The times., 1898-10-26

from the Castle" rises to the same
height
The park has mean elevation of
about 5000 feet above the sea and Is filled
with mountains and canyons, hot springs
and geysers, waterfalls and other attrac-
tion of unsurpassed grandeur The falls
of the Yellowstone River, the source OF
which is within the limits of the park.
has an Upper Fall of ll2 feet in height,
and a Lower Fall of 800 feet.
Equally attractive and marvelously
grand is the scenery of the Yosemite Ma
tional Park in California. No park of
the Old World equals 1t in scenery.
Near by are the Sequoia and General
Grant National Parks which contain the
mammoth redwood trees. The facts re
lating to their dimensions seem so in
credible that they are almost beyond the
comprehension of the average European.
For instance, only a few days ago the
press dispatches from London contained
an account of a dinner given, on wa
ger. by William Astor to twenty-seven
guests. seated around table consisting
of single cross section OF one of these
redwood trees. His assertion that this
could be done was doubted. and to prove
the case he secured at great expense the
necessary evidence. a section of the tree.
and won 900 from one who will. here
after. have a clearer comprehension of
what nature has so generously and pro-
fusely done for America.
In a paper on Sequoia. in the 'Ency-
clopedia Britannica. is the following con-
else statistical statement relating to these
marvellous trees:
ut grows to gigantic size; trunk has
been recorded go feet in length, and
greater height is said to be occasionally
reached"
{ 10 ia Inn no
moth grove of Calaveras. in California,
contains above ninety large trees"
The tree known as the Mother of the
| Forest measured ninety feet in girth. and
the dead tree was 32l feet high"
Some trees in the Mariposa grove
rival those in size; one measures 101 feet
| round the root, and a cut stump is 81
feet in diameter
In the same authority may also be
found the following interesting facts and
| figures in regard to the Yosemite Valley:
Upon entering the narrow limits of
| the valley the eye is first attracted to
Sentinel Rock. 2,27O feet high, stand
ing alone. In sight of this is Ell Capt.
| tan rising perpendicularly 1900 feet
from base to summit, and by many re-
| garded as the most prominent attraction
| of the valley. Cathedral Rock OBJ
scures from view the Spires a pair
of granite columns suggestive of Grecian
| art, and below 'Cathdral Rock Bridal
| Veil Falls, from height of 900 feet,
| scatters its spray in volume so thin and
| intangible that the outlines of the peaks
| in the distance are revealed to view.
| Opposite these falls, known by the
scend from precipice LOCO feet
above the valley, and opposite the
latter are the Three Brothers, the
loftiest of this triple alliance being $50
feet, while beyond are Clouds Rest
and the North and South Dome
yosemite Falls, dropping 1850 feet,
| are opposite Sentinel Rock. They consist
of number of falls. the first being 1900
feet high, and the last 400 feet in the
clear The total descent from their sum-
nit is stated to represent a distance of
more than half a mile. The falls of
Yosemite are said to be the ioftiest in
the world, in comparison with which the
height of all other known falls, save,
| perhaps, Niagara, sink into insignif-
| cance.''
If these facts are not sufficient the
European skeptics on the subject
| of the New World would do well to read
| the description of the Yellowstone and
! Yosemite Parks contained in Rev. DR..
| Talmage's last Sundays discourse. AS a
| model of description it is unsurpassed
| by anything in the English language.
| and an exquisite piece of word paint
| ing it excels Bierdstadt's celebrated pic
| ture of the Yosemite.
Their Value.
| 1t seems like going from the sublime to
| the ridiculous to talk about the money
value of these works of nature, but as the
| principal purpose of this investigation is
| to reach an estimate of the approximate
| value of Uncle Sans real estate of all
| kinds, his park property must be includ-
| ed.
| AS above shown, the total area of all his
| parks is 5,1SS square miles, or S.2S5. 120
/ acres. AT the mere nominal sum of SO
| per acre the value would be $50. .S5l. 200.
| But this Is but a small portion of their
value. The chief value consists In the at
| fractions which these marvellous works of
nature offer to the European visitor and
| tourist. Ii is estimated that Americans
annually spend in Europe for purposes of
| travel, pleasure, art, etc, at least $780,
| 100000. Now, suppose America, by her at
| fractions. reverses this. and that Euro
peans annually spend similar amount in
; this country, the investments in these
great national parks, with their unrivaled
attractions, would prove exceedingly prof
| table.