New-York tribune., 1909-01-17
4 PARK OF GLACIERS.
Bill Creating National Nature Pre-
serue in Montana Likely to Pass.
IFrom The Tribune Bureau ]

ldue, west or the summit or the Rocky Noun
tains and south of the international boundary
line will probably meet with success at this
! session The bill was passed by the Senate at
the last session and is in the Public Lands
Committee Of the House Representative Pray,
of Montana. believes he can obtain a favorable
report and the passage of the bill in a short
time. The bill provides that $40 square miles
in the location specified shall be placed in con-
troll Of the Secretary of Agriculture. who is
powered to make such regulations he may
deem necessary to protect the fish and game and
to preserve the park in its natural state so far
as possible. The section indicated contains two
hundred and fifty natural lakes while there are
more than sixty glaciers of varying dimensions
Senator Carter recently, in discussing the prof.
ect said:
The location that has been selected is in
every way suited to national park and game
preserve. The beauty of the region is well
known, and can only be ascertained by a per
sonal inspection The settlers in the region have
come to see that the establishment of a park
cannot be other than beneficial to them, and in
presenting my bill I believe I have the indorse-
ment Of every Montanian who desires to pre-
serve the natural beauty Of the state r II.
Chapman Of the Geological Survey, has prepared
one Of the most exact descriptions of the park.
and I am that it will be appreciated by
The Tribune readers"
! Mr.. Chapman spent some months taking photo
graphs and making surveys of the region. and
his description of it follows:
The of the northern Rocky Mountains
which lies to the north of the Great Northern
Railway and to the south of the Canadian
boundary is of the most beautiful mountain
regions in the world. To the east Of the noun
tains IS the plains region drained by the Mis-
souri, and the Saskatchewan systems with mile
upon mile of open grass land. practically tree
less In sharp contrast to the plains rise the
mountains. which. seen from some distance.
present a rock wall Of great steepness extend
ing apparently unbroken for miles This the
| eastern face Of the range, actually cut bv long
deep U-shaped canyons, which have been largely
formed by the great glaciers which once flowed
from the snow covered peaks and ridges form
ing the divide between the waters Of the Allan
tic and Pacific oceans
In the canyons are roaring streams which
head in the melting i:e and snow flow into
placid lakes and eventually into the arrovas Of
the plains. Between the canyons the long
hnSerhke ridges rise to considerable heights.
Inc timber covered foot slopes steeply until a
region Of brush covered, broken rock is reached.
which in turn leads to the base of the ,rrcfrI
/ tous cliffs The canyons at the head usually
terminate in great amphitheatres rising cliff
over cliff in a stairway OF tremendous propor-
/ tons. many steps Of which retain an ice mass
slowly flowing across it until the region Of ice
banks Is reached The main Rocky Mountain
mass Is actually made up Of two PRINCIPAL
. ranges, generally parallel with axes in a north
westerly and southcastery direction the cast
1rnncst Of which is the Lewis range. which ex-
tends but a short distance -cross the Canadian
boundary. The western, or livingston range
stretches much further rorthward. At Il poipt
about eleven miles south of Canada it becomes
/ the watershed OF the Continental Divide which
has previously followed the ridge of the Liy-
ingston range.
! These ranges are the remnants Of what was
| once a much wider plateaU-Iike region of rock
which has been carved and shattered by the
forces Of erosion, principally those Of tho gla-
! cicrs. Upon this great mass are the higher
! peaks, huge pyramids and blocks. with cliffs and
| precipiCcs of hundreds ana sometimes thousands
Of feet punging away to the roaring streams OF
head Of some glacier To the westward tho
mountains break prec.Itously, and from the
foot Of the steep long timber covered ridges
! reach out toward the valley of the Flaranad
River. Between these ridges and extending up
the canyons OF the higher range are many miles
| OF lakes, Joined by rushing streams similar .
those on the eastern side
| The whole region is Inhabited by wild AMI
mails. The streams ana lakes abound in fish Il
many varieties. IN the higher. barren rock