The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-12
WIND CAVE BEAUTIES.
Wonders of the New National Park
in the Black Hills, south Dakota.

III thc bihck HlIlSy south Dakota.
From the Philadelphia Ledger
Hot Springs, S. DIN view of the
fact that the Wind Cave and it's pic
turesque surroundings have been con-
verted into a national park, public in
terest in this subterranean wonder will
doubtless be stimulated The bill es-
tablishing what is to be known as the
Wind Cave National Park has already
become a law.
The bill sets aside about 5000 acres
of land in the Black Hills district
of South Dakota, and confers jurisdic-
ton of the same upon the Secretary
of the Interior, with full power to
lease the big cavern underlying a por-
| ton of the lands, and also to lease
| portions of the lands upon which build
ings may be erected for the accom-
mediation of visitors. Homesteaders
who have acquired rights in this tract
are to be allowed to select other
lands in lieu thereof within the boun-
dairy of the state. The proceeds aris-
ing from the leasing of the cave and
surrounding tracts are to be paid into
the treasury, and 1T is the intention
of the Interior Department to use this
fund in beautifying and improving the
park.
These lands are .of the same nature
as those in the Yellowstone Park, with
the exception that the geysers which
produced the wonderful cavern under
lying large part of the lands EN-
braced in the park have become ex-
tinct, thereby leaving the dry excava-
tons to be filled with the pure air of
the outer world.
BY constructing a dam across one
of the canyons near the cave an arti-
fetal lake can be formed, which in
itself will not only aid in making the
place attractive, but will afford ample
water power for an electric lighting
plant to be used to illuminate the cave.
This enterprise had been contemplated
by private parties when they were
seeking to acquire title Of the land in
the early contest regarding the right to
enter 1t under the Homestead law.
Various persons and corporations
have at different times sought to OBJ
tain title TO this natural wonder
Homestead filings and mineral filings
were placed upon the land covering the
entrance to the cave, resulting in pro-
tracted litigation. This litigation was
finally terminated. and the Interior
Department has held that none of the
claimants was entitled to the prop
erty, but that it ought to be preserved
by the government for the purposes of
national park.
The cave was discovered in 1877 by
Tame Johnny" a notorious stage
robber and outlaw, who was afterward
invited to a 'necktie party" and was
seen no more. Later. in 1884, while a
cowboy was riding through a gulch
his horse became frightened, and, stop
ping, to learn the cause, he discovered
small, oval shaped hole, s by 10
inches, In the bottom of the gulch,
where the wind was rushing out with
great force. From this cave took its
name.
II remained idle until, 1890, when
some parties located it as mineral
claims and put men to work blasting
out small openings and exploring.
Since then they have explored 100
miles Of passages without finding the
end and have discovered 5000 cham
bers, varying in size from IL by 1-2
feet to over three acres.
There are fourteen different routes,
and but three have been opened to
the public, at an expense of S25, OOO-
the Garden of Eden, Fair Grounds and
Pearly Gates. It is acknowledged by
the many thousands who visit the
cave annually to be one of the Won
ders Of the world, differing in forma-
ton and scenery from all other caves,
and biologists claim that the forma-
ton is unknown.
There being no geological names for
these formations, the guides named
them what they most esembled-box-
work, popcorn and frostwork. The
formation Of other caves are also found
-stalactites, stalagmites, geodes,
quartz and calcite crystals, and min
eral-bearing rock The cave Is formed
of assures of crevices paralieling one
another all the way from so to 300 feet
apart, and connected by side passages.
II has been aptly likened TO a sponge.
There eight different tiers of cham
beers overlooking one another, some
OF which are large enough TO inclose
the Congressional Library, and most
artistically decorated with ferns, grass
es and feathers OF pure white lime
and gypsum, studded with pure, glls-
tening gems Of crystals OF the same
formation. The cavern known as the
Fair Grounds Is fair illustration Of
this II covers more than an acre OF
space and Is about forty feet from
floor 20 ceiling. Those who have Wis
ited the Yellowstone Park aud the
Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky viii ac~
cord the Wind Cave only a second