The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-12
Ew YoRttonss ~ ~
|r,-Iln,. lgglral Wonders.


! repeated
zee OF apIeciai to The Post)
that hr May 11.-Some of the rich.
while : and natural wonders pos
not admie United States government
'sy ar common object of vandalism
aAerAn the Western states, and yet
AN, of the Federal government
uusbe to put a stop to this work of
,c,lon. Wind Cave. at the foot OF the
inns In South Dakota. rivals any
.resu cavern to be found anywhere
,o,ld. Large In size, 1t possesses
49, Of surprising interest to gcolo-
-, scientists, and Is revelation
ar,sts Today at the mouth OF the
s,aols A highwayman. who. with Win
!. In hand. Is demanding 81 admit
u every one who attempts to enter
80 Although located upon public
~ and under control of the land Of
,ho of6clals of the interior depart
$50 nj loss to devise plan by
This self.constituted guardian of
,orrelous cavern can he permanently
DoSsessed. On several occasions he has
srIron away by officers of the de
.ont Int returned Immediately upon
aonorture of the government officials
rosumed his nefarious avocation. The
..,,,ent has no funds with which to
,,ov custodian for this subterranean
ac- which is said to surpass any sim
cavern In the world
onorts received at the department state
the natural beauty of the walls Of
"A Cave. which nre of staactitlc and
acmatic formation, are being marred by
biphyayman, who, with members of
hand are constantly chiseling off the
ntifnl formations on the walls and sell
them to tourists as souvenirs, from
icl he is deriving a handsome income.
~
n, the troubles of the Interior depart
N. as the result of vandalism, are not
Aned to Wind Cave. Down int New
,ico thirty. four miles north of the city
Santa Fe on the public domain there
large plateau, varying from G000 feet
atltude on the east to 5000 feet on the
h which was at one time densely popu-
ed by Cliff Dwcllers. From single
Iuence on the Pajarito canyon can he
In more than 1000 Of these dwellings,
&ie the number in the entire district Is
Minated at 10000 Contiguous to these
his and also OIL the face of the cliffs.
Inerous burial grounds and crypts are
he found, Annually thousands Of tour
! visit this plateau, desecrating the
ives and pillaging the dwellings. The
$rk has been commenced again this year
n although the department has appealed
congress on several occasions for per
s slon to employ special agents to guard
N property, 1t is without funds to pro
b these ancient ruins. the like of which
4 be found nowhere else in the world.
Over In Arizona there Is pctrifled forest
tich is being destroyed by curio dealers.
! IN the case Of Wind Cave and the Gin |
Feelings. the officers of the department.
he no redress and can do nothing. Signs
Re been pucarded on all these places |
ernlng tourists from destroying the relies.
4 they pay no attention to the instruc. |
ms Of the department and the latter Is |
fthout the necessary force to compel prop. |
observance of its orders.
Fhe commissioner of the general land |
Pee and Secretary Hitchcock have rec
amended to two congresses that each of
fse places be embraced in national parks
account Of their natural wonders and |
Fostles. scenic beauties ana value to
|ence. Congress has repeatedly refused
act, not becousc Of any opposition to
plans. but rather through Indifference.
~
'raphic descriptions of these three Amer.
N wonders are given in official reports
omitted by scientists of the geological
''ey' In describing Wind Cave. one of
scientists sets forth in detail its sub.
'ranean wonders. He says, after refer.
g 10 Its entrance:
mus we keep winding and descending
'h we reach the first room, the brides
ipher and we are 155 feet below the
y Oh the cave house This room Is
pul twenty by thirty feet, with rough
'sed rncks all about and overhead. In
eorher IS formation of white marble,
pfiect Imitation of bed. Scattered
" 'ue room are to he found formations
TUCK which resemble chairs. There ere
ny small outlets in various directions {
~, Se move on we find an almost perfect
ne Jog and mound, with hole as nat
! as possible. We are now in the
'o"pan room,' much larger and high. :
t'on' win walls and ceiling all potted
sFpsum formation that looks like
naAes OF snow. Next comes the
ssVlnce' long room. where we begin
N a ooS-work formation which clings
!, .le limestone formation all about and :
! from here VIC pass on through
j "'l' smaller room, the sides of !
y" are OF soft red stone. Hero ] saw =
J. ~ nc mineral paint which has been
e' ana found superior to almost any
.1iavtured. From here we entered the
~ uouse' an immense room, grand
y 'Hri'd formations of box-work, AMI
~ o'ors OF the rocks that form the
~ aIcncs overhead. Then the devils
!. 'h enormous crevice reaching six.
'eet anove, showing how the water
anu ground the rocks until n sharp
!. not be found; here we lit
'am wire and throw The white light c
az us to see the grandeur of this :
In opening. There is no doubt but !
~. cave has NJ some time been !,
~. wafer which has left its marks :,
t,tn, ana by deposits has formed the :,
r. CROSSWORD we shall see later on.
!, 'nere are but very few places
suu VIII find any moisture whatever
,oma along from one room to another. !"
foe, :" capitol hfl," about sixty by :,
Co., WIN Its high dome ceiling. In y
enter or which na+,,r, - 49,, n