The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-10
WIND CAVE ONE OF
WORLDS WONDERS
Its Grandeur, Consequences and
Beauty Beggar Description.
HUNDRED MILES OF PASSAGE
There Are Three Thousand Chambers
in the Cavern-Varied Colors and
Grand Arches of Rock-Seau-
tiful Decorative Work.

Special Officer Meyendorf. of the
United States Land Office, recently made
an investigation OF Wind Cave in com
pany with agents of the Geological Sur
vey- In his report Mr. Meyendorn said
in part:
To DO Justice to the wonderful evolu-
ton Of nature which created this cavern.
to describe its grandeur. Consequences.
and beauty would require the research
full mind of profound student of geol
ogy and pen of the poet Bereaved OF
both, and limited in space and time.
will simply say that it is one of the
greatest wonders of the world.
Some one aptly likeneA it unto a
sponge It is an oval piece OF sponge
several miles in length. depth and
breadth. with caverns big enough to in
close the Congressional Library and
NEST artistcalIy decorated with ferns.
grasses. and feathers of pure white lime
and gypsum and studded with gIistening
gems of crystals of the same formation
The cavern known as Fair Grounds
is a fair illustration of it II covers
about one and a quarter acres OF space
and is about forty feet from the floor
to the ceiling. Those who visited the
Yellowstone National Park and the Mann
moth Cave OF Kentucky all accord the
Wind Cave only a second place to the
Yellowstone Canon and the geysers or
the former and declare the Wind cave
superior. in point OF attractiVeneS5, to
the Mammoth Cave.
Edward C. Horn. Phi. D. who made
somewhat OF a study of the Wind Cave:
claims that there are 5000 ctamsers and
100 miles OF passag
WONDERS OF THE CAVE
The report of the Geological Survey
says:
I'VE keep winding and descending IN
til we reach the first room the . 10
Cha nber and we are 155 feet oelow tAe
floor of the Cave House. rlis tot N Is
about 20 by 90 feet with rough ragged
rocks all about and overhead. with manI.
small outlets in various directions, ou2
as we move on wa find an almost per
feet prairie dog and mound. with mol
as natural as possible We { now !
the SNOWFALL Room. much larger and
higher room. with walls and ceiling all
ported with a gypsum formation tha
looks like large fakes Of snow.
Next comes the PoStoftice. a Ions
rooms. where we begin TO find the box
work forma ton which ClLnSs 10 the tlfne-
stone formation all about and overhead
From here We pass on 10 Red Hll.
smaller room. the sides OF wn@'n are or
a soft red stone Here / saw soma OF
the mineral paint OF which yo had sam
pies in exhibits sent 1Eo:n t%t2-t ''!'
From here we enter CE.e Opera House
an immense room. grand In us varied
formations OF boxworh and -tar Ell co
ors of the rocks that firm the Erard
arches overhead. Then the DeEI u
look. an enormous crev!ce reaching SIN
ty-hve feet above. showing ho" the va
ter has cut and ground the t9c-s l'tlIi.
a sharp corner cannot DC found Herr
we lit q calcium wire and threw t@e
white light up above US to see the gran
deur- OF this wonderful opening
There is no doubt bur this cave has
a soma time been filled with water
which has left It's marks all aoSut. an.
by the deposits has for med the oeaut!IuI
frostwork we shall see later on oul no" ..,
there are but ,.ecy few places YOU VIZ
find any moisture whatever
FURTHER MARFELS
Moving along from ono room 10 an
other. we come to Capitol HiIi. ABOUT Q"
nv 100 fee.. with its high dome ceilas M
rhe center of which nature mas ptacSo
:, ca1terriere CT most beautiful boxWork
~. 0J9EEAiiovvs' Hail comes next, with
rha rhraa links in the ceiling. formed by
threa boles cut out by the rushing water
1-ba goa. standing in a little SIDE open
ing looks very natural o
s.-rhen we reach the Stone Quarry.
where we find great slabs OF stone oi =
pink tint broken away as seraishI a
rnt and piled up ready for a large oulto-
ing ~,
s.Then we reach the Garden o. Eoen'
uhara we find the frostwork. being down
in the second tier of chambers: here 1.-THE the
boxwork is coated with pure %n ~.
rrosr and the edges are trimmed WIN ilt-
-. baITs like popcorn and long
f f,e pei petals white as snow and 50 deli
are . that breath will almost destroy IT.
Noah's beard hangs from a little point
- roc,- :, This frostwork about an inch
49,, ara from it are long strings like
fn4 silver wire fully two feet lons-
words cannot describe this place. go
W. will go down Corsscrew Path. wind
ing trail going down quite steep around
deep. dark hole. and We are on the
h-inE az pante.s Inferno. Amid coz
tinuous change of formations and con-
srantIv changing scenery, we find the
Monte Cristo Palace. the Assembly
Room. the Fair Grounds-an immense
room ay, feet long and from 10 TO- so feet
wide. with great docles near the center