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Show Great Throng Attend Dell Amphi-Theatre Dedication more conservation conscious. We are sensing the need of looking to nature's welfare in order that she may continue to lavish upon us her riches. We are finding more time to consider the artistic, social, musical, musi-cal, and cultural side of what was rapidly being lost in an industrial world. But the woods, the hills, prairies and valleys, so long neglected, must all be given just consideration if we are to perpetuate that heritage for which our fathers struggled and to which our children are entitled. We cannot continue to mine our natural natur-al resources and expect continued local, state or national security and prosperity. We must become conservation con-servation conscious, keeping in mind that conservation does not mean non-use but wise use; in other words, such use as will provide for utilization on a maximum sustained yield basis. Although we all love trees and undefiled nature, yet no heartaches are suffered in seeing the trees cut, the waters diverted, the game hunted, or the soils plowed, if by so doing human needs are met and provided for and provided the resources themselves be preserved and not depleted. Nature can serve man's needs ( without being ravaged if its rules are not thoughtlessly violated. The purpose and object of the administration of the Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture are (1) to maintain the resources in a high productive state, and (2) to regulate, correlate and coordinate uses so that the resources will contribute con-tribute most to the public welfare. National. Forest lands belong to the people and the interests of all must be considered. Then in keeping with these principles, prin-ciples, what higher use can this area or spot of ground upon which we are assembled be adaptable or put to? There is no higher use. Here amid towering trees, lofty peaks and crags, the stars overhead and in close communion with Mother Nature, litterally thousands will find surcease from toil and care and inspiration to carry on day by day in a more cheerful and efficient manner. An outdoor amphi-theatre such as this would have been out of place a few decades back, but today it facilitates a much needed acquaintance acquaint-ance with the harmonious atmosphere atmo-sphere of the great out-doors. In dedicating this amphi-theatre to the use of all who come here to enjoy the natural setting, we hope to perpetuate an appreciation for those God given 'bounties which man cannot duplicate; we wish to revere the memory of those intrepid intre-pid pioneers who struggled to wrest from nature the resources which Some 1200 persons from the surrounding sur-rounding cities and stakes attended the dedication services for the new amphi-theatre in American Fork 1 canyon at Mutual Dell Wednesday evening. The Forest Service, civic and church organizations combined to present a fitting dedicatory service for this beautiful theatre set in such wonderful surroundings. The need for a place of this sort in the canyon, and especially at the Mutual Mu-tual Dell, has long been felt. In the late afternoon and early evening families began gathering at the Dell grounds and surrounding picnic places to partake of lunches. From 7:00 p. m. until 8:00 p. m. the American Fork City band, under the direction of K. J. Bird presented a fine band concert. By 8:00, at which time the dedication dedi-cation services commenced, the amphi-theatre, constructed to seat 800 persons, was completely filled and it was necessary to provide benches and other seats for the rest of the huge crowd. Ford M. Paulson, forest guard, was in charge of the program. Two musical numbers, one a P.-T. A. ladies chorus, and a solo by Joseph Coulam of Lehi, were presented. James E. Gurr, supervisor of the Wasatch Forest, made the presentation presenta-tion speech on behalf of the forest service. The speech of acceptance was made by Junius Banks of Lehi, pioneer in the establishment of Mutual Mu-tual Dell. He gave a brief history of the choosing of the Dell site and the establishment of the Mutual home in American Fork canyon. A ladies trio from Pleasant Grove sang two numbers and Harrison R. Merrill of the B. Y. U. gave the principal address. Mr. Merrill cited the beauties of our own canyon and especially Timpanogos mountain as compared to other famous peaks in the west. He commented on the wonderful setting for the amphitheatre amphi-theatre and upon the fact that the structure was an "end-product" for our great national forest. Mildred Chipman and K. J. Bird sang two numbers, "Italian Street Song" and "Glow Worm," accompanied accom-panied by Lois Greenwood. A group of young ladies under the direction of Margaret Stagg, , presented anl interpretive dance which was beautifully beau-tifully appropriate in the natural setting of the theatre. The dedicatory dedi-catory prayer was offered by W. W. Warnick of Timpanogos stake. All civic and church organizations organiza-tions are invited by the Forest Service Ser-vice to make use of the amphitheatre. amphi-theatre. Reservations for this may be made by contacting V. N. West or F. M. Paulson. James E. Gurr's dedicatory speech included the following thoughts: As a nation, America portrays one of the most remarkable developments develop-ments in all history. From a struggling strug-gling band of half-starving colonists colon-ists in the 16th century, we have grown into a position which is the envy of the world. Early colonists found it necessary to make clearings in the heavy have made human habitation profitable prof-itable in this state; we express our thanks to the agencies which have made it possible, to the Citizens' Conservation Corps, inaugurated by the President of the United States, and the Works Progress Administration, Administra-tion, both of whom performed the labor and provided the necessary funds; to the recreational engineers who designed the same and to the United States Forest Service under whose supervision the entire project was brought to completion. It gives me great pleasure as a representative of the United States Forest Service to present this amphi-theatre and surrounding improvements im-provements to you, the public. May the people of the nearby cities and towns find enjoyment and benefit in its use. May it prove to be an inspiration in-spiration to those who shall perform per-form here for the pleasure of their fellows and may it prove to be a cultural and recreational asset to the Mutual Improvement Associations, Associa-tions, civic organizations, individuals, individ-uals, and the public generally. May vandalism, carelessness or thoughtless thought-less acts never mar, detract from, or destroy its value or your enjoyment enjoy-ment thereof, is our sincere wish. o growths of timber, which seemed to extend everywhere, before they could grow the priceless crops on which their very existence depended. Smooth open and cleared land was long at a premium, so it is little wonder that here began a feeling that destruction of certain natural resources was not only justifiable but frequently considered beneficial. benefi-cial. This desire to destroy or exploit ex-ploit everything which offered momentary mom-entary hindrance without thought of future need seems to have dominated dom-inated our development and growth. During those hectic years of our greatest industrial development, we found little necessity for concern over that nature which had been so severe and yet so prolific, so stern and harsh yet all the while giving continually of her lavish store to fill the insatiable maw of our commercial enterprise. As a people, we were badly in need of an adjustment, and nature just could not permit us to continue con-tinue our unwarranted abuse without with-out retaliation of some sort, and the God of Nature has spoken in terms of floods, dust storms, drouths, unemployment un-employment and want. Fortunately we are now becoming |