Most of the National Parks are situated in the western part of the
continent. Through the beneficence and wisdom of Uncle Sam there have
been preserved for the American people the prehistoric dwellings of
extinct races in Arizona and Colorado. Rocky Mountain Park, Colorado,
and Crater National Park, southern Oregon, attract thousands of
visitors annually. Every summer, innumerable groups of Nature lovers
camp and tramp in the Government forest parks of California. In all,
there are now (1919) sixteen National Parks in the United States and
Alaska, with a total area of nearly 10,000 square miles. In 1916 a
National Park was also created in the territory of Hawaii, with an area
of 75,295 acres.
_Use Your Government_
[Illustration: TRAVELING OUTFIT OF U. S. SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN
ARCTIC ALASKA]
To many of us, perhaps, Uncle Sam’s Government may appear to consist
of a vast number of men using up time and money in doing a great many
things in which we see no useful purpose whatever. Other men in the
Legislative Department appear to be discussing at great length the
framing of new laws, good, bad or indifferent, and we criticize them
accordingly. The thought that we can capitalize our citizenship in a
most valuable material way and that we can make direct personal use of
the Government, whatever our calling in life may be, few of us have
ever realized. We have pointed out some of the ways in which Uncle Sam
helps his relatives. Whatever your chosen work may be, whatever your
interest may be, turn to Uncle Sam and learn how valuable a friend and
support he can be.
* * * * *
_SUPPLEMENTARY READING_
USE YOUR GOVERNMENT _By Alissa Franc_
UNCLE SAM’S MODERN MIRACLES _By W. A. Du Puy_
UNCLE SAM, WONDER WORKER _By W. A. Du Puy_
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT _By Frederic J. Haskin_
⁂ Information concerning the above books may be had on application to
the Editor of The Mentor.
* * * * *
Entered as second-class matter March 10, 1913, at the postoffice at New
York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Copyright, 1919, by The
Mentor Association, Inc.
_THE OPEN LETTER_
[Illustration: SAM SLICK