Conservation issues are not confined to nationally prominent scenic resources as the Grand Canyon and the Redwoods. Other such issues can involve areas as close home as the Kelso sand dunes on our Mojave Desert.
On a recent DPS trip in the nearby Providence Range, a California State Park Ranger advised our group that mining interests plan to process a large portion of the Kelso dunes in order that iron ore might be recovered from the sands. The residual material will be left in unsightly heaps some ten or fifteen foot high.
According to the local office of the Bureau of Land Management, the mining people have filed claims on about 10,000 acres of the dunes and plan soon to beginning processing. Such mining activity is legal and is based upon legislation enacted in a by-gone era when exploitation, not conservation, was the chief concern of the nation.
I hope these miners find their tack uneconomical. Possible a few good sand storms might put their machinery out of commission. However, the only lasting solution is to amend existing Federal legislation. Vote-conscious Congressmen will act only if the voting public makes its wishes known.
Letters to your Congressmen will help do that job!
NEW MEMBERS-
The DPS is happy to add the following two men to its membership rolls:
Jon Z Inskeep 45032 17th St West Lancaster 93534
David F Burnett 5577 -12 Nestle Ave Tarzana 91358
NEW EMBLEM MEMBER- Jon Inskeep joined as an Emblem Member after having done all his required peaks. Now we know where to find a good leader!
RENEWAL TIME- As the New Year speedily grinds away, we find it time to renew our Newsletter subscriptions. If you have already submitted to the $ 1 prod, forget the attached reminder.
DPS BANQUET ANNOUNCED-
According to late reports, the Annual DPS Banquet, scheduled for Thursday April 18th will have as its speaker: