Williams news., 1903-05-30
Member A
WILL NOT MAR
 GRAND CANYON
Presidents Desire That No Build ings Appear on Canyon
 Rim Respected.

MT. hclLldn DuFdl ana MT Gleed, directors of the Santa Fe railroad, arrived in the Duke City in a private car on passenger train No. last night from trip to the coast and remained until this morn ing (24th inst.), leaving on train No. 2 for Chicago.
 Connected with the trip of these prominent officials of the Santa Fe to the coast are important develop ments concerning the construction of the large hotel at the Grand Canyon, says the A buquerque Journal-Democrat, which is an in- teresting topic to every public spirited resident of the southwest.
 It will be remembered that the first plans for this immense hotel and Indian museum placed the site of the building 300 feet from the rim of the canyon. The plans had been completed and the contracts let for the work, when at anothe. meeting of the directors and officials of the road it was decided to build the structure on the canyons rim, having one wing projecting over the canyon, thereby giving the guests an opportunity of looking down thousands of feet into the abysmai depths below. This would have und btedly been a wonderful sight, and from a vantage point elsewhere unattainable.
 When President Roosevelt vis- ited the Grand Canyon and was viewing this wonderful work of na- ture, he said he believed it was absolutely unparalleled throughout the world.
 ''I want to ask you to do one thing with it," he said. "In your own interest and the interest of all the country, keep this great wonder of nature as it now is. I hope you won't have building of any kind to mar the wonderful grandeur and sublimity of the canyon. You can not improve upon it. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. Keep it for your children and your children's chil- dren who come after you as one of the sights for Americans to see."
 When these words of simple truth from the lips of the chief of the na- tion reached the ears of the direct ors and officials of the Santa Fe railroad, they immediately called meeting and without any hesitation whatever respected the desire of MT. Roosevelt, that no hotels or other buildings be built near the edge of the great gorge.
 While a magnificent building, such as will be erected at the canyon, would add greatly to the view of the canyon, even the rights of nature should be respected.
 With plans all drawn and the contracts for building let, the of fcials of the road have decided that the hotel building shall be erected 100 feet from the rim of the can yon. This will leave the rim clear of all such buildings that would in any way tend to mar the natural beauty of the wonderful natural surroundings.
 By the next time the chief execu- tive of the nation visits the canyon, he will undoubtedly feel pleased that his suggestion has been fol- lowed. Then when he sees the structure which is to be erected near the canyon for the and comfort of the wis itors, he will undoubtedly have only words of praise for those building and adding beauty to the surround lngs without marring the works of nature. Side by side will stand the marvellous works of man and nature, both without an equal in the great southwest.