The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-25
THE TOUR IS RESUMED
PREsIDENT ROOSEVELT LEAVES
 YELLOWSTONE PARK.
High in His Praise of What He Saw. e Astounded by the Number of
 Elk and Deer-Speaks at Gardiner, Mont.

Gardiner, Mont.
 Gardiner. Mont.. April A-President Roosevelt this afternoon resumed his
 tour. Before soing. however. he partici-
 pated In the laying of the cornerstone of the new gate at the Northern entrance to Yellowstone Park. The ceremony was performed according to the Masonic l ritual and was in charge of the grand officers Of the State or Montana. Spe- cial trains brought hundreds of people. including a large body of Masons and as
 the weather was perfect, the scene was a pretty one. ae
 The fresiuent rode down from the post. accompanied by Major tl.cher. and was escorted to the. gaily-decorated stand where he delivered an address. Troops B stone were orawn up m front of the stand as a guard of honor. Frank k. smith. Grand Master. conducted the services, assisted Dy Deputy Grand Master Sol hepner, and Grand Senlor Warden Lew Calioway. Che. eresiosnt. on benalf or the nasons oi Montana. was presented WlIu a AdSOuiC uiOuuIcQ Ou q nugget Of Montana gold.
 me Fresident began his address by thanking the people and the soldiers for his enjoyable two weeks nonaay, and then spoke' or the natural wonders of lne park. 's .e@4eps'
 ''The Yellowstone Park" he said, lis
 something unique in thus world as tar as
 know. Nowhere else in any civilized
 country Is there to be found such a tract
 of Veritable wonderland, made accessi-
 ble to all visitors. where, at the same
 time, not only the scenery of the wilder
 ness, but the wlld creatures of the Park
 and 'Bcrupulously, preserved. The only
 change being that these wild creatures
 have been, 30 carefully protected as to
 show. astounding tanneness. The creation and preservation of such q natural play-
 ground in the .ipssst of our people as a
 whole is credit to- the nation, but. above all, credit to Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. 1t has preserved with wise foresight. The scheme of its preservation Is noteworthy in it's essential democ- racy. "a .tr
 This park was created, and now is administered, for the benefit and enjoy- ment of the people. The Government must continue to appropriate for it, and especially in the direction of completing and perfecting an excellent system ot driveways. The only way that the peo- pie. as whole, can secure to, themselves and to their children the enjoyment in perpetuity of what the Yellowstone Park has to give them, Is by assuming the ownership in the name of the nation and by jealous1y safeguarding and preserving the scenery, the forests, and the crea- lures. At present, 1t is singular that a greater number of people come from Eu- rope to see it than come from our own Eastern States to see it. The people nearby seem awake to its beauties, and hope that more and reore of our people will appreciate its marvellous character incidentally, 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 elsewhere.
 I wish especially to congratulate the people of Montana, Wyoming and idaho. and notably you of Gardiner and Cinni- bar. and the immediate outskirts of the park, for the way in which you heartily cooperate with the Superintendent to prevent acts nf 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-maker's office. Congress of recent years has done nothing more important than to pass the irrigation bill and noth- ing more essential to the preservation of the water supply than to make in the preservation of the forests.
 Montana has in its water power a cnI 1f been touched. This water power will be seriously impaired if ample protection is not given the forests. Therefore. this park. like the forest reserves generally is of the utmost advantage to the coun- try around from the merely utilitartan side. But of course this park also be- cause of it's peculiar features Is to be preserved, as a beautiful playground. All the wild creatures of the old days are being preserved and their overflow into the surrounding country. means that the people of the surrounding country, as long as they see that the laws are ob- themselves and to their children and to their children's children, much of the old time pleasure Of the hardy life of the wilderness and of the hunter in the wild erness. have been astounded at the enormous quantities of elk and at the number of deer. antelope and mountain sheep which have seen on their winter ing grounds and the deer and sheep in particular are as tame as range stock. A few buffalo are preserved.
 T wish that the Government could somewhere provide for an experimental breeding station, if cross breeds could be successfully perpetuAted we would have 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 SO hardy that I think they would have e distinct commercial importance. They would for instance, be admirably suited for Alaska. which I look to see developed astoundingiy within the next decade or two. not only because of its furs and fisheries. but because of its ag- ricultural and pastoral possibilities.
 At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Presidents train pulled out for Living ston Here Mir. Burr oughs will leave the party and will spend a short time at Spokane. Wash, and on a ranch in Mon tana, after which he will return to his