under the auspices of the Ban- great thrill I experienced on beholding of the manifold beauties in Nature, and if the proper spirit is in one, there the madding crowd by Jordan's and Chamber of Commerce which has Green Mountain from the balcony of will be no begruding others a share Bubble ponds, around Eagles, Echo, loyally supported the road building the William Miller cottage, for the and other lakes, over hills and dales, program from the beginning. first time, quite a few years ago. in nature's loveliness. I believe with in With that thrill came the heart-felt Glenn Frank that "Beauty is better through lovely vales, sweet silence, Mt. Sawtelle said in part: or where the mountain glens reverber his thought: "Thank God, its free-all and cheaper than the big stick as an instrument for maintaining law and ate with song, and where the sun- Because it realizes the paramount d- thin wonderous beauty is free!" order and contentment and satisfac- shine melts away in twilight golden Acadia National Park occupies 4 I wonder if the younger generation red, those who bemoan and those the attractions of our State of of summer residents feel as a few tion. That a policy that can make possible vast areas of beauty in which who admire these roads can And Bangor Chamber of Commerce of their elders do, in regard to the roads being built! I expect, if they the soul of this people can continually peace In ramble or sedate meditation. earnestly concerned in giving its 931 C To those of us who are true nature litance to prevail upon John D. were questioned, quite a few would be renew itself is by no means its smallest surprised I doubt if any young folks contribution to the social welfare of lovers everlasting indebtednets is due Rockefeller, Jr., to continue his to those fine public spirited men, and nificent program for the expan- in these modern times be they poor the nation." women who through long patient en- of the highway system on Mt. or rich, resident or non-resident, would Most of the contributors to this decide that they would prefer to climb road discussion, while they may have deavors, have preserved wonder- Island. If Mr. Rockefeller is mountains on foot, except occasion- clear minds, loving hearts and are well ful locality in Maine, and created prevailed upon to reconsider the ret the means for its protection and recre- ithdrawal of $4,000,000 because of eek ally, when they can so easily drive to meaning, refined folks, they have not ation for those who will enjoy nd othe criticism to the expansion of the to their tops; and revel in the gorgeous the true facts nor a thorough under- standing of this road project. They not destroy There are train Ind paths Highway system, it will be nothing host views thus attained. Where on this are far from understanding the full and Wills and crags dant to hort of a calamity not only for Mt. earth can one find more beautiful meaning of this whole wonderful road climb for those of stroti timbs And cadia National Park, for Mt. Desert of views, or as interesting a drive, as undertaking, designed by the very they have no reason to lament. The Island, but for the entire State of that provided by Mr. Rockefeller when he conceived "The New Motor best minds, to conserve and preserve road Green Mt. top will open up to Maine. over those who are not able to climb, Most of know the road building tant Road?' beauty, andrenrich our finer natures, and prove of everlasting benefit to of wonderous surrounding scener of program in Acadia National Park cept. sea and beautiful landscape. The from which Mr. Rockefeller has asked and Then again, in these, the most strengous times we haveknownsin future generations Compared to the vast value of this winding roads being built by John D. the secretary of the interior to be Rockefeller, Jr. are marvele of engi- relieved. the great war, is it right, or common to turn down a proposition noble road enterprise it is appalling to neering skill, and the granite bridg He has said in a recent letter, pub- which involves the spending and cit- consider the scanty reasons advanced built and now/being built over the lished in the newspapers, that he culating of four millions of dollars, by objectors. Chiefly "paths and trails wood ravines are monuments of art. takes the step because he does not from small e place? There are many and such" which to any fair mind The roads have been planned with want "to be the continuing cause of who are out of employment who appears infinitesimal by any fair law care and skill at enormous personal the regretably bitter criticism and would belglad to earn their living, of comparison, and which one finds on proper investigation and consider expense 80 that every vista of lovely comment which have been expressed but have no opportunity view on sea or land can best be ob in some of the letter published but hts. ation are not harmed at all, but are by I, for one, feel that it isn't right for tained have been over the roads in other ways as well.' Up to the minority to have the right, or wisely protected. lately and viewed the gorgeous Mills present the secretary of the interior to turn away 8 project of such Quoting Leonard Opdycke, "Road in winter garb. The people of these has not released Mr. Rockefeller from tually vast importance to 80 many people; building here would be particularly United States who may be fortunate his pledge to build the roady The but in the future. Such deplorable and could be regarded as enough to visit this delightful region secretary is waiting for further infor that by Mr. purposeful violation. That, to say will- am confident, agree with me mation-he wants to know the senti- the would be thing of the least, is not 8 fair statement. and with n the permanent residents ment of the people-yours and mine of Mt. Desert that John D Rocke in this matter. A thing For glorified common sense, read from feller, J. done and is dding So far only a very small minority over again and again, Mrs. Pabbri's noble work in the building of these and they of the opposition, have fine letter Mr Stebbens roads. gone rd. A very small minority plics clear facts, understanding ud ment, and proper knowledge of the A native nature lover always makes the most James Grant favoring worthy project Crue situation, Much, very much Hall Quarty Maine that it stands permin® and that! BAR are not the sort LETTER C In fact, Maine and those being Acadia Nationale interest and WALTER The following are which come to the Bar the Bar Harbor TD B8. only my OWB Elkine Park Man Gives must of for Favoring the GOV. GARDINER WRITE State of Maine, Schall be do FIT can to aid of Road SECRETARY in the House, I your committee. be Very truly your Walter A. Moore writee has made all plans Dave H. Morris of this land and Park, Pennsylvania, to give Bar Maine's Chief Active Interest in be has offered the ons for favoring the completion of the Government the of MISS BOWDOIN CONTINUES Rockefeller road building Acadia National HER INTEREST IN ROADS dollars that the oppo 7189 feller. The Governor of Maine, milight and comes from of the state, that the Public-Spirited Summer Resident Elkins Park, Penna William Tudor Gardiner, who which the state would derive Gives Further Expression of Feb. 8, 1981 communication with Chairman H Shea of the Citizens' Committee (1) over its bounds Approval In Telegram to Mr. Albion Sherman last. week, wrote Hon. Bay Lyne with be benefits also to THE TIMES Bar Harbor Times the who come into the state of Bar Harbor, Maine ters Wilbur. Secretary of the Interior, Miss Edith G. Bowdpin, whose Dear Mr. Sherman: follows, under date of February 8. during the summer season; wish to second the motion of letter in favor of the road building I have read with great interest your building State of Moine Senator from Hancock, Senator project appeared in the Tuds several letters on the proposed Rockefeller has Office of the Governor that this resolution be adopted weeks ago, sends the following tele road and I would like to express my offer that it be adopted without refer gram to the Editor of newspaper. opinion. some Augusta I am in favor of building the road To February 1981 ende any committee. because (1) it would be an attraction for Hon Ray Lynam Wilbur, Secretary the resolution was unan- Editor of Bar Harbor Times for a good many summer visitors, and Mt. Department of Interior, imously adopted by a rising vote. Dear Sir: of most importance (2) would be the incon Washington, D. C. It is regrettable that it took such a Dear Mr. Secretary: DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. measure as the withdrawal of Mr. extent to which it would relieve the sider, I am very much in hopes that there employment situation. of URGES ROAD COMPLETION Rockefeller's generous offer to bring will be no difficulty in the way of the the voice of the people of Mount If this road should be built it would feller accomplishment of Mr. Rockefeller's Desert to realization of the greatness be enjoyed by the summer people as In Clarence C. Stetson, Chairman, generous offer for building roads on Wire Secretary Wilbur, Ex- well as the natives. In expressing their can of his plan. I believe that Mr. Rocke pressing Sentiments feller must realize that a great number opinions, a good many people have feller' Mt. Desert Island. It seems to spiendid thing to make this beautiful of Maine People of the letters against his project were said to build the road would be spoil- tinue territory available to our citizens and from correspondents who did not/un- ing the natural beauty of the island. hand, visitors not only of the present time derstand the genuine benefits to be I fully realize that a point may be Rock Under date of February 4 Clarence but of the future as well. C. Stetson of Bangor, Chairman of attained or others who only took reached where the island may lose its to no If I can submit any information to the Maine Development Commission, charm, but I think the good that will letter advantage of opposition to see their seat the following telegram to Secre- be derived from the road will counter- the b you or be of any service I should be names in print and had only their most glad to do 80. tary Wilbur of the Interior: own pleasures at heart. As an old balance any small loss in natural few Yours sincerely, summer resident of Mount Desert may beauty. who Wm. Tudor Gardiner If the government should accept lives, Augusta, Maine I urge Mr. Rockefeller to reconsider February 4, 1931 Mr. Rockefeller's request to be re- very his decision. MAINE LEGISLATURE Secretary Wilbut Edith G. Bowdoin lieved from his offer to build the road, they UNANIMOUS FOR ROAD Dept. Interior, it would mean that a good many things MRS. CADWALADER JONES people