The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-06

George Otis Smith in the Review of Re-
views.
c INcE 1872 national parks have
@Nbeen established, including public
~ domain within as many different
states with an aggregate of three and
one-half million acres. In addition to these
reservations there have been created since
June, 1905, IS national monuments In nine
states with a total area of over one and
one-half million acres. The Grand Canyon
and Petrified Forest In Arizona, and the
Natural Bridges in Utah are >the most
notable of the national monuments; OF
the national parks the Yellowstone, the
Yosemite and the Mount Rainier are
the best known. The secretary of the n
terror of the federal officer charged with
the administration of these national reser-
vations, and Congress makes annual ap-
preparations for their maintenance, those
for the current year amounting to Sl'o'ooo.
The present policy is to make the utiiiza-
ton of these resources for recreation avail
able to the greatest number of people by
building roads and trails, Issuing maps
of visitors through sanitary improvements
and Supervision of the transportation and
hotel concessions
The northwest is rich in the possession
of a large share Of these Fairgrounds. Oh
the nation, so that the visitors to the ex-
position at Seattle this year have an
abundance from which to choose. Many
UaII orr.
others may prefer to retire to a quie.
camp on the slopes of Mount Rainier, and
then may return southwark through Ore
gon and California, turning aside to visi.
Crater Lake or the Yosemite Valley and
later taking another side trip to the Grand
Canyon in Arizona. If a northern route
is thought preferable, our sister country,
Canada, has no less inviting retreats. and
the traveller whose ticket reads via tho
Canadian Pacific should stop off in mid
summer at Banff or Glacier, where the
grandeur OF ice-clad mountains both re-
freshes aid inspires.
The Yellowstone National Park was
never better appreciated than at the pres
ent time. Last year nearly 10000 WIS.,
itors experienced the pleasures of travel
through this park, and nearly one-half
of the number made the trip in camping
parties. Two camp entrances are now
accessible by rail-that at the northern
gateway of the park by the branch line
of the Northern Pacific railway from
Livingston to Gardner, and that on the
western boundary by a branch of the
Oregon Short Line.
The Yellowstone Park not only serves
the interests of the adjacent states
through it's forests, which afford natural
storage reservoirs at the headwaters OF
the important rivers, but this protected
region offers adequate refuge for game
animals. Those who know the native
fauna of America only as exhibited In the
city ZOOS may find here the opportunity
to observe big game in Its natural en-
vironmsnt in playground that these
original owners appear willing to share
with man. Two herds of bison remain
in the park. The wild herd Is reported as
gradually increasing In numbers, and tho
fenced herd increased from Is In 1904 to
"A in 1908. Black and grizzly bears
abound and seem perfectly adjusted to
their habitat, even to the extent OF rob-
hing camp commissaries, and one con-
firmed offender last season suffered mili-
tary execution. Both white-tailed and
black tailed deer are increasing In the
park, as we'll as moose. and Official re-
ports estimate the bands of elk to aggre-
gate from 5000 to even $1,000 head. Yet
II is not this wealth of protected game
that makes the Yellowstone most attrac-
tive. This park is truly the wonderland
of water, which here displays all its varied
charms-oascading mountain streams and
quiet lakes ms sylvan setting. rushing
rivers and laundering waterfalls, steam
ing hot springs and overtowering geysers
"a gamut nowhere else exhibited to the
appreciative observer.
The proposal to establish another ma
tional park In northern Montana was
favorably reported to the Senate last year,
but no further action was taken. This
proposed Glacier National Park would
embrace an area of 40 square miles on
the crest of the Rocky Mountains north
of the Great Northern railway ana Inn
mediately south of jthe International
boundary. The region Is the home OF the
mountain goat and the bighorn sheep--a
wilderness of rugged mountain peaks,
deep canyons and grand ampitheatres
where great glaciers remain to show the
tools with which the original mountain
masses were carved into masterpieces
The Mount Rainier National Park h