New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-21
A NEW NATIONAL PARK.
WONDERS OF PORTO RICO.
DR.. Giford's Discoveries in the Gov
erRmeHt Reservation.

San Juan. P. r. Sept. Is CspeciaD.-Dr. John c.
Clifford. OF the Bureau Of Forestry. Of Washington.
and formerly Of Cornell University. will this week
sail the United States 10 report the results %
his investigations in the Luquillo reservation near
the eastern coast Of Porto Rico. Or. Clifford is
talking for publication until he has made
his official report. but from those who accompanied
him some o, his trips il is learned that his re-
searches have been full OF interest. He Will carry
with him a hundred photographs and numerous
specimens OF vegetation. lie crossed Fl Nunque
range its highest point, where II is probable that
white men have gone since the days OF the
Spanish explorers four centuries ago. The poems
who accompanied him frequently cut with their
machetes a pathway through tropical growths as
dense as any in South America.
IN other parts OF the preserve Dr. CLIFFORD found
beautiful streams which would afford valuable
power. tumoIirg and foaming over precipices hum
dreds Of feet high Where some of these streams
enpted into little basins he discovered natives pan
ming gold. from which. by the cIudGst methods.
they neJted from 50 cents 20 81 day each
Huge aromatic gum trees. forty to fifty feet high
and five To six feet in diameter. were found eNud-
ing a sum highly priced by Porto Ricars, who use
IL in torches for lighting purposes. II the rural
districts it is often moulded into candles in crude
fashion: the gum being Pressed about n5rS WICK.
~ IN ~ Waztirrtor for ar75rvsfs 10 learn IL il
possesses any considerable commsrcl1l value All
found through the reservation In great mundane
but az present the Place Is so lEacIe i [l{
great expense. There are no trails and most Or
tho iOurneying must be done foot
DIT CifiOrds wife with him on many OF Ms
trips and proved 10 DO av excellent pioneer he
also had with him for several Cays Professor o. =
barrett the entOmOlOgi-t and hOtauiSr OF the
United states Agricultural station at Mayaguaz.
Porto Rico.
Professor Barrett procured numerous botanical
specimens which NJ admits are 'puzzlars. ana
which he il trying 60 class he Is entnjsia---
I'll, over the beauties OF the reservation. ana WILL
doubtless make technical report 20 add Q" tnat
II is nor ar an improbable that the researches OF
DR.. Clifford will lead 20 the establl-htrE OF the
first national tropical park Of the nited SJat'a
within ,ue confines OF this LuqUtilo reserve nc u
SDIendiflv aiaDtsd To such purpose. ana C"lll pc
made NJ comparatively small expense one or the
most beautiful spots in the world ana resort ger
traveller from all C'imps but especially ron the
zeU and others interested IN the future o. Porto
Rico are ardent supporters of this scheme Noun
tafus valleys. forests ana never faltlns Streams
unite their attractions. and whateFer "iI I'VE u.
the tropics could here b. brought % a state g
rerfeCrfo~ If -he United states should take n
mark Of PCro RICO one Of The ToDCc OF the WOrld.
and the investment would undoubtedly prove also
10 be profitable. The botanical gardens coul4
easily ne made exceed IN beauty the famous gar
6eus OF Il Pierre Martinique, which now lie oltleI
1.rF1er the ashes from Nor fe-ee
The reservation Of the lands as a national park
would prevent the granting OF mining CONFESS o,s
o. ofhar private rights and would prevent the gold
seekers WHO have already been stirred by the -ttle
l--ovvI-dyp they have o. the gold streams round
~ Tr clifford from pros0e~rrz for the precious
metal Since a recent dispatch reported the hndiIs
ofgo letters f~Cr Pho --F'oS nov come 70
Dr. clifford asking for further information