Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-09-24
NATIONAL PARK SCHEME:
Uncle Sam May Establish One
 In Porto Rico.
LUQUILL0s WONDERS AND BEAUTY

Advantages of the Government Res-
 ervatAOn For the First American
 Tropical Park as Seen by Dr. Gi9-
 ford of the Forestry Bureau.
 Would Be a Mecca For Tourists.
 pr. John c. Clifford of the bureau of forestry of Washington and formerly of Cornell university recently sailed for the United States to report the results of his investigations in the Luquillo reservation, near the eastern coast of Porto Rico, says San Juan special to the New York Tribune. Dr. Clifford is averse to talking 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 took with him a hundred photo graphs and numerous specimens of vegetation. He crossed El YunQue range at it's highest point, where it is probable that no white men have gone since the days of the Spanish explor- CTS four centuries ago. The peons who accompanied him frequently cut with their machetes a pathway through tropical growths as dense as any in South America.
 Tn these copses the stiffness of death prevailed, and, indeed, throughout the entire reservation of 12,O0O acres scarcely bird was seen, and there was no sign of animal life.
 Tn other parts of the preserve Dr. Clifford found beautiful streams, which would afford valuable power, tumbling and foaming over precipices hundreds of feet high. Where some of these streams emptied into little basins he discovered natives banning gold, from which by the crudest methods they netted from 30 cents to a dollar day each.
 Huge aromatic gum trees, forty to fifty feet high and five to six feet in diameter were found, exuding a gum highly prized by Porto Ricans, who use it in torches for lighting purposes. In the rural districts it is often nodded into candles in crude fashion, the gum being pressed about fiber wick Dr. Clifford has forwarded twenty five pounds of this gum to Washington for analysis to learn if it. possesses any considerable commercial value. All the well known native fruits, plants and trees were found through the reserva- ton 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 cn foot.
 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 entemologist and botanist of the United States agricultural sta ton at MayagueZ, Porto Rico.
 Professor Barrett procured numer- ous botanical specimens which he ad- mits are "puzzlers'' and which he is now trying to class, He is enthusias- tic over the beauties of the reservation and will doubtless make a technical report to add to that of Dr. Clifford.
 It is>not at all improbable that the researches of Dr. Clifford will lead to the establishing of the first national tropical park of the United States with in the confines of this Luquillo reserve It is splendidly adapted to such put pose and could be made at compara- lively small expense one of the most beautiful spots in the world and 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 attractions, and whatever will live in the tropics could here be brought to q state of perfection. If the United States should take hold of the matter in earnest 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 Pe1ee.
 The reservation of the lands as national 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 Dr. Clifford, from prospecting for the precious met al. Since recent dispatch reported the finding of gold many letters from the States have come to Dr. Clifford asking for further information.
 x RAN TO COL OR GEMS