from Bar Harbor and the sur- ed; Washington, D. C. Both Senate and House Memoral. AGREES WITH DR. PEABODY rounding towns would have very little Wher At the meeting of the Maine Devel- ize Secretary Wilbur, Urging opment Commission following resolve work except what they can get in the still? Completion of Rockefeller was passed and ordered forwarded Public-Spirited Summer Resident summer months. Ma Roads to you. Resolved that the Maine De- Believes Rockefeller Program I am a great admirer of Bar Harbor press velopment Commission urge John D. Should Be Carried Through and Mt. Desert Island. Being born no Both houses of the Maine Legiala Rockefeller, Jr. to carry on his gener- there, I have wished that my opinion impo ture on last Wednesday, under stta ous program of road construction in be known. I say build the road for its think Acadia National Park. The people of Mrs. Cadwalader Jones, who has pension of the rules, unanimously attraction for the|summer people and when memoralized Secretary Wilbur to re Mame deeply appreciate what he has been a summer resident of Bar Harbor for the work it would make for the put quest Mr. Rockefeller to continue done and contemplates doing. for more than forty years and who people of Bar Harbor and vicibity. resid 3th his road program on Mount Clarence E. Stetson has always been actively interested Very truly yours, must Desert Island. Chairman Maine Development in the work of the Village Improve Walter A. Moore this Commission ment Association and in many other natic On\motion by Mr. Foster of Han- organizations working for community COUGH VOICES APPROVAL welfare, sends the following letter to Th dick. the rules were suspended and STOTESBURY FAVORS THE OF ROCKEFELLER OFFER unanimous the publisher of THE TIMES. thin ROAD BUILDING ROIECT to mentor to intrduce the following Former Bar Harbor Business Man so East Eleventh Street Writes From Brookline Giving here nsion of the rules, Mome deeply appreciate what for more than 1010 emoralized Secretary Wilbur to re done and contemplates doing. has always been actively interested Very truly yours, muse west Mr. Rockefeller to continue in the work of the Village Improve- Walter A. Moore this is matte Clarence E. Stetson ith his road program on Mount nation Chairman Maine Development ment Association and in many other Desert Island. Commission or ganizations working for community COUGH VOICES APPROVAL The there welfare, sends the following letter to OF ROCKEFELLER OFFER think hat we Onemotion by Mr. Foster of Han- STOTESBURY FAVORS THE seck. the rules were suspended and the publisher of THE TIMES. to care for the ROAD BUILDING PROJECT Former Bar Harbor Business Man so generously manimous consent Writes From Brookline Giving here on this mator to intrduce the followin Productment Bar Harbor Summer 21 East Eleventh Street Reasons 2 great thrill r New York molution: Resident Wires Approval from Green Mount "MEMORIAL TO THE DE Winter Home in Palm Beach February 7, 1931 PARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR A. Bird Cough, a former well-known the William Dear Mr. Sherman: Bar Harbor business man, now in first time, uging the Secretary to request Mr. Edward T. Stotesbury, who owns I hope that Dr. Peabody's admir- business in Brooklin,e writes e follow- With that John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to continue one of the most magnificent summer able letter, together with the repre- sentations of many, responsible resi- ing letter to THE TIMES expressing his thought: with his road program on Mt. Desert bombs in Bar Harbor and who is always interested in the welfare of the dents of Bar Harbor, will induce Mr. approval of the Rockefeller road- this wondero Island. building offer: + I wonder WHEREAS, Mr. John D. Rocke leller, Jr., has offered to do. certific Island, sent the following telegram to Rockefeller to re-consider his decision of summer the Citisens Committee from his in regard to the proposed road, al- of their elde development and road construction though I can well understand why he Brookline, Mass. home in Palm Beach. road. being work on Mt. Desert Island and to pay should have withdrawn his offer. Feb. 1, 1931 were question therefor the sum of four million Mr. Rockefeller having been so I was one of the summer colony who Mr. Albion Sherman surprised. I dollars. and in offering to build the road, strenuously opposed the admission of Editor, The Bar Harbor Times in these mo WHEREAS, said development would most certainly accept the motors to the island, but when I'saw Bar Harbor, Me. or rich, resid and road construction, work been offer. and approve of whatever he how much they added to the general Dear Sir: decide that crefully planned by his engineers wants to undertake to do in this comfort and pleasure I was ashamed It was with a feeling of deep regret mountains Under the supervision and with the to have been so foolish and so selfish. respect. that I read in the "TIMES" last week ally, when entire approval of Mr. Fred Olimsted, E. T. Stotesbury It is more than forty years since I of the decision of Mr. Rockefeller to their tops: OTH of America's leading landscape first came to Bar Harbor, and when withdraw a large part of his most views thus architects, and DAVE H. MORRIS WRITES I was younger I walked and climbed generous offer to the people of Mt. earth can "WHEREAS, said road, TO CITIZENS' COMMITTEE vigorously, but it is not given us to Desert and incidentally to people of views, or principally on lands owned by Mr. be young forever, and something 11 the world who visit Mt. Desert. that Rockefeller, extends for a abott dis Summer Resident Fol- should be granted to those who de- Those who have opposed the offer when tance across lands of the National Week's Telegram with light in a view, and wish to send their have overlooked two very important Road?! government in the Acadi due of Further Assistance eyes where their feet may no longer reasons why they should have accept follow. ed it in a spirit of appreciation and Then Perk and said entire both on Mr. Rockefeller' And I further heartily agree with gladness. and upon the lands of the Depurt MR. Dave H. Morris, whose tele. to Supt. George B. Dorr of Dr. Peabody that whatever small in- the great meht of the Interior in W jury may be done to the landscape at First: The beauty, magnificence sense, to and Acadim National Park was printed in Last week's TIMES, shows his further certain points, it is not comparable and joy which the deversified scenery which invo WHEREAS a few of the to that which has been already inflict of Mt. Desert affords cannot be real- culating summer residents of Mt. Desert interest in the Rockefeller road build- by writing the following ed by private greed or indifference. ized by gazing on the mountains from in 80 have in many ways voiced Pister to Charles W. Shea, Chairman Yours sincerely a distance. To enjoy the various and who are sition to said construction worl Mary Oddwalader Jones ever-changing beauties of mountain, would b moving Mr. Rockefeller to the Bar Harbor Citizens' Com- (Mrs. Cadwalader Jones) lake and ocean-to obtain the wider but have relieved of his offer to have view, one must ascend to the heights. work done and The desire to attain the heights by I, for WHEREAS, Mr. John Rocke 19 East 70th St. JUDGE CLEARWATERREGRETS modern, convenient modes of travel small ROCKEFELLER DECISION natural, therefore it must eventually say, to feller. Jr., has abown S deep New-York vast ing interest in State of February 45 1981 preva not opid its development which is Chairman Old-Time Summer Resident Er- In the meantime those who are appreciated by the didnet presses Viewillin Letter from physically unable to perform the Rockete State, and Mame Kingston, New York stunt of mountain climbing must be "WHEREAS, the State of denied the pleasures that hardly by reason of the great plebiscite Judge A T Citierwater of King been theirs. Harbor in rived by the whole Secon Mr. date be finally development as Rocketeller on Mt. (Feb. deeply and vitally state and in the State, Now "BE IT city-Afth Maine J.D. ROCKEFELLER JR. DROPS PARK PROJECT Special to The New York Times. New York Times 1857 Current; Jan 29, 1931; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 2001) pg.20 J.D.ROCKEFELLERJR. DROPS PARK PROJECT To End Controversy He With- draws, Offer to Build Roads Near Bar Harbor. COMMUNITY WAS DIVIDED Summer Residents Opposed Mount Desert Island Development as 6/29/51 Inviting Tourists. Special to The New York Times. BAR HARBOR, Me., Jan. 28.- John D. Rockefeller Jr. has asked the director of national parks to re- lease him from an offer made last June to construct in part more, than twenty miles of motor and horse roads through lands in Acadia Na- tional Park and through lands which he personally owns. Mr. Rockefeller's engineers estimated the cost of this project in excess of $4,000,000. The Rockefeller offer was accepted by the government on Sept. 11, since which time there has been criticism, at times bitter, of the Rockefeller program by Mr. Rockefeller's neigh- bors in the fashionable Summer colonies of Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor and other resorts bordering upon the national park. Mr. Rockefeller and his representa- tives remained silent in the face of this adverse criticism until today, when he replied to his critics and stated his desire to withdraw from the major portion of his construction offer in a letter to the editor and publisher of The Bar Harbor Times, the newspaper that has in recent weeks carried a series of open let- ters from prominent members of the Mount Desert Island Summer colo- nies in protest against his program. Mr. Rockefeller said in this letter: "I have no desire to be put in the position of forcing upon even a small minority of the people who frequent Mount Desert Island some- thing that they do not want, nor do I care to be the continuing cause of the regrettably bitter criticism and comment which have been expressed, not only in some of the letters pub- lished but in other ways as well." Helped Conservation Work. The publication of the Rockefeller letter today brings to a climax a divi- sion of public opinion in Bar Harbor and its neighboring resorts that has in recent years been constantly grow- Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission ing in intensity and that at times would have reached the stages of bit- ter controversy had not Mr. Rocke- feller and his associates maintained a constant policy of never publicly replying to their critics. John D. Rockefeller Jr. built his Summer home, The Eyrie, at Seal Harbor more than twenty years ago. His interest in the development of Acadia National Park and