The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-25
Roosevelt Speaks on Beauties of
 Yellowstone Park
RESUMES HIS TOUR BY RAIL
During His Farewell Speech He Sua- gests the Experiment of Cross Breeding of Wild Animals So
 as to Get Fine Robes.

Gardiner. Mont. April 24-PresldenA Roosevelt this afternoon resumed his tour. Before going however, he participated in the laying of the cornerstone of the new gate at the northern entrance to Yellow stone park. The ceremony was performed. according to the Masonic ritual, and was in charge of the grand officers of the state of Montana. Special trains brought hundreds of people. including a large body of Masons and as the weather was perfect the scene was a pretty one.
 The President rode down from the post accompanied by Major Pitcher and was escorted to the gaily decorated stand, where he delivered an address. Troops B and of the Third cavalry from Fort Yellowstone were drawn up in front of the stand as guard of honor. Frank E. Smith, grand master, conducted the services assisted by Reputy Grand Mas ter Solomon Hepner and Grand Senior Warden Lew Galloway. The President on behalf of the Masons of Montana was presented with a Masonic charm. mounted on a nugget of Montana gold.
 The President began his address by thanking the people and the soldiers for his enjoyable two weeks holiday and then spoke of the natural wonders of the park.
 "The Yellowstone park" he said, Ifs something unique in this world as far I know. Nowhere else in any civilized country Is there to be found such q tract of veritable wonderland, made accessible to all visitors, where at the same time not only the scenery of the wilderness, but the wild creatures of the park are scrupulously preserved.
 A Credit to the Nation.
 ''The creating and preserving of such national playground in the midst of our people as a whole Is credit to the na- ton, but above all a credit to Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. It has been pre- served with wise foresight The scheme of its preservation is noteworthy in it's ek-l sential democracy. This park was created | and now Is administered for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. The govern ment must continue to appropriate for 1t, especially in the direction of complet- ing and perfecting an excellent system of driveways. The only way that the peo- pie as a whole can secure to themselves and to their children the enjnsment in perpetulty of what the Yellowstone park has to give, Is by assuming the owner ship in the name of the nation, and by iealousy safeguarding and preserving the scenery, the forests and the creatures. At
 
 Der of people come from Europe to see 1t than come from our own eastern states to see It. The people near by seem awake to it's beauties, and I hope that more and more of our people will appre- ciate it's marvellous character Incident ally I 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 person who can go through 1t in that season on skis will enjoy himself as he scarcely could else- where. l 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 heart fly cooperate with the superintendent to prevent acts of vandalism and destruc- ton. The preservation of the forests Is of course 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-makers office. Congress of re- cent years has done nothing more impor- tant than to pass the irrigation bill, and nothing more essential to the preserva- tion of the water supply than they make in the preservation of the forests.
 Source of Development.
 ''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 protection is not given the forests. Therefore this park like the forest preserves generally Is of the utmost advantage to the country aside from the merely utiitarian side. But of course this park also has its pe- culiar features. and is to be preserved as a beautiful playground. Here all the wild creatures of the old days are being pre- served, and their overflow into the sur rounding country means that the people of the surrounding country, as long as they see that the laws are observed by all, will be able to insure to themselves and to their children and to their chill dren's children much of the old-time pleasure of the hardy life of the wilder ness, and of the hunter in the wilderness. l have been astounded at the enormous quantities of elk and at the number of deer, antelope and mountain sheep which l have seen on their winterng grounds, and the deer and sheep In particular are as tame as range stock. A few buffalo are preserved.
 "I wish that the government could somewhere provide for an experimental breeding station of cross breeds especial ly, and see If we could perpetuate animals which would produce a robe quite as good as the old buffalo robe With which twenty years ago every one was familiar, and animals which would be hardy that I think they would have distinct commer- cial importance. They would, for instance. be admirably suited for Alaska, which look to see developed astoundingly with in the next decade or two. not only be- cause of its furs and fisheries. but be- cause of It's agricultural and pastoral pos abilities
 At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Presidents train pulled out for Livings- ton Here Mir. Burroughs will leave the party and will spend short time at Spo- kane, Wash. and on a ranch in Mon- tana. after which he will return to his home at Peekskill, N. Y.