| OCR Text |
Show Dr. Charles B. Hunt Protests Method of Reefs Development The proposed establishment of a wilderness area at Capitol Cap-itol Reef National Monument has prompted a well-known physiography specialist to protest Park Service management manage-ment of that Monument. The protest was registered by Charles B. Hunt Professor or Physiography at John Hopkins Hop-kins University, an annual vis itor to the Capitol Reef area since the 1930's, and original mapper of the Waterpocket Fold for the U. S. Gelogical Survey. In the past 25 years, Dr. Hunt notes he has visited the Reef region almost yearly, and conducted geological tours there. In the past 30 years with the Geological Survey he worked in at least 25 parks and monuments, and visited most of the others. "The experience leads me to the opinion that Capitol Reef National Monument probably qualifies as the most neglected and mismanaged misman-aged unit in the park system," sys-tem," he commented in a letter to the Hanksville Cham ber of commerce. He states there have been gross failures in both protection pro-tection and interpretive programs pro-grams which in part bear on the proposed Wilderness area. The first error in the protection pro-tection program, he notes, occurred when the road down Capitol Gorge was closed for flash-flood protection. "This is not protection; it is mother-liness" mother-liness" he states, and suggests sug-gests it be opened to all but buses and trailers, or oversized over-sized cars, and the ranger at the gate be assigned to lock the gate only when floods threaten. "However, an appropriate ap-propriate warning sign aboui, the flood hazard would probably prob-ably suffice, and the man in uniform could then be employed em-ployed to something useful," he adds. A more recent failure of the protection program cited is the "horrendous filling station" sta-tion" erected above head- quarters, which Mr. Hunt nntesN occupies a conspicious site with gawdy signs and pennants wholly out of keeping keep-ing with the setting. "It is symbolic of land management manage-ment at its worst," he comments. com-ments. He feels the interpretive program at the Monumen: has also been neglected along the roads, at the "so-called museum" which never developed de-veloped despite the fact that Dr. J. Fred Smith and others gave considerable time and thought to help the Park Service Ser-vice plan one. Dr. Hunt feels however wrote the handouts about the age mysteries of the fold had not done his homework, and that Dr. Smith's professional paper should be on exhibit r. and on sale until a corrected handout is available. "I favor the Wilderness pro posnl for Capitol Reef provided pro-vided Capitol Gorge is reopened," re-opened," Dr. Hunt specifies. 'I also favor the Park Service Ser-vice giving attention to the other needs of the monument Dr. Hunt notes he special izes in Physiography, and has' recently authored a book bv that name. Parks are used to illustrate physiography in lectures, he says, because their scenery is familiar by picture if not by visits. "Capitol "Cap-itol Reef National Monument is the only one I do not recommend re-commend visiting. . . otheii neighboring areas offer greaf er reward." Mr. Hunt feels the Park Service from the Director's Office down needs to work on making the monument worth visiting. As it now stands lie says, with or without the wilderness the monument can not be recommended. , |