his gen- erous support of the conservation work directed by George B. Dorr, superintendent and chief sponsor of Acadia National Park, dates back to his earliest residence here. He has provided vast sums of mon- ey for the purchase of lands for the park and has built scores of miles of horse roads and one magnificent scenic motor road on his own lands and in the park lands. He has con- stantly added to his acreage until he today owns several thousands of acres bordering upon the lands of the national park and of the Han- cock County Trustees of Public Res- ervations. He has already expended several millions of dollars in this de- velopment work, and was apparently only beginning his program when he made his $4,000,000 offer to the gov- ernment last June. Planned by Engineers. There are two schools of thought on the island with regard to the Rockefeller development schemes, which have been worked out with the aid of prominent engineers and land- scape architects. The great majority of the perma- nent residents express a hearty ap- proval of almost anything that is proposed or done by Rockefeller. Opinion is divided among those who spend but the Summer months here. There is a group that believes that in building so many motor and horse roads and making the scenic beauties of this magnificent island so easily accessible, Mr. Rockefeller is de- stroying the very wildness that is the island's chief charm. On the other hand, there is a group, quite as large and quite as influential, that main- tains that in his purchase of these lands, his careful forestry, his con- struction of well-planned roads and other development work, he is giv- ing an inestimable service in pre- serving these lands from the opera- tions of lumbermen and their use in other undesirable ways. The severe criticism of the past few on in part David B. Har- bor small tract over which sur- veyed, that a resi- considerable Ogden to weeks by of and sell wanted the until the land of to motor Summer has New she Mr. refusal the at majority been had Rockefeller road York Otter road. residents of assurance brought had and Creek, Mrs. Mrs. of been Bar the a of dents the island Ogden made her statement in an open letter to The Bar Harbor Times. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner Further reproduction prohibited without permission. XFINITY Connect Page 1 of 1 XFINITY Connect eppster2@comcast.ne + Font Size Great Meadow From : don lenahan Thu, Feb 16, 2012 01:22 AM Subject : Great Meadow U 1 attachment To : Ron & Elizabeth Epp Cc : Don Lenahan Ron -- -- I hope this email finds you and Elizabeth in good health. Elizabeth continues in our prayers for a speedy and comfortable recovery. David Goodrich, a volunteer Park expert on historic trails, asked me to look for two old roads and trails in Great Meadow. He and I 3 years ago teamed up to do GPS work on the old trails. I live here in the winter, he lives in NYC. Summer he's here and we hike alot together. I recently GPS'd an old trail (Yellow Path) that crossed from Schooner Head Rd to the Park Loop Rd (White Trail). The meadow in between was frozen, which allowed me to do this. When I sent him the results, he got excited and asked me to take advantage of the ice to look at these Great Meadow things. I've attached an aerial map of my Great Meadow finds. He was esp. interested in the Wild Garden Path to the north fm PLR to Jesup Path and an unidentified mystery trail out of Sieur de Monts northeast to today's park loop rd. My questions to you are, do you know anything about Dorr's design for Great Meadow that'll help us out. Also, there is a network of canals in it, which you can see from my stream xing waypoints. Why are these canals there? Why did the roads go through GM, are the trails valid (Wild Garden is), why the canals? Take a look at the east-west road -- it ended at the SDM stream from the spring. Any chance Dorr dredged Great Meadow for canals to make his SDM even better (to resemble Venice perhaps)? Did people go punting/canoeing in Great Meadow? I hope you and Elizabeth will come up here this summer. Please let us know and we'll get together with you. Thanks, Don Grt Meadow aerial.jpg 241 KB hhttp://sz0122.wc.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=31581&tz=America/New_Y... 2/16/2012 Page 1 of 1 stone bridge-dam-wsil cement water overflow road Jesup-Hernlock jct trail stresm xing rectangular hole Park Loop Rd survey.stone stream xing bench on bogwalk road stream stream xing trai Sweet Waters stone 250 ft http://sz0122.wc.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/Grt%20Meadow%20aerial.jpg?auth=co.. 2/16/2012 XFINITY Connect Page 1 of 3 XFINITY Connect eppster2@comcast.ne Font Size Re: Great Meadow From Ronald & Elizabeth Epp Tue, Feb 21, 2012 05:09 PM Subject Re: Great Meadow 1 attachment To don lenahan Cc Jack Russell Dear Don (& Jack), Good to hear from you, Don. As always, you pose some interesting questions that really challenged me (Jack, see the email from Don below). First off, there is a five-page essay by Dorr on the Great Meadow. I have spent many hours over the last several days trying to locate it--and been unsuccessful. You have no idea how much this faulty filing irritates me! Fortunately, if you contact Deb Dyer she can point you in the direction of the Dorr Papers, Box 2, folder 6 (I've attached a copy of my guide to the Dorr Papers if you have not already secured your own). And while you are copying it, make a copy for me! Below are bits and pieces of information and judgments that I've reached regarding your questions: 1. Dorr was strongly attached to the Great Meadow for multiple reasons: its aesthetic values, its environmental value to local fauna and flora, its proximity to town connector trails, and its access to the trails approaching Sieur de Monts Spring and adjacent mountains. In 1928 Dorr offered the federal government land on the Great Meadow "for a direct approach to the group of mountain trails rising from the Gorge over Picket Mountain and the Flying Squadron. And with this I included a considerable tract upon the Meadow, giving the Park a distinct and striking entrance from the public highway." (Two Gifts Made to the Government in 1926 and 1927," ANP Archives. B3.f7 old filing system) 2. Later, when F.L.Olmsted planned a road which paralleled "On the Meadow level the Town road above, I strongly objected as he and I and Mr. Vint stood together at the head of the Harden Farm adding: 'The true way to take this road is where I [Dorr] built mine in the old horse-driving days to open up the Meadow and give the Town another nearby drive.' 'We know it,' Mr. Olmsted and Mr. Vint exclaimed, 'but we did not think the Town would yield up its road.' 'I don't know whether it will,' I [Dorr] answered, 'but its worth a trial." That fall Dorr and others got the Town to accept the plan and add an entrance to the village which was then laid out by federal engineers. ("The Roads around Kebo Ridge," ANP Archives, B3.f.6 old filing system) 3. This effort caused Dorr to reflect back five decades when "The Great Meadow basin was then completely locked away, shut in by the woods, no road approaching it. A single farm, called after its owner 'Harden Farm' reached down into it on the northwest, at the foot of the Kebo range, and a right of way road led to it from Cromwell Harbor road to give it entrance near as it was to Bar Harbor, it remained unvisited and unseen. But an old Indian trail, leading through the Gorge from the northern end of Otter Creek, ran past it on thew west, around the mountain base, along whose line I later built the beautiful Hemlock Road past Sieur de Monts Spring." In 1899 Dorr wanted to create a pleasant carriage ride for his mother and friends and SO made the Town an offer to have the Mount Desert Nurseries crews build a road around the Western side of Strawberry Hill, connecting Otter Creek county road with the Town's right-of-way road to Harden Farm, limiting the Town's expense to $2,500 ...myself responsible for the rest." ("Long Field," Dorr Papers. B2.f.2.) 4. "This road, opening up for the first time the Great Meadow basin [which] made a beautiful quiet drive for use with horses. The meadow, its drainage blocked by the silting up of the brookbed, was a bog, with wild cranberries growing amid swamp grass on its eastern side, which turned to beautiful color in the later season, while on its http://sz0122.wc.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=32891&tz=America/New_Y..2/21/2012 XFINITY Connect Page 2 of 3 western side, and embayed by the extension of the forest onto it grew the swamp=loving rhodora, mingled with Labrador pea and similar wild plants of the northern bogs, and forming brilliant sheets of color every spring." Dorr then addresses your question: "Road construction requirements were simple in those horse-driving days. I drained the road-bed well and graded it, using such material as I found along the way and the Town has never had the occasion since to make expenditure upon it, other than surfacing it for motor use." And 15 years later when autos were dominating the landscape, Dorr built "a road around the Meadow's southern end, continuing my earlier road, so that people coming from Seal Harbor or beyond might take this shorter, better route to reach the Building of Arts for concerts and the like, the Kebo Valley Golf Club, with its nine-hole course, or summer residences on Bar Harbor's western side.' '(Long Field") Don, I have more to report but I think I'll send this off to you now (with a copy to the always interested Jack Russell) and complete my account over the weekend. We have a trip coming up Thursday to PSU Hershey Medical Center where they will biopsy a node on Liz's thyroid and expect us to attend a pre-surgical meeting prior to the "radical" (their term, not mine) lymph node surgery scheduled for March 12th. Let me know whether what I've provided thus far is helpful. Ron Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 532 Sassafras Dr. Lebanon, PA 17042 717-272-0801 eppster2@comcast.net From: "don lenahan" To: "Ron & Elizabeth Epp" Cc: "Don Lenahan" Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:22:44 Subject: Great Meadow Ron -- I hope this email finds you and Elizabeth in good health. Elizabeth continues in our prayers for a speedy and comfortable recovery. David Goodrich, a volunteer Park expert on historic trails, asked me to look for two old roads and trails in Great Meadow. He and I 3 years ago teamed up to do GPS work on the old trails. I live here in the winter, he lives in NYC. Summer he's here and we hike alot together. I recently GPS'd an old trail (Yellow Path) that crossed from Schooner Head Rd to the Park Loop Rd (White Trail). The meadow in between was frozen, which allowed me to do this. When I sent him the results, he got excited and asked me to take advantage of the ice to look at these Great Meadow things. I've attached an aerial map of my Great Meadow finds. He was esp. interested in the Wild Garden Path to the north fm PLR to Jesup Path and an unidentified mystery trail out of Sieur de Monts northeast to today's park loop rd. My questions to you are, do you know anything about Dorr's design for Great Meadow that'll help us out. Also, there is a network of canals in it, which you can see from my stream xing waypoints. Why are these canals there? Why did the roads go through GM, are the trails valid (Wild Garden is), why the canals? Take a look at the east-west road it ended at the SDM stream from the spring. Any chance Dorr dredged Great Meadow for canals to make his SDM even better (to resemble Venice perhaps)? Did people go punting/canoeing in Great Meadow? I hope you and Elizabeth will come up here this summer. Please let us know and we'll get together with you. Thanks, Don DORRPapers0704.doc 117 KB hhttp://sz0122.wc.