The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-12

larger room than the preceding cham
bers, but with the capitalization still in
formative state. Beyond this the real
beauties of the place begin to be seen.
The first change in formation noticeable
is that the crystals are growing 'crum-
my in size and whiteness in each sue
ceeding chamber becoming harder in APP
pearance and larger in size, until the
popcorn formation is met. This is the
first indication of sta1actite and stalag-
mite, and it has been named 'Dripstone
Paradise" In several of the chambers
in which this formation is found the
crystals have been formed in balls, CIV
ing an exact represent alton of the pop
corn balls which so delight the chill
dren's eyes when hanging from the
Christmas tree. A mixture Of coloring,
due to the mixed character of soil and
rock above, adds to the impression.
From this point the immense chambers
succeed each other as the route descends,
showing an increased antiquity, and each
possessing more of brilliancy of reflec-
ton and design of natures carvings than
the preceding. Caverns Of gigantic pro-
portions are traversed, one of the small
est being sixty feet in width and over
200 in length, but no light produced in
these caverns has yet been strong enough
to reach the domes Only rejecting
lights occasionally bring into transitive
view sharp angles, huge stalactites and
an impression that the Vaulted ceilings
must be a wonder of architecture and
marvel of beauty.
Stalagmite is not found until several
of these caverns have been passed One
of the first to be seen has been chris
tened "Cleopatra's Needle" 1t arises
from bed of popcorn" work in a far
corner of an immense cavern, to a height
of over seven feet, an index of the tow
ering spires which are soon to be seen
in succeeding chambers.
From this point the descent Is more
rapid, yet not so great as to be uncom-
Portable. AS each cavern is now reached
through passageways of fair width and
a happy dryness, one of the guides hast
ems in advance to the opposite side and
strikes lights whose brilliancy is re-
Elected far into the darkness above and
to the walls on either side, which arc
here of the hardest crystal formation,
niched and carved, polished and scinti-
lating, veritable palace of diamonds.
-Four miles of crystal caverns are trav-
ersed from this point, each possessing
some point of beauty more interesting
and wonderful than has before been seen,
the Crystal Palace at the end of the jour-
ney forming a climax to an enhancing
pleasure and sightseeing excursion. This
chamber is estimated to be $500 feet be-
low the surface, and is seven miles from
the entrance.
In Wind cave ninety miles of under
ground passa geways have been explored,
opening up an aggregate of $500 rooms
or chambers. The entire distance is pos
sible to be traversed, without danger or
discomfort, and when the cave shall have
been equipped with electric lights, accord
ing to the plans suggested to the gov
eminent officials now in charge, with
bridges over the few narrow chasms
which are to be encountered, and the
cave thrown open to the public it will
no doubt become one of the most ia
nous resorts in the country, especially
as the vicinity has added attractions in
it's natural hot springs, already extern
sively patronized because of their medic
inal properties 1t is reported that the
entrance to the cave will be rearranged
so as to be convenient, and it is even re-
ported that an elevator win be installed
to do away with the ladder climbing ne
cessitated by the wel-like character of
the oritice which leads from the cave
level to the surface. Such improvements
will largely add to the number visiting
the cave, as under the present conditions
timorous people feel some qualms about
letting themselves down the dark and
uninviting hole.