Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
WITH MASONIC RITES
Corner Stone of Gate to Park
Laid.
PRESIDENT OBLIGATED
1T
POINTED QUE 1Ta VALUE TO Ma
1rTIoN.
---..2
Astounded at the Great Amount OF
Wild Game He Saw in the
Park.
A dispatch from Gardiner, Mont. yester

A dispatch from Gardiner, Mont. yester-
day says:
President Roosevelt this afternoon re-
sumed his tour. Before going. however. he
participated In the laying of the corner
stone Of the new gate at the northern en-
trance to Yellowstone Park. The ceremony
was performed according to the Masonic
ritual. and was in charge Of the grand OFF,
GERS of the state Of Montana. Special trains
brought hundreds OF people here. including
large body of Masons, and, as the weather
was perfect the scene was very pretty
one.
The President rode down from the post,
accompanied by Mai. Pitcher. and was es-
corted to the gayly decorated stand. where
he delivered an address. Troops B and Z
of the Sd Cavalry. from Fort Yellowstone,
were drawn up in front Of the stand as
guard of honor. Frank Smith. grand mas
ter. conducted the services, assisted by
Deputy Grand Master Sol Hepner and
Grand Senior Warden Lew Galloway. Inere
were placed In the stone picture OF Presl-
dent Roosevelt, number of coins, copies
of newspapers and Masonic emblems. The
President on behalf of the Masons OF the
state. was presented with a Masonic cnarm
mounted on nugget of Montana gold
The President began his address by
thanking the people and the soldiers Tor
his enjoyable two weeks holiday, ana tnen
spoke of the natural wonders of the park.
THE Yellowstone Park he said, rs
something unique in this world as far as
know Nowhere else in any civilized coun-
try is there to be found such tract OF
veritable wonderland, made accessible to
all visitors, where at the same time not
only the scene of the wilderness. but the
wild creatures Of the park are Scrupulousiy
preserved as they are here, the only change
being that these same wild creatures have
been so carefully protected as to show lit
orally astounding tameness
Credit to the Nation.
"The creator and preserver of such nat
uraI playground in the midst of our peo-
pie, as a whole, is a credit to the nation.
but, above all, a credit to Montana. Wyo-
ming and Idaho. 1t has been preserved
with wise foresight. The scheme of its
preservation is noteworthy in it's essential
democracy. This park was created, ana
now is. administered for the benefit and
enjoyment Of the people. The government
must continue to approprtte for 1t, and es-
pecially in the direction of completing and
perfecting an excellent system of drfveWays.
The only way that the people, as whole,
can secure to themselves and their children
the enjoyment in perpetuity OF what the
Yellowstone Park has to give is by assum-
ing ownership in the name Of the nation
and by jealousy safeguarding and preserv-
ing the scenery. the forests and the crea-
lures.
"At present it is rather singular that a
greater number of people come from Eu-
rope to see it than come from our own
eastern states to see 1t. The people near
by them seem awake to its beauties. and
hope that more and more of our people,
who dwell far aft will appreciate It's really
marvellous character. Incidentally, should
like to point out that some time people will
awake to the fact that the park has special
beauties to be seen in winter, and any per-
Son who can go through it in that season
on skis will enjoy himself as he scarcely
could elsewhere.
Congratulations Extended.
81 wish especially to congratulate the
people Of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho,
and notably you of Gardiner and Cinnabar,
and the immediate outskirts of the park,
FOR the way in which you heartily coop
crate with the superintendent to prevent
acts of vandalism and destruction. The
preservation of the forests is, of course the
matter of prime Importance in every public
reserve of this character. In this region of
the Rocky mountains and the great plains
the problem Of the water supply Is the
most important part of the home-maker's
Office. Congress has not in recent years
done anything more important than pass
ing the irrigation bill, and nothing more
essential to preservation of the water sup
ply than they make in the preservation of
the forests. Montana has in it's water
power a source of development which has
hardly been touched. This water power
will be seriously impaired If ample protec-
ton is not given. the forests. Therefore,
this park, like the forest reserves generally,
is of the utmost advantage to the country
around from the merely unitarian side.
But. of course. this park. also, because
Of its peculiar features. is to be reserved
as beautiful playground. Here all the
wild creatures of the old days are being
preserved, and their overflow into the
surrounding country means that the peo-
pie of the surrounding country, so long
as they see that the laws are observed
by all. will be able to insure to them
selves and to their children and to their
children's children much Of the old-time
pleasure of the hardy life of the wilder
ness and of the hunter In the wilderness.
Astounded at the Quantity Of Game.
81 have been literally astounded at the
enormous quantities of elk and at the
number of deer, antelope and mountain
sheep which 1 have seen on their win
tering ground, and the deer and sheep
particularly, are quite as tame as range
stock A few buffalo are being preserved.
l wish very much that the government
could provide somewhere for an expert
mental breeding station of cross-breeds
between buffalo and the common cattle.
If these cross-breeds could be success
fully perpetuated, we could have animals
which would produce robe quite as good
as the old buffalo ROBE with which twent-
ty years ago every one was familiar;
animals, moreover, which would be so
hardy that 1 think they would have a
distinct commercial Importance. They
would, for instance, be admirably suited
for Alaska territory, which I look to see
develop astoundingiy within the next
decade or two, not only because of it's
furs and fisheries, but because of its ag-
ricultural and pastoral possibilities"
Leaves Wyoming.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies,
the Presidents train Qpulled out of Liv-
insston. Here Mr.. Burroughs will leave
the, party and Will spend short time at
Spokane, and on. ranch in Montana
after which he Will return to his home at
Peeiskill. N. Y. 'ox =
Returning from Gardiner, where the
President laid the cornerstone Of the arch
at the entrance. to Yellowstone National
Park, the presidential train made a short
stop at Livingston. An. immense crowd
greeted the President, who appeared on
the rear platform Of his car and made a
few remarks. rs Il
Forwarded to Company Officials.
The Cathedral Heights Citizens Associa-