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=32891&tz=America/New_Y...2/21/2012 I families 9/08/27 LEMORANDUL! OIT A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK A review of the files of the Department and of the National Pari Service in Washington shows that, since the establishment of the Lafayette National Pari- in Maine, on several occasion when motor or carriage roads were planned whose location and construction involved the use of national park land, opposition to such projects was shown by a few of the summer residents on the Island of Count Desert. This oppo- sition was mainly evidenced in letters to the Department asking that the Secretary stop this construction by withholding his formal approval for the use of such of the park lands 3.S are involved. Special inspection trips for studying these particular proj- ects were made at various times ou executive officers 02 the Department and of the National Park Service and by the landscape architects of the Service; and an open public hearing was held in Washin ton in 1924 nar ticularly on the road building plans for the park. During the past year the necessity of a general development plan for the par% has been urged upon the Service, 23 will be shown later, to include essential extensions of the park, plans for roads and trails, utility sites and other developments. These ;iiil be discussed later, and it is believed important at the start briefly to review the early history of the plans leading to the establishment of the park, and the laws of Congress that the Department and the Service have to consider in studying all questions involved in its enlargement and development. Lafayette National Park is located on the Island of Mount Desert on the eastern coast of Maine. The Island is one of the most popular summer resorts on the Atlantic coast. Many wealthy people have beautiful summer homes here, which are located on the shore or on com manding positions on the hills overlooking the water. There is a per- manent population on the Island the year round. A number of small com munities havegrown up, such as Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Seal Har bor, that have their 0.771 form of town government. these three towns have in addition their Village Improvement Societies, which are composed for the most part of summer residents interested in the harmon- ious development of their communities and of the whole island, and some of the permanent residents of the Island interested in community develop- ment work also are members. The real interest of 30.00 01 the summer residents of the com munity has been evilenced in many ways that have resulted in substantial benefit to the community. It is also owing to this interest that the creation and expansion of Lafayette National Park is due, so far working through the instrumentality which they organized, - namely: the Trustees of Public Reservations; and it is evident that the park's future growth altogether depends upon this continued interest and cooperation. 2 Lafayette National Park. quite unlike the western parks which have been carved from public domain without the expenditure of a dollar of Federal funds for the acquisition of park lands, has grown to its present size from small beginnings, first as a national monument, and later by the Congressional action of February 26th, 1919, as a national park. It has been built up entirely from donations of land or land our chased from donations of money from private sources. Each year sees some enlargement through friendly sources. The authority for this unusual situation is to be found in the provisions of the act of Congress establishing the Park, which is as fol- lows: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the tracts of land, easements, and other real estate heretofore known as the Sieur de Lonts National Monument, situated on Count Desert Island, in the county of Hancock and State of Maine, established and designated as a national monu- ment under the Act of June eighth, nineteen hundred and six, entitled "An Act for the preservation of American antiquities," by presidential procla- mation of July eighth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, is hereby declared to be a national park and dedicated as a public part for the benefit and en- joyment of the people under the name of Largyette National Park, under which name the aforesaid national part shall be entitled to receive and to use all moneys heretofore or hereafter appropriated for Sieur le Monts National Conument. Section 2: That the administration, protection and promotion of said Larsyette National Pari: shall ce exercised under the direction of the Secre- tary of the Interior by the National Park Service, subject to the provi- sions of the Act of Aujust twentyfifth, nineteen hundred and sixteen, en- titled "in Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes," and acts additional thereto or exendatory thereof. 3 "Section 3: That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized, in his discretion, to accent in behalf of the United States such other prop- erty on said Mount Desert Island, including lands, easements, buildings, and moneys, as may be donated for the extension and improvement of said Park." Approved February 26, 1919. Section Three recognized a situation which is entirely differ ent from that encountered in the creation of other national parks, either existing Or proposed. The Secretary of the Interior, and through him the National Part Service, can of course act and function only according to such le islative authority as is conveyed or Congress. The authority for the administration, protection, maintenance, and improvement of national parks and monuments, after their establishment, is found in the or janic act of August 25, 1916, establishing the National Part: Service are L'or other purposes is and 2:1 is the Legal basis for such policies, rules, and regulations : have been established Des : ^ministration and develo_ms all the parks and In view 01 a detail I have to Circuss later, I think it in- portant t CHILD out here that in more recent le islation Sungress having to do with the plans for the creation of editional national parks in the east (23). stite : now only national part east of the :ississ- ippi River) the 30: ress with the advice 2. concurrence 01 opinion of the Department, has insisted that before and such park is in fact established 4 as 3 functioning unit, reality for administration MA development by Federal funds, an area of suitable size, studied and exproved in the Secretary of the Interior in advance of its creation, must be acquired from other than Federal funds and tendered in fee simple to the United States and have been accepted as satisfactory for all purposes. In the case of the proposed Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the states 0: North Caroline and Tennesses authorized in 1926, for ex- ample, an area 02 714,000 acres of potential park land was studied of your official representative and a definite acreage of 427,000 plus acres out- lined, which you have studied and approved and advised the states that you would accept as desirable park land if tendered in fee simple, and as other- wise prescribed in the terms 0- legislative enactment. In Lafarette National Part the procedure Las been reversed - in that, beginnist_ with il mountain tops and extendin_ outward toward the shores 01 the Island, land has been accepted and could be accepted is the United States o:1 as tendered joj private parties. : definite part: bound- aries have ever been defined, cor is i possible to io so in view of the fact, emplasized before, that it is not the clicy or the Federal Government to expend federal funds 2'oz addit_ lanus to at park with consequent fact, recognized in the act creating this park, that whatever enlargement is done would have to be done by donation from private sources. 5 While the primary official justification for the establishment of the Lafayette National Park as a member of the national park system was its unique character and outstanding characteristic as exhibiting the only monadnocks on the Atlantic coast of the United States rising from the ocean, there were important local reasons, even prior to the establishment of the monument, which led a number of outstanding citizens of the commun- ity as above stated to organize a cor_oration which had as its object the accuisition of the important mountain tops to prevent their use for pur- poses considered adverse to their scenic and recreational values. An un- sightly cogwheel railroal ran from the lowland to the top of Cadillac, the highest mountain on the island; and a hotel (now burned) on the summit of that mountain caused increasin concern among the summer residents because of its unsightly appearance and the unsavory reputation it was acquiring. It was feared that as long as important mountain tops were in private possession, they could be used for whatever commercial purposes their owners might find desirable, whether generally considered in the in- terest 02 the community or not. There was also some langer that the charter of the holdin_ company, which enabled them to hold such lands tax free for public purposes, might at some time be revoked. All these reasons gave stirulus to the effort to have the Federal Government assume charge of the land. This was done, first as (1) national monument, and later, in 1919, as a national park. 6 In addition to the lands held of record by the United States within the park, and that held by private citizens and the various