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Show Page 10 EDITORIALS . .. idkr Days Atead. Coming to the Fore (T-- I, March 28, 1957) Last weeks of work to be accomplished in the next ten years in the Arches national monument through Mission 66 project, coupled with this weeks news of work done in trail improvement during the past winter, gives good indication that this very scenic monument is moving to the front as a haven for lovers of desert beauty. The Arches, for years proclaimed great by local enthusiasts who were instrumental in much of the development work so far, has too long been kept under a bushel, so to speak, by a lack of necessary funds to fully develop it as a national monument. The Mission 66 project seems to us to be one of the most worthy improvement plans ever devised. Based on the fact scenic areas of the west are that many of the in dire need of improvements, the program sets out a systematic method of bringing about these improvements over a ten year period, with a completion date in 1966. The program, however, depends upon yearly financial appropriations to carry it to a satisfactory completion. It will require budget requests each and every year, followed by backing and support from legislators to see that the requests are followed through. This time of the year, when efforts are being made from all sides to trim the largest peace-tim- e budgets in our nations history, it seems necessary to us that requests for financial aid for Mission 66 are not scrapped in moves by some who might not be entirely money-savin- g familiar with the needs that the smaller and national monuments. America is feeling the need Industrial and more and more each year for areas of recreation. Large national parks are already full to capacity from early spring to late fall, and can afford no more room for the numbers of people desiring relaxation in the areas 'wests scenic spots. That leaves the to take up the slack, a job they cannot satisfactorily do run-dow- n little-develop- ed The new paved entrance road into Arches, funded by the Mission 66 program, view of the spectacular Courthouse Towers section gave most visitors a' first-tim-e of the monument, including the prominent Three Gossips, in the center of this less-kno- fast-movi- ever-increasi- under-develop- ed without financial aid. Let us hope that Mission 66 is carried out as plans now would allow, and hope that this very worthy plan doesnt fall prey to the economists shears. A Dream Realized (T-- I, April 30, 1957) With the advertising for bids on construction of a paved, e highway into the Arches national monument, and construction planned for this summer, people of Moab and Southeastern Utah are seeing the beginning of a reward for the diligent work that has been done over the years to bring the scenic monument before the eyes of the public. The reward in this instance is the National Park Services Mission 66 program, which has planned expenditures of over $2 million in the next ten years, and will fully develop the land of windows and standing rocks. Being primarily an arid desert area, most people agree that the most important factor in the development of any scenic area in Southeastern Utah is a paved road system. Unpaved roads in the Arches have kept many visitors from seeing the wonders of the monument and have made the trip for those who cared enough to brave the dirt roads, an y affair. With the completion of the scenic new entrance road, travelers can leave their motels in Moab and be in the very center of the Windows section in less than thirty minutes, never leaving the pavement, and traveling through some of the most spectacular scenery in Grand county while enroute. This is the realization of a dream purtured by those first residents who saw in the Arches section one of the greatest potential scenic attractions in the West. Better still, this is only the beginning. Mission 66 calls for continued road improvement in the Arches, coupled with the building of adequate visitor facilities at the headquarters area, and providing for adequately staffing the national withdrawal. The development planned will provide better roads, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, visitor center, roadside interpretive developments and increased personnel-all designed to serve better the needs of visitors to one of Utah's outstanding scenic attractions. however, before Mission 66 work can be completed, it two-lan- all-da- be necessary to make certain boundary adjustments in the monument. A portion of the Fiery Furnace does not lie within the boundary. Since this is to be one of the important additions to the monuments attractions, it is imperitive that it be included in the land withdrawal. The total land sought by the Park Service is 480 acres, and at the same time it is planned to turn back for private use some 720 acres now held within the monument, but not deemed necessary for a portion of the withdrawal. To any in this area, the seeking of additional land for withdrawal by the federal government rings a sour note. For years sections of valuable land along the river canyons and within prime mining areas have been withdrawn from private use for no apparent reason. This feeling of bitterness is definitely justified in many cases. However this proposed Arches land withdrawal is not merely another Land grab. It is a withdrawal necessary to the development of the Arches national monument, and the fact that nearly twice as much good grazing land will be returned to private use makes serious opposition to the withdrawal seem will ridiculous. A public hearing is to be held at Cedar City, Utah on June 12, to determine the outcome of the proposal. Many local people are planning to attend the hearing to speak in favor of the Park Service plan. Any obligation created at this time would seem to us a direct disregard for the obligation owed to those pioneers through whose efforts the Arches was originally set aside as a national monument. far-looki- ng 4.5s V'T ,A- Balanced Rock and Clup Off the Old Block (no longer standing) was the terminus for the first phase of Mission 66 road building. |