National Affairs: The Lavishers

” With a lavish hand, nature has moulded throughout our land the most magnificent and awe-inspiring scenery … In the name of the Government I invite you to be its guest”—thus did Secretary of the Interior Work announce the Spring opening of the National Parks five months ago. The public heard. The public came. On twelve days this season the number of people entering Yellowstone National Park exceeded 2,000, although the greatest daily record for 1922 was 1,983. Three parks, Yellowstone (Wyo.), Platt (Okla.), Yosemite (Calif.), had received more than 100,000 visitors by Aug. 15. Hot Springs National Park (Ark.) had 98,580 visitors by the same date. Mount Rainier NationalPark (Wash.), 83,888. Last year over 1,200,000 people visited 19 parks. This year the number is expected to surpass 1,500,000.