towns and their official bodies on the Island, should also be mentioned two separate public corporations holding and acquiring land for public pur poses. These are the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations, commonly called the Trustees of Public Reservations and referred to as such hereafter, and The Wild Gardens of Acadia. The Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations were formed at a meeting called by President Charles Eliot of Harvard College in the summer of 1901 and is the corporation referred to in preceding pages. They were incorporated by Act of the State Legislature the following year, their charter creating them as a public service corporation and giving them, as such, freedom from taxation in their property and holdings. They cannot sell lands that have come into their possession, though they may exchange them if obviously in the public interest for the improvement of boundaries or with similar intent. They may convey lands to other corporations who will holi them 2.1 sdimister them similarly in the public interest, if such conveyance be held to be in that interest. It is from and through them that the Government has received the whole body of lands that consti- tuted its first acceptance and those it has since accepted with minor ex- ception. In other words, practically all the land being secured for the park has passed through this corporation, although it cannot be said that all the land in the possession of that corporation will pass to the park, 7 since it nolds lands for other public purposes as well, such as the pro- tective strip of 150 feet around the major lakes in the park which form the sources of water supply for the various towns and communities on the Island. But it not holds some land that eventually will be given for the park. President Eliot became president of the cor_oration when it was formed and so continued till his death last year, when Hon. Luere B. Deasy of Bar Harbor, a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, and the Corporations's former counsel, was elected in his stead. Lir. George 3. Dorr, the super- intenient OI the park, became first vice-president and executive officer, with he continues still to be. Members of the corporation represent both summer and permanent resilents of the county. Will Cardens of Acadia is a corporation formed for the pur WGA pose of promoting biological research and study upon Count Desert Island and its neijiboring coast. It is a ar-naying corporation and can re- ceive, hold and freely dispose of lands and money. The following preamble to its leed 0.. December 2, 1916, is illusinati: plematory of its purposes: ", e, Mersignei, desire : crated for educati scientific turposes, to wit: (1) for purchase, lease or otherwise, ithin the area of the State of Maine into the Perbassoot and the sea lying between said to hell, develop 3:12 202 _urpose 02 maining a per- C_' scientific, educational 221 artistic value for the pub- lic benefit, of trees, shibu, herbs and other clants and of striking scenic features; 1c: for forning bird and other wild life refuges er gurdens: (3) for the experimental growth of plants not native to the region and publishing re- ports thereon; (4) for publishing stulies, illustration and description of the 8 region's native life ani landscape; (5) for furnishing opportunities for observation and study to students of plant life, or gardening, forestry and landscape art; and (6) for preserving and developing to the full the natural interest and beauty of the lands acquired, which may, however, be sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of in any part that may seem best to the members of the corporation with reference to the purposes of incorpor- ation, or to their ability to carry out these purposes." The establishment of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Salisbury Cove was due to the corporation's initiative and its acquisition of the property on which the Laboratory is placed; and it was from it that the Laboratory received later in free gift the land it occupies. The descrip tive list of native wild flowers and other plants compiled by Dr. Edgar T. Therry of Washington which is about to be published by the Garden Club of Mount Degert was due also to its initiative and expenditures. The W6A corporation was formed originally for the purpose of creating wild gardens exhibting the native Acadian flora and the hardy garden plants, woody and herbaceous, which can be naturalized and used in landscape art, and it holds lands important for this purpose, awaiting opportunity for their use. But one of the corporation's most important aims is to stimulate continuance of the work and forward-looking planning which has created the national mark and to aid in bringing about its right development. It is obvious that this corporation, holding lands and acquiring other lands important for educational purposes closely allied with national park aims and developing important work along lines for which the Congress would not be willing to grant Federal funds can be of great assistance in the development 02 the Park. 9 I mention these two corporations particularly because of the oub- lic nature of their work and of their land holdings which may be properly considered, I believe, in connection with any study of Lafayette National Park development. I am attaching as Exhibit "A" a blue-print, colored to show the present park lands and those held by the Trustees of Public Reservations and the Fild Gardens of Acadia. Last March, when you were considering a request from Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., one of the summer residents of the Island, for per- mission to construct a carriage road which runs in part over park lands, you received a letter from Mr. Gist Blair, also a resident and citizen of 3ar Harbor and President 01 the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association, as follows: Washington, D.C. March 26, 1927. The Honorable, The Secretary of the Interior. Dear Doctor Work: Since receiving your letter of :arch 11, I have been thinking over the Lafeyette National Pari- problem, and it has occurred to me that the following might prove a plan that would erreal to you as tending to reconcile the conflicting views and to result in a definite development scheme that could be generally agreed upon. The three village improvement societies east of Somes Sound on Mount Desert Island -- those of 3ar Harbor, Seal Marbor and Northeast Harbor -- largely represent the sentiment of the summer residents. It is not now possible to canvass the opinion of these societies, as representative oodies, since they are commosed of summer residents not coming to the Island until the opening of the summer season. 10 You have had the advice, I a told, of the landscape division of the National Park Service. tie best professional advice available to you in the Department. No general development plan for the Park, however, has yet been prepared, and I understand that it is the intention of the National Park Service to Have its chief landscape engineer prepare such a plan during this coming sprins or summer. This plan would necessarily include a survey of the roads and road-trails already built, together with recommendation as to those which should be built hereafter. It seems to me that it might be helpful if our village improvement societies should also employ a landscape architect to cooperate with your landscape engineer in the working out of such a plan, or, if this is not practicable, to prepare a separate plan to submit as an alternate. In the latter case it seems to me you are in position to secure the advice of the National Commission of Fine Arts, whose landscape member is a landscape architect of national regutation, the President of the Ameri- can Society of Landscape Architects, on the relative merits of such plans. Such a program, I believe, if carried into operation would definitely establish 3 precedent for the park's development under the best professional advice and in far to prevent recurrence of the existing situa- tion. In writing this I an acting on II own initiative and without authority from the Bar Jarbor Village Improvement Society of which I am president. I only none these views will meet with its approval because I know low widespread, enthusiastic is the interest of its members in great and useful work for Count Desert Island and those who love it. Trustin recognize : Lesire for helpfulness in Cafayette National its cight development, to remain Sincerel; (signed Gist Blair. AI You found this suggestion an interesting one and replied on May 6th, last, that you had no objection to it. Mr. Charles .i. Eliot, 2d. City Planner of the District of Columbia, employed by the Bar Harbor Village improvement Association on recommendation of Mr. Blair's committee, has been on the Island for his investigations twice during summer. His family, for decades, has maintained a summer home here and he is therefore generally acquainted with the Island's physical nature. He spent two days here in conference with us, both in the field and in the office, in connection with the problems involved in the preparation of this report. It was learned during these conferences that the development plan that the Bar Narbor village Improvement Association committee has in mind has for its aim not only consideration of the possible development of the park area out of the entire island, which is obviously an exten- sion of purpose in which we cannot take official part. A permanent development plan of a national park covers primarily the logical and her Monious location of :dimistrative and utility units and aoncessionaires' operations, with relation to such other all to withir Surrcullings, proposed locations or 2011s - trails, vista cutting and Similar problems. It is necessarily limited strictly in its score to park lands, or such lands as are known to be definitely included within a public area and to be available for similar public purposes. 