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Show 64 The Economic and Environmental Value of Zion Someone whose conceptualiwtion of the national park idea was based on news coverage of Zion National Park's bcgirn1ings might have understood the designation as primarily economic. After touring Southern Utah, National Park Service Director Mather announced that President Wilson had signed the Zion legislation. He made the announcement at the Salt Lake Commercial Club. The Tribune declared, "Utah has its first national park," but there was no discussion of preservation or conservation in the covcrage. 170 "The celebration in honor of the designation of Zion national park [sic] began with descriptions of its wonders and interest to the world," the Tribune reported. "Before it was concluded the first steps toward a program for its development and promotion bad been taken. Mr. Mather pointed out the opportunities which the park will offer for sending the nature of Utah's anraetions throughout the world, and the Commercial club fsic] members last night evidenced a determination to seize the opportunity."m The park was presented primarily as a business venture. Mather in particular was quoted as trying to "sell" the economic potential of the park to a group that had already bought the idea. The newspapers parroted urgings to "exploit" the "economic potential" from the national park. 172 The Salt Lake Tribune reported from Mather's speech: "The development of the Zion National park [sic], the creation of adequate facilities for 170 Saft Lake Trib11ne, ·U.S. Park for Utah Is Reality," November 25, 1919, 17. 171 Ibid. m Deseret Evening News, "National Parks to Be faploited by Newly Pormcd Association," May 29, 1919, scc. 1, 4. |
