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<br />-<. <br /> <br />OO'-lj~;r <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />So, there you have it. Does conservation of that much "rater justify our <br /> <br />d~cision? We think it does. <br /> <br />Yet, that is not the whole story. _~B I said before the wise use of a natural <br />resource is to make it available to the people. We have included in the Upper <br />Colorado report an item of ~21,OOO,OOO to develop the area around Echo Park Dam <br />'Within Dinosaur National Monument. \.e will build roads and facilities to take care <br /> <br />of the people who want to go there. <br />Just as Lake Mead has provided a rich opportunity for recreation for hundreds <br /> <br />of thousands of people, so we hope will the creation of a new lake in the canyon <br />behind Echo Park Dam. Alter the park? Yes. }jako it available to more people? <br /> <br />Yes. Destroy it? No. <br /> <br />The 12 areas of the National Park System over which the Department has juris- <br /> <br />diction in California. have proven -;'0 ~e a major attraction which has drmm millions <br /> <br />of visitors to the state ",aen year. Last year,. for example, clese to five million <br /> <br />people visited Nato,ollal ?ark areas in California. <br /> <br />The numbs" Gf QGllar~ the traveller spenis is not in itself, of course, the <br /> <br />true meastrre of vslua park areas have to the Nation. A greater valuation must be <br /> <br />placed on thE opportunity they offer for healthful relaxation, for spiritual inspir- <br /> <br />ation and for the patriotic stimulation that is part of any tour to one of these <br /> <br />spots. <br /> <br />Some people, I sometimes fear, do not understand the true significance of our <br /> <br />national parks. There are some,. for Exw-ple, llho oontead that our parks are only <br /> <br />for a selected few who through education or special traininf; are oost able to under- <br />I <br />stand and enjoy the grandeur of scenery that a bnul1teous nature has bestowed. <br />They would IGck up these resources, They oppose vigorously the development of <br />ney recreatior.al areas .,'lhich would result from prcgr!U~s for '",ater resources develop- <br />ment pro,dding vital facilities to aid in the economic strengthening of regions <br />lacking sufficient water for agricultural expansion or for industrial development. <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />\ <br />