12 REPRODUCED A1 The A study of the nap atteched as Exhibit "A" it arrone acquainted with national par% development and administrative problems will at once show that Lafayette National Park boundaries cannot as yet be considered satisfactory. Practically ever year sees some Congressional legislation changing for compelling reasons the boundaries of some of the western parks, as was the case in the corrective legislation that was passed the past ses- sion of the Congress in regard to the greater Sequoia National Park, the Mount Rainier National Park, the Grand Canyon National Park, the Hawaii National Park, and the Rocky Countain National Park. Boundary corrections in the cases of Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Crater Lake national parks are contemplated in the immediate future. In these cases the reason is and has been not only to take, in individual cases, other important scenic areas considered necessary to round out the park's exhibits, but to use topo- graphic or natural boundaries instead of survey lines to facilitate patrol- ling and for other administrative reasons. In all these cases a change in ocundaries is a comparatively simple thing because Federal lands are involved and that private laris may be involved are necessarily included without change in status, because, C.S emphasized before, Congress does not acquire lands by purchase for the enlarge- ment of 3 park or correction of its boundaries; such land as is added is taken from the reserved or unreserved public domain and the land eliminated from & park reverts to the same. 13 In the instance of Lafsyette, while it is to be hoped that eventually more of the seashore and some important mountain tops and valleys and lakes may be added to the park area, we do not consider it under existing laws a Departmental prerogative, nor 8 practicability, nor, therefore, in the scope of our problem here to prescribe in what direction future enlargements or expansion into privately owned lands should take place. No Government lands are available although lands in the hands of the two corporations referred to might without presumption be considered. Unless privately-owned lands are voluntarily donated, no Federal funds may ever be expected to be available for their acquisition, nor has the Government the power of condermation, in my opinion, to force park ex pansion under existing applicable laws. Therefore, we are compelled to limit our studies for any development plan to now available lands within existing park boundary lines, or such lands concerning which a definite offer of acquisition by donation or otherwise is of record. Obviously, should for any reason no further lands be received by donation for the enlargement of this park, the Government would be compelled to accept that fact and administer and develop now existing park lands alone and as well as may be possible throughout the future. We think this an incontestable premise to 30 on. 14 Nor, it is emphasized, does it seem wise, even were it possible, officially to prepare and publish a map indicating in what direction future expansion of the park boundary shall extend. It is a fact, based upon any number of instances locally, that once it is understood that a certain area is to be acquired for park purposes, the price of that particular area, which may or may not be within the area of normal real estate transactions on the Island, at once rises unreasonably in value, or is acquired for speculation purposes by operators not public-spirited in character, and thereby the suc- cess of the very object that the proposed donors and the committee have in mind is endangered. It has for that reason been considered desirable that acquisition of some of the land for the park has to be accomplished quietly and without estentation. For many years, even in the most popular of the western parls, no general development plan was available. This was for several reasons. Up to 1890 only two national parks, the Yellowstone and the Hot Springs Reserva- tion, were i. existence. Since 1090 seventee. other national parks have been created, with one more in southern Utah, probably the twentieth as this writ- ing. Recent legislation pleasing the creation 02 three more national parts in the east, from loose to be required privately, indicates the spood with which still available areas 0 -' national scenic regutation are sought to be reserved for the people before it is too late. The list 02 visitors in parts and monu- ments has risen from 356,000 ten years 360 to approximately 2,000,000 this year. Prior to 1916 110 automobiles were Demitted in national pells, lorse- 15 REPRODUCED The drawn vehicles being used where visitors did.'t walk or ride in. More re- cently the desirability of airplane service in some of the parks has been urged but as yet without success. Accomodations for visitors are being en- larged from year to year, roads and trails developed from large annual appro- priations, and, while concentration of administrative and operating units is essential not only from an operating but a scenic standpoint, no development plan has been possible that could be relied upon to be complete in itself, due to the constantly changing conditions. Roads that were considered safe for travel twenty years ago were antiquated in ten years, and those used by automobiles ten years ago all have to be rebuilt on modern standards. In addition the tremendous traffic has forced additional roads to facilitate travel are relieve congestion. All this has been necessary to make the park usable and with the least interference with their essential purposes. This is not only the experience in national parks, but in city parks, and in fact in every growing community of the country. In the case of Lafayette Park, where land acquisition extended from the center of the Island outwardly, an because of the yet limited area within the park itself, preparation of 2 development plan had been held in abeyance. Such instances where the landscape men were consulted arose pri- marily in connection with the location of motor and carriage roads to be built. We had no problems of concessionaire development nor serious ad- ministrative building problems. We were endeavoring to protect what land we had and gradually make it accessible. 16 Then Mr. Blair's letter was received, the timeliness of such a plan was considered possible, but dealing only with the present park area. Since the arrival on the 16th of the landscape engineer and the assistant director close intensive study has been given the whole problem, the former studying the landscape problems involved while the latter con- sidered them in relation to Government policies. The location of adminis- trative buildings for clerks and rangers, utility groups, existing and planned roads within the park, public camping sites, park entrances, and possible public service structures such as comfort stations, hotels, tea- rooms and the like have been fully discussed. Proposed road locations and important sections of the park and the whole island were visited on foot or by motor. The entire park area has been fully studied on the ground in connection with the problems before us, without regard as to whether areas or projects have been previously inspected or reported or not. The undersigned therefore submit the following joint report: ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT: This involves a site where offices for the clerical and ranger forces, homes for employees, if necessary, and utility unit with all that that implies, may be located. We are convinced that the park area is too small and not adapted for such development. Nor does the local situation warrant it. 17 At present the employees live at Bar Harbor where they occupy owned or rented quarters, and this is recognized in the compensation granted them by the Government; this arrangement should be continued. An adminis- tration building, which meets every requirement admirably, is rented at Bar Harbor. It is close to the park and readily accessible to visitors. This is rented from the Wild Gardens of Acadia and some adjacent land with its buildings is rented for garage, machine shop, and other utility purposes. The Budget and Congress may decide that renting these quarters may be as desirable as arranging for Government-owned quarters, either by acquiring the present leased area or elsewhere. It is our conviction, how ever, that the Government, here as elsewhere, should have its own quarters, and in one of the villages where lands for such purposes might be donated, as has been done in other cities where the community was anxious to have the main park administrative office within its confines. The most desirable location, in our opinion, is the one at present occupied; and adjecent land holds o'mortunities for all necessary exjansion. If this area can be acquired or donation as I have been divised is possible, it should be accepted. A careful study has been made of this site by this landscape engineer, and a development plan will be furnished working the superintendent that will ensure an attractive and economical layout and a credit to the community. 18 Mr. George 3. Dorr, the present superintenient, who has given a creat deal of his own land to the park at various times, has authorized me to say that it is his intention to convey the small residence he is at present occupying adjacent to the Mount Desert Nurseries, with all neces- sary ground, to the Government by his will; this is an unusually beautiful and desirable home and location, and there is no doubt whatever that when the offer comes officially to the United States it should be accepted. Should this place not be available at such time that, for an reason, it may be necessary to make arrangements for the superintendent's quarters elsewhere, there is ample opportunity for the renting of a suitable home on the Island, or the question of the location of such a residence to be built from park funds will have to be separately studied at the time. In time, also, a few shelters and comfort stations should be placed throughout the park where concentration of visitors proves this to be ie- sirable and where skeds for the protection of road machinery and the like dur- inj the working season may be desirable. None is needed now except those at a central administrative site. PUBLIC DESISTIONS: There is concession at prosent or park land, or under permit the ?overnment. it the south.com enternas to the park rector Cond a most abstractive tea-house has for many years to privil enterprise. It is o: private lad. 19 The possibility of a hotel 22 on top of Cadillac Mountain when Milleo montain Hoad has been impleted, is constantly suggested, and doubtless when the road is completed the Department and the Service will receive many requests for permission to construct and operate such a hotel. It is probably desirable that a low, inconspicuous, well- designed tea-house should be considered, at the proper time for erection somewhere near the top. It has becn urged that quarters for overnight Cobies accommodation of guests who desire to see the surrise will be inevitable, in connection with the operation of such tea-houses, but such a plan would be dangerous. Once accommodations with meals for a few are in, the pressure for expansion to meet what will undoubtedly be a large demand, would be so great that in time, if permitted, a regular seastore hotel resort would be established there to the detriment of the park and the community. Ample lodging facilities have been provided by private enterprise in towns around the park and it is far better to limit tea-room service to meals and refresh- ments, SC that those woo desire to see the famed surrise may be assured of 3 good our C coffee : in morning. 