Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-24
NEW NATIONAL PARK.
DR. Gifford's Discoveries in the Gov
eminent Reservation.

San Juan, p. R., Sept. 23.-Dr. John
G. Clifford. of the Bureau of Forestry,
of Washington, and formerly of Cornell
University, will soon sail for the
United States to report the results of
his Investigations in the Luqulllo res
ervation, near the eastern coast of Por-
to Rico. Dr. Clifford is averse to talk
ing for publication until he has made
his official report, but from those who
accompanied him on some of his trips
it is learned that his researches have
been full of interest. He will carry
with him a hundred photographs and
numerous specimens of vegetation. He
crossed FL Yunque range at its highest
point, where it is probable that no
white men have gone since the days of
the Spanish explorers four centuries
ago. The poems who accompanied him
frequently cut with their machetes d
pathway through tropical growths as
dense as any in South America.
In other parts of the preserve DIR.
Clifford found beautiful streams, which
would afford valuable power. tumbling
and foaming over precipices hundreds
of feet high. Where some of these
STREAMS efllptlCu lllO llllt DdSiAS lie
discovered natives panning gold. from
which, by the crudest methods, they
Melted from so cents to 81 a day each.
Huge aromatic gum trees, forty to
| fifty feet high and five to sixsfeet in
diameter. were found, eXuding gum
highly priced by Porto Ricans, who
| use it in torches for lighting purposes.
In the rural districts it is often m0atded
into candles in a crude fashion, the stih1
being pressed about a fibre wick pr,
| Clifford has forwarded twenty-f3e
| pounds of this gum to Washington for
analysis, to learn if it possesses any conE
| siderable commercial value. All the
| Well known native fruits, plaffts and
Itrees We're found through the reserva
Ition in great abundance. but at present
| the place is so inaccessible that nothing
can be brought to the seaboard except
at great expense. There are no trails
and most of the journeying must be
done on foot. v. ''" "'+
DR.. Gifford's wife was with him on
many of his trips and proved to be an
excellent pioneer He also had with
him for several days Professor o. e.
Barrett, the entomologist and botanist
of the United States Agricultural Sta
| ton at Mayasuez, Porto Rico.
Professor Barrett procured numer-
Gus botanical specimens which he ad-
mits are ''puzzlers," and which he is
now trying to class. He is enthusiastic
over the beauties of the reservation,
and will doubtless make a technical re-
port to add to that of DR.. Clifford
1t is not at all Improbable that the
researches of Dr. Clifford will lead to the
establishing of the first national tropi-
cal park of the United States within
the confines of this Luquiilo reserve
1t is splendidly adapted to such a pur-
pose, and could be made at compara-
lively small expense one of the most
beautiful spots in the world and a re-
sort for travellers from all climes, but
especially from the United States. in
winter. Acting Governor Hartzell and
others interested in the future Of Porto
Rico are ardent supporters of this
scheme. Mountains. valleys, forests and
never failing streams unite their at
fractions, and whatever will live in the
tropics could here be brought to a state
of perfection. If the United States
should take hold of the matter in ear
nest it would make the national park
of Porto Rico one of the wonders of
the world. and the investment would
undoubtedly prove also to be profitable.
The botanical gardens could easily be
made to exceed in beauty the famous
gardens of st. Pierre. Martinique, which
now lie buried under the ashes from
Mont Pelee
The reservation of the lands as a ma
tional park would prevent the grant
ing of mining concessions or other pri-
vate rights, and would prevent the gold
seekers, who have already been stirred
by the little knowledge they have of
the gold streams found by DIR. Clifford.
from prospecting for the precious met
al. Since recent dispatch reported
the finding of gold, many letters from
the states have come to DIR. Clifford
asking for further information.