Evening star., 1909-02-18
REGION OF GRANDEUR
Pending Bill to Create the
Glacier National Park.
HOME OF WILD ANIMALS
Finest Mountain Scenery Upon the
Continent.
IDEAL RESORT FOR SPORTSMEN
Lives of the Presidents-Some
Stories Told in the Senate
Cloakroom.
IDEAL RESORT FOR SPORTSMEN

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Written for Tho star aud the Chicago Record
Herald
The House committee on public lands
has reported favorably bill which passed
the Senate last May creating Glacier Ma
tional Park west of the summit of the
Rocky mountains and south of the Cana
dian boundary line in Montana. 1t in
clCdes about 1.3On square miles of the
finest mountain scenery upon the CONT
nent averaging about 10000 feet above
the sea level. containing about 30 lakes
and sixty-egEu glaciers, which are said
to be the only live glaciers in the United
States outside of Alaska, The boundary
line commences at point on the Cana
dian border at the middle of the Flathead
river. thence following souther,y along
and with the middle of F'lathead river 10
It's confluence with the Middle Fork of
the Flathead river: thence following the
north bank of the Middle Fork to where
II is crossed by the right of way of the
Great Northern railroad. thence following
the said right of way to where II inter-
sectS the west boundary of the Blackfeet
Indian reservations: thence northerly along
said west boundary to its intersection
with the Canadian boundary; thence
along the Canadian boundary to the place
OF beginning.
Those who are interested IN tnlS enter
prise are confident that the Canadian gov
ernment will reserve a similar area in the
contiguous territory on its side of the
border or even a larger area. which will
make this the greatest park for naturaI
beauty and the greatest preserve for wild
animals III the civilized world. 1t is in
tended hereafter to permit shooting with
in the park and fishing at such times and
under such rules and regulations as the
Secretary of Agriculture may provide. BY
fI,n lir,1r n he iS ZaI n q
ten acres of land to individuals or clubs
for not more than twenty years, for the
erection of summer homes, clubhouses
and hotels for the accommodation OF
visitors: and persons now having sum-
mer homes or clubs within the territory
will be permitted TO remain, subject 10
such regulations as may he prescribed.
The Secretary of Agriculture Is author
lied to sell the dead and fallen timber: to
lease the streams for not exceeding fifty
years for power, irrigation. or any other
lawful purpose. and he may authorize the
construction of railways along the Fiat
head river or any of its tributaries. sub
ject 20 the same rules that apply TO forest
reserves.
Habitat of Wild Animals.
The territory included in Glacier Ma
tional Park is already well known to
American sportsmen. Ambassador Bryce.
Secretary Bacon. Senator Penrose and
other prominent men have been up there
fishing and shooting. There is practically
no agricultural land and no mineral bear
ing formations of commercial value. In
the CANYONS are roaring streams fed by
melting ice and snow. and there are more
than 30 lakes. which abound IN hsh or
many varieties. The whole region Is IN
habited with wild animals. Mountain
goats mountain sheep. black bears, deer.
elk and moose are abundant. as we'll as a
great variety of birds. The animals use
il as a breeding ground because they can
find perfect protection
The waters flow IN three OTectlohs
finding the Hudson bay. the gulf or
. Mexico and the Pacific ocean. some Oh
the mountains are OF unparalleicd
beauty, the highest peak having been
named in honor of the late Grover
Cleveland.
Mr. r. III. Chapman of the geological
survey. who has explored the territory
thoroughly, says that the proposed gia-
cier national park includes "one OF tfe
most beautiful mountain regions in the
world To the east stretches mile upon
mile of open grassland, practically
treeless, drained by the Missouri and
Saskatchewan river systems
Rock Wall Extending for Miles.
In sharp contrast to the plains rise
the mountains. which. seen from dis
tance, present a rock wall of great
steepness extending apparently un-
broken for miles. This. the eastern
face of the range. is actually cut by
long. deep C-shaped canyons which
have been largely formed by
the great glaciers which once
flowed from the mighty snow-cov-
cred peaks and ridges. forming the di-
vide between the waters of the Allan
tic and Pacific oceans. In the canyons
are roaring streams, which head in the
melting ice and snow, flow into placid
Lob the
of the plains. Between the canyons
the long. finger-like ridges rise TO con-
siderable heights. the timber-covered
foot sloping steeply until region of
Drush-covered broken rocks is reached,
which in turn leads to the base of pre-
cipitous cliffs.
THE canyons at the head usually
terminate in great amphitheaters. rIs-
ing cliff on cliff in a stairway of re-
mendous proportions. many steps of
which retain an ice mass slowly flow
ing across ii. each fed from large ice
field above until Il region of high snow
banks is reached. The main Rocky
mountain mass is actually made up of
the principal ranges, generally parallel.
with axis in northwesterly and south
eaSterly direction. the easternmost of
which is the Lewis range. which ex-
tends but a short distance across the
Canadian boundary. The western or
Livingston range, extends much far
ther northward. At point about
elven miles south of Canada il becomes
the watershed of the continental di-
vide, which has previously follow I'd
the ridge of the Livingston range.
The ranges are the remnants CT
what was once much wider plateau
like region of rock, which has been
carved and shattered by forces of ero-
sion, principally those of glaciers. Upon
this great mass are the higher peaks
huge pyramids with precipices nun
dreds. and sometimes thOuSa nds of feet
plunging down to the roaring streams
OF the valleys. or ending in the great
crevasse at the head of the glacier To
the westward the mountains break
precipitously, and from the foot of the
steep. long, timber covered ridges reac h
out to the valley of the Flathead
river
Lives of Eighteen Ex-Presideuts.
In contemplation OF the bill pending ir
Congress for the pensioning of retired
Presidents il may be interesting to re-
view the history of the twenty-four mer
who have occupied this exalted office.
George Washington lived two years anC
nine months after retirement.
John Adams lived twenty-five years anC
three months.
Thomas jefferson lived seventeen year:
and three months.
James Madison lived nineteen years ant
three months.
James Monroe lived six years and foul
months.
John Quincy Adams lived nneteer
years and served in the House of Rep