20 see the subside visitors sicule GOL- time to Litting, is they io ..C., 331 : sir notors CO. the Calillac Countain Road. It probably will be Lesirable to permit small busses to take early morning parties to the summit, since this will be one of the most popular sijhsseein_ trips for visitors to the Island. 20 at However, no further tea-room or other service stations should/this time be permitted within the park; should it be enlarged so as to include now outlying sections where such service might be permitted without endangering the scenery, that feature can at that time be considered. PARK ENTRANCES: This subject was given considerable study, but there is nothing to be done in that regard at this time, nor so long as there are possibilities of acquisition of additional land for the park. PUBLIC CAMPS FOR MOTORISTS: In all the national parks specially selected areas are set aside for the accommodation of motorists who bring their own tents, bedding and food supply for camping. These areas are selected because of the special suitability of the terrain for accommodation 01 cars, proximity of pure water for drinking and cocking, and drainage for toilets and the like. Concentration of camping on such areas is necessary to control of sanita- tion and policing 221.1 prevent camping at will along the roadside. In Yosemite and Yellowstone particularly the public camps form one of the most popular features of service supplied the visitor, and about sixty to seventy per cent made use of them there. Sanitary facilities and water supply are of the best, firewood is supplied, and where necessary, garbage and trash collection, and special policing. All sanitary facilities and installation of water supply is under the direction and control of the 21 The authorities OI Bas Harbor have see operating a public camp- ground for the motorist on an excellent site near the Athletic Field which is opposite the park's administrative headquarters. It is centrally located, near stores, has excellent water supply and sewage disposal facilities, electric lights, all indispensable essentials in such development. It is not known, however, whether this camp will be continued for another year or not. The only public camp that is being now developed on park land is one near Morrell Park. Inspection has shown that there are no other sites on park land that can be used. In selecting such sites the subsoil must be studied to ascertain whether it is practicable within reasonable cost to construct comPort stations and other sewage disposal installation, and means of securing the necessary water supply must be carefully investigated. Too often the absence of one essential in an otherwise perfect site destroys the possibility of its use. Sites at the Great Meadow and on the Ogder. tract near Otter Creek were carefully looked into, but only the letter tract, c: about thirteen acres, was found assisable of development if used arose, and if as alequate water subject 201 it can be obtained. the Morrell Park campground will house about one hundred cars when fill; developed and the landscape engineer has studied the site with the superintenient with the view of havin; simple sanitary facilities and water supply installed this ear. It cannot be foretoli It this time whether any more facilities than these will ever be LOCESOR at Lafayette for this 02 the motor 23 ist. the DOMINS surrounding in ample facilities at reasonable rates for suplifing lodging; and eatin cloces around. It would be mobile of regret, however, were the public motor carry 100m : thletic Field abandon- ed by the town C 2 3ar Marbor. Cur own contribution to the solution of the motor camping problem on the Islam is at _present limited to the :correll Park site. The 0.1 complaint that is heard at part: headquarters from campers is that, coming to Sar Harbor, they expect to be camped somewhere on the shore or in view of the ocean, and are disappointed when they find that this is not the case. Since the most valuable land on the entire Island is on the shore it is not seen how this situation can be charged now, out should future ex- passion of the park extend toward taking in some of the shore, this feature may be borne in mind for future study. In the case of the Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, the city of Not Springs which immediately adjoins the park itself, has found it ad- vantageous to convey to the United States an excellent public campground site, which is now maintained ori developed from funds supplies by Congress. HINING PATHS AND TRAILS: à plance at the recent path maps of the eastern part 02 Desert Islani shows that the park's countain laris are generally well supplied with trails and raths for those desiring to bike. this work has all bee.: done dur- inj half a centur from funds supplied privately 3:1 is maintained through the interest of pati committees of the village Improvement Societies. It has been done along such excellent lines with our own participation not essential- ly involved that no further comment is deemed necessary. 24 A1 THE NATIONAL MOTOR AND CARRIAGE ROADS: The road development within the park has been of two kinds: one type for motorists and one of carriage roads to be used only for horse-drawn vehicular traffic, horseback riding and hiking, from which motor cars are barred. Only one pari- road project is planned from Federal funds, name- ly: the motor road now being pushed to the summit of Cadillac. All such other roads as have been constructed in whole or in part on park land have been built for public use from funds contributed by Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., a summer resident of the Island, after permission for the use of so much par land as was involved had been secured from the department, the section on par:- land becoming Government property. A blue-print map on file in the National Park Service in Jash- inston, approved by the Department on July 26, 1922, has been the basic plan for the extension of roads within the park. 3ased on approval given at that time, not only has the motor road to the top of Cadillac been start- ed but a fine motor road through the center of the park from the Bar Marbor section to a terminal at the southern end of Jordan Pond has been construct- ed with funds contributed icj Mr. Rockefeller and donated to the Park. Being a scenic road solely, the speed of motors is limited to eighteen miles an hour; and it is closed to traffic from mine in the evening until seven the following morning. Carriage roads approved in 1922 are shown in yellow on the map, and are all finished with the exception of one on which formal ap- 25 proval was given in 1922 but suspended in 1924 until funds for its con- struction were offered; that is the road offered intwo sections for im mediate construction by Mr. Rockefeller in his letter of February 24, 1927, to the Director of the National Park Service, and approval of which the Service has already recommended to the Department. It should be pointed out that the beginning of construction under the plan of 1922 was with the understanding that that plan had been approved as shown in color and including the one referred to immediately above. A map showing the proposed location of this road, attached to the above letter, has been published, and shows that only a small part of the road will be located on park land, while the major portion by far is on the private holdings of the proposed donor as on land belonging to the Trustees 01 Public Reservations north and south of Bubble Pond. at the time the approved road man of July 26, 1922, was under consideration, the Director of the National Bar Service, accompanied by Assistant Director Cammerer, ent over the pronosed location of the roals in order to study the Whole question thoroughly. All locations have since then, at various times, ajain been inspected. it impressed these officials that the sections 02 the part proposed 30 be opened :- such roads were inacces- sible for protection work or for enjoyment except under the most strenuous exertions. 2hd great mass of visitors to a national par%, it was pointed out, do not desire walking trips over rujjed territory cr strenuous climbs; 26 for these, youth and activity, the habit and love Ci exercise, are necessary. For the older, the less strong and active, or less strenuously inclined, who constitute the vast majority, means must be provided for making reason- ably accessible the special features of interest are beauty in the park. The carriage roads, also called road-trails because of their use for horse- dream carriages, saddle horses and hikers, were planned for two connected loops enclosing the Penobscot-Sargent Mountain mass and that of Pemetic, the Triad and the Cubbles, and passin_ Pour lakes -- Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Radlock Fond, and Bubble Pond, upon their course. "orthward it was planned to eventually link with carriage roads of similar character in the Paradise Hill and Witch Hole Fond section above the Bluffs on Frenchman's Bay; out, while open to the public, not on park land. These carriage roads were planned alon_ easy grades, affording when constructed also important lanes for fire and jane protection or the splendidly ;vooded slopes of the numerous mountains. They grow over with grass and flowers in time; and, with the erc ing trees overhead, ...... constitute ONE C - the most attractive Securres = any national this 2" be proven to as who has or dis 01 wood POLIS CEN to so-colled Corkscrew northern Island. 