The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1908-11-13
RANDALL COUNTY PLAY GROUND RECEIVES
MUCH CONSIDERATION AT THE
DENIS0N CONVENTION.
Congressman Stephens Urges the Establishing
Of National Park Out Of Magnificent
Palo Duro Canyon.

iei'SI LII liploNCiilCiU hSSOCldtlOil
which was held at Denison last
week much good was accom-
pliShed for the movement which
was begun here last winter for
the establishing by the National
Government of National park
and game preserve out of the
Palo Duro Canyon which begins
near this city and extends into
Armstrong county.
Congressman John H. Steph-
ems who has always taken a very
active part in this movement was
the principal champion of the
cause at this meeting and very
materially informed the people
gathered there concerning the
beauties and advantages of the
proposed park.
We give below an excerpt from
speech made by him before the
convention.
PRESERVATION or FORESTS.
Nothing will aid us more to
accomplish the end we have in
view, of improving Red River,
than preserving the orestgrowth
now on the head of the river and
by planting new forests and fruit
trees and vines thereon.
Il have introduced in Con
gress bill to provide for the es-
tablishment of a National forest
reserve of 100000 acres in Ran
dali and Armstrong and other
counties so as to include the
head waters of Red River.
1T provides for the condem-
nation Of the land needed for the
purpose if it should not be of
fered at a reasonable price. IT.
also authorizes the Secretary Of
Agriculture to purchase the
Goodnight herd of buffaloes.
Should this bill become a law and
the Palo Duro Canyon become
National property, Texas would
have an added attraction for
tourists as well as an unsur-
passed pleasure ground within
easy access.
There will be no quibbling
over the question of turning
Texas ground over to the Gov
ernment because it is manifestIy
within the province of the Ma
tional Government, often assert
ed, to provide the parks for the
whole people.
Had it not been for the Gov.
ernment, half the beauties of the
Yellowstone would be unknown.
The Grand Canyon of the Colo
RADIO in Arizona is directly under
Governmental supervision. and
United States rangers patrol the
forests on either side.
WOULD BUY BUFFALO HERD.
THE climate in that portion of
the Panhandle where the Palo
Duro lies is admirably suited to
the raising of the buffalo ana the
Goodnight herd should be pur-
chased. CT is now on the
ground.) The other Texas dele
cation in Congress will lend their
support to my bill, the Palo
Duro Canyon will be preserved
as it now is, "A beautiful wonder
land of nature.
The Palo Duro Canyon and
tributary canyons form the head
of Red River. The timber on
the canyons begins at Canyon
City in Randall county, and this
deep canyon extends from this
point about forty miles east to
a point opposite the town of
Goodnight, and is easily acces-
sible from this town, also Claude |
or Amarillo, all of which is on
the Fort Worth and Denver City |
railway, or from Canyon City or
Tulia on the Santa Fe.
This canyon is from 800 to |
1000 feet deep and from one to
five miles wide, and contains |
much valuable timber, mainly |
cedar This canyon has many
beautiful side canyons running
into the main canyon, the prin-
cipal ones being Tulia Canyon
from the south (near the head of
which is the town of Tulia), and
Mulberry Canyon on the north,
near the town of Goodnight and