Morris tribune., 1903-09-26
NATIONAL PARK SCHEME
Uncle Sam May Establish One
In Porto Rico.
SUQU1LLOs WONDERS AND BEAUTY

Advantages of the Government Res
ervatiOn For the First American
Tropical Park as Seen by DR.. Gift
ford of the Forestry Bureau.
Would BE Mecca For Tourists.
DR.. John G. 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 a 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 Ell Yunque
range at its highest point, where it is
probable that no white men have gone
since the days Of the Spanish explor-
ers 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 these copses the stiffness of death
prevailed, and, indeed, throughout the
entire reservation Of $4,000 acres
scarcely bird was seen, and there was
no sign Of animal life.
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 emptied into little basins he
discovered natives panning gold, from
which by the crudest methods they
netted from 80 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 gum
highly priced by Porto R1cans. 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 a 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 on foot.
DR.. Chords 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 Mayaguez, Porto Rico.
Professor Barrett procured numer-
GUS botanical specimens which he adj
mits are "puzzlers" and which he Is
now trying to class. He is enthusiast
tic over the beauties Of the reservation
and will doubtless make technical
report 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
tropical park of the United States with
in the confines of this Luquillo reserve.
1t is splendidly adapted to such pur-
pose and could be made at compare
lively small expense one Of the most
beautiful spots in the world and re-
sort for travellers from all chimes, 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 a
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
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
national park would prevent the grant
ing of mining concessions or other prt-
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.
So. ma - ua3w ma roo+1,