27 The thickli proced slopes of several of the mountains ^ the lines of proposed carriage roads were traverood with ,reat difficulty; and from a fire protection standucint, rosds of such a character, properly located, are an important factor. Several fire scars of recent years on the Island have left parks that it will take decades to erase, and while in some quarters it has been pointed out that fires in the past centuries haveburned over practically all the Island and have be en responsible for the tareness of some of the mountain tops, it seems to us that henceforth, in view of the intensive use 0: the Island for soice 02 the finest summer homes of the country, an the fact that a park is being created in its most beautiful sec- tions, with serious responsibility on the Service to protect them from fire, and fire scars from now 011 will be a distressing blot in a beautiful landscape. I: our opinion, if it were onl- from the fireprotection standwoint alone that suc. carriage roads as are procosed were to be constructed, their construction would be justifiable from a public stanlpoint. Mile it was evilent that there would be only c light use or riage roads at the beginning, 110 such use could be stimulated until 02 Striptics _L'OWS use is lorses is the United states now than in 1914. I have test. informed the the use 01 horses and cerriages is also growing on the Island and that some of the summer resilents are maining plans for horses 20 and carriages to supplement their motor equipment for driving or riding through the Park. Prices for the use of hired horses and carriages are still high and it is hoped that with a larger demand prices will be lowered. Should, however, the high price of renting horses, or horse-drawn carriages with drivers from present sources continue, the Servicemay be compelled to install its own concessionaire for this privilege, in order to supply the service at low and reasonable cost. In our opinion the use of carriare roads will increase from year to year, and similar to the saddle horse service in Glacier Park where the use of horses increased from a few dozen to the seven to eight hundred now in use daily, or in Rock Countain National Park, where over a thousand saddle horses of the vicinity are in use through the season, the use of horses will be one 02 the most popular means of leisurely enjoyment of the park in the years to come. The atmosphere of the whole Island, because of its scale and the nature of its development, is one of rest and leisure and in line with this the carriage road development has always appeared a desirable one. The carriage 2001 location before --ou on wich in 1924 you ter- portrily suspended this approval given in 1922 until funds for its construction were in sight, consists of two sections described i: Mr. Lockefeller in his letter of February 24, 1927, one to the south and the other to the north of 29 Bubble Pond, connected by an existing bridle path following the western shore of that pond, the proposed road thus formed to connect with the existing carriage road to the west side of Eagle Lake. The latter sup- plies only one carriage road approach to or from park lands from the Bar Harbor side. It was considered desirable when the plan of 1922 was under consideration to permit the reconstruction, including relocation where desirable, of an existing old carriage road on the east shore of Eagle Lake and between it and the proposed new motor road. to develop a circle carriage road system out of Bar Harbor without the necessity of entering and returning over the same carriage road that now lies west of Eagle Lake. Recommendation of the Service was withheld at the time, however, until it could be seen just what portion if any of this road would be seen from the motor road above when completed. We have gone over the proposed location of this road and have studied it from every angle, and now recommend it for approval of con- struction on the park land needed at such time as formal offer is re- ceived. Such reconstruction of the old carriage road will necessarily involve some charges in location; and portions would be on land con- trolled by the Trustees of Public Reservations, portions on private land, and portions on park land. 30 OTHER OBSERVATIONS: One of the most insistent objections to road construction during the past has been that they opened up wilderness areas that should be kept in their primeval condition. We were surprised to learn that there are in fact no primeval areas on the Land, - that it has in fact been cut over and burned over for centuries, which accounts for the barrenness of some of the summits where erosion has done its work. Jagon roads built by wood-cutters criss-cross the parkland at many places. Under national pario policies the entire park area is considered wilderness area, subject only to such improvements as will make them reasonably accessible to the people of the country who now own it, so that, with the fire hazard reduced and the wood-cutting stopped, the woods will shortly return to their former beauty. Such studies as Jr. Blair'3 committee has been maxing to identify and establish important historical and scientific points of interest on the entire island including the part will have their important bearing on the developing of educational opportunities in the future. Extension 02 parking areas for motorists and changes in alignment 02 some of existic reads, all minor in degree, will probably also be in- evitable : Stoup 10 need arises, be articipated at this time. 31 Line seenie -'eads them Line JUNE 2-nd road and the Calillac Mountain road will not be needei in the park ES constituted. It is interest- in; to point out, however, that while there was considerable opposition to the construction. of the Jordan Pond road as will be evidenced by the minutes of the hearin; held in Washington in 1924, there is now almost universal appro- bation of it. is 210 carriage roads are built or contemplated to be built from Federal funds and wild not come to our attention unless formally of- fored for construction, it is not practicable at this time to anticipate any such construction or pass C: the merit of a possible future project. The Service can pass on such roads only at such times as offer for their construc- tion is received; a this for the only rooks involved C16 the ones reported 0.. above, - the Cite submitted is Mr. Rockereller 202 imediate construction and the one along the east side of Cagle Late, where a road has been in ex- istence since before the creation of the park and is considered desirable to maintain to complete the communication system between the north side and the south sile 02 the Island, a offered orall times far i connection ...... the plan of 1922. SUIDID ROAD: This 2011 is now under construction from federal funds. The total length will be about four miles and the estimated cost 02 completion 011 the alignment and standard followel at present is $250,000. On the present allot- ment basis it will take four or five seasons to complete the three miles yet to DE constructed to reach the terminal or. the sunrit. 32 REPRODUCED It is recommended that the Service have regular plans an.i specifi- cations prepared at once for the remainder 0-' the project, and place the work in the hands of the Engineering Division of the Service or the Bureau of Pub- lic Roads to complete the work by the end of the 1929 tourist season. The present engineering plans are satisfactory in their way but need to be put into standard form. It is possible that a few minor changes in the survey will oe required to bring the project to Service construction standards. The landscape engineer reviewed the entire location and suggested betterments which should result in eliminating two acute curves. Roughly estimated, without having quantities available, the proj- ect will run from $200,000 to $250,000 to complete the work. This will in- clude grading to the summit, surfacing and oiling the entire project and some roadise cleanup. Hamiling the worl- as on one project in one or two seasons will save twenty to twenty-five per cent of the total estimated cost. From observing conditions on the Island it may work out that it will be better to hamile this work by force account, under the engineering division the Service then by letting a contract unier the Burean 05 Fit- lic Roads. This can be decided when plans are prepared ani total quentities are known. 33 A1 Int IN GENERAL: The purpose of the study of Lr. Flair's committee, and the re- port of their landscane representative, I have found, has been the develop ment of the entire Island, and necessarily will range into such subjects as the elimination of poles for the transmission of light, power and speech, the construction of sidewalks, additional to m parks, zoning, and the like, - all subjects primarily out of the score of park jurisdiction. It is of be course locally important that these features should/considered while there is opportunity and wherever park lands are concerned it should be the endeavor of the Service, through its representatives, to cooperate where possible. For instance, we should not permit the erection of poles in the park unless there is no alternative; but where unavoidable, on account of the rocky sub-structure which would prevent burying the lines, the poles should be hidden among the trees or placed on the 02f side of the road that is not in the view. This procedure has been followed in Yosemite and Yellowstone and other parks with success, and on some 01 the shore drives of the Island. There is consilerable vista-cutting to be done, out until our landscare representatives can spend the neces are time in studying desirable vistas this feature had better be held in aberance. 34 Because of extent 0 the park 3.10 its problems, instructions nave been _iven that no development 01 coministration sites, public camps, service road locations and the like details of landscape planning, be undertaken until our landscape department has had the or portunity to study the particular problem involved a.i render its decision. RESULE: In view 02 the preceding, we recommend to you as follows: 1 That the steps taken for so much of a general development plan as is possible under present limitation of area and covering administrative site, including utility group, park public camps, and the like, and covered in preceding pages, be approved. That you 2 prove for immediate construction the two sections of car riage roads submitted is Lr. Rockefeller in letter of February 24, last, which were approved i: the Department in 1922 but approval of which was suspended by you until funds for their construction were in sight. 3 That you approve the reconstruction of an old existing carriage road to the east CT Tagle Lake to provide a circle carriage and snddle horse route out of Bar Marbor and communities at the north of the island. 4. That the construction o: the Ordillac Summit Road be continued to speedy completion as one project, and if possible within two working seasons. 35 Mat the Pari Service continue in every way concetible with park policies and laws to cooperate with re resentatives of adjacent com- munities in the betterment of scenic conditions on the islands, such as the elimination of poles for carrying wires, in the establishment and protection of historical, scenic and scientific points of interest, and the like, within the park area itself. Assistant Director. Chief Landscape Engineer. Bar Marbor, Maine. September 23, 1927. 36