Dodge City times., 1891-05-08
MAMMOTH CAVE.
Nashville. Tenn

| DLah ihLS- hinhAnS tAc, iCdue
of the Times would be pleased to rt
cievc description of the great subtel
raneau domain known as the Man
moth Cave, which is inhabited only b
few insects and ANIMALS upon whic
the bright sunlight never shines, Il,
following brief lines are submitted.
The caves are more numerous an
much larger than | supposed. 1t ha
been several weeks since |, in compan
with several others, spent the create
part Of day in hunting the wonder
to be found there. though 4 longe
time could be well spent.
Caves abound in great numbers il
Tennessee and Kentucky, but the larg
est one is the Mammoth in Edmou
county, Kentucky. Its discovery wa.
made known to the civilized worlt
about the year 1909, by hunter nam
ed Hutchins, who followed bear to
its den.
There are about 500 caves in Ed
mons county. The Mammoth Cave is
the greatest financial resource Of the
county as it attracts great numbers of
persons every year. The hotel regis
ter shows about three thousand visi-
tors this year, coming from the north,
south, east and west and some from
Europe. Until lately, the cave was
reached by rall to Cave City, and
thence by stage, distance of about
ten miles; but now there is branch
line running direct to the Cave hotel.
The hotel is a very large structure,
and has been built part by part, the
first being built about 1912 as cabin
for the saltpeter miners. Mclean the
the first purchaser of the cave, bought
it for the small sum of $40, including
200 acres of land, which has been add
ed to until there are 1000 acres in the
estate at present, part of which is wood
ed, and small portions of which may
be farmed. The estate is now owned
by DR.. Croghan's heirs.
The total length of the cave, includ-
ing all side ways is about $50
There are two row.
The shn-' 'e'.
les, the long and
..~ The long route is IA miles
, the short one and it takes one day to
pass through the former. The cave is
now lighted with gas, but previously
lamps were used.
The charges for passing through the
cave is $500 for the long route and
$500 for the short route, that being
more than was charged before gas was
introduced. A guide always accom-.
panies visitors and points out and
explains all the principal points of in
terest.
Walking down shady ravine from
the hotel, we reached the mouth Of the
monster cave, the entrance being lis
feet below the hotel and 1911 feet above
the Green river, the latter being only
half mile distant. The river is fed
principally from underground streams
and the water never freezes in the win
ter and consequently it makes fine
refuge for boats while the Ohio river
is blocked with ice.
Just entering the cave small stream
of water is heard dashing down at our
side, coming from the ledge above
but quickly disappears to be seen nc
more until its waters mingle with the
Green river. Passing on about 300
feet further, and we come to an iron
gate which is kept locked to prevent
intruders from going farther. The
cave is very small at this point. The
current of air is very rapid at this
point, but further in it seems very
quiet. The average temperature is
81 degrees Fab. not varying ? degrees
winter or summer, and the atmosphere
is very refreshing.
At one time it was thought the air
would cure consumption and thirteen
persons erected rude cabins quite a
distance back in the cave. The cabins
are to be seen ut the present time. but
i; was not the place to cure consumrt-
ion.
Several saltpeter vats are to be seen
which were in use about the year 1912.
'i'he sa!tpeter was used during the var
in The Ion. route there are some 80
dnmes, or rather chambers, besides
iranv smaller ones
The bat room is chamber where
hundreds of bats fnd protection dur
my The winter. In the Rotunda, the
miners in 1911 exhumcd two skeletons
the only ones ever found in the cave.
Several mummies were found in Short
cave, about half mile distant.
C".;ii,ac,. next week
TIC VICE president of the Standard