Evening star., 1909-02-28
SET APART As PARKS
Nations Fairgrounds Reserv-
ed by the Government.
HISTORIC RUINS SAVED
Preservation Of the Big Trees of
California.
ARIzONA'S PETRIFIED FOREST
land Protected for Scenic Beauty,
Natural Wonders or Curiosities
or Utilized for Recreation.
ARIZONA'S PETRIFIED FOREST
By WILLIAM L. CURTIS.

By WILLIAM L. CURTIS.
NIi..en for Tae Star ard the Chicago Record
Herald.
Tree kinds OF reservations have been
ald are being made upon the public do
Irain:
National forests, which are proclaim
ed by the President, under the general
authority granted by an act of Congress
approved March 3. 1891. These forests
are reserved from public settlement to
Protect and improve the timber, TO rcgu-
late the flow of streams and TO insure
the fullest. utilization of other natural
resources. In addition 10 the general
statute certain areas have been set apart
foI special reasons.
Large tracts of public land which, for
;heir scenic beauty. natural wonders or
curiosities. historic ruins and relics. or
other objects of scientific or historic in
tercst. it is desirable to protect and utilize
for public recreation, education or other
interests. These are called national
parks. and there are eight or more OF
them including the Yellowstone, the
Yosemite. the Grand Canyon of the Colo
RADIO, the Sequoia and General Grant for
eStS of big trees In California, Crater lake
in Oregon. Mount Rainier in Washington
prehistoric cliff dwellings in Arizona, and
the Wind Cave at Hot Springs in South
Dakota.
Crater Lake and Wind Cave.
Crater lake, which is in the southern
part of the Cascade range in Oregon,
near Klamath Falls. is one of our great
est natural wonders, being the crater OF
an extinct volcano at the top of a noun
fair mir T.; ~ n
water to a depth of two thousand feet,
and encircled by a continuous wall of
cliffs from one thousand to two thousand
feet in height. There is no break in this
wall, which is nearly perpendicular
that 1t cannot be climbed, except in a
few places
Wind cave Is in the southwestern part
of South Dakota, east of the Black Hills
near the town OF Hot Springs, and is
also remarkable natural curiosity as
we'll as health resort The interior of
the cave has never been thoroughly ex-
plored. 1t is like honeycomb with
more than three thounsand rooms or
cells and more than hundred miles of
corridors Some one has Ekened it to a
sponge. several miles In length. depth and
breadth. composed of narrow passages
connecting at different points with cav
erDS large enough to fnclose the capitol
of the United States, and beautifully dec
Grated with feathers and crystals of
gypsum that glisten like diamonds. The
atmosphere In the cave is SO dry that it
is recommended as specific for diseases
of the throat nose and lungs.
Congressional Action.
After many years of labor. by the
united efforts of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, the American Institute of Archae-
ology, the geological survey and the
general land office, act of Congress
was passed in 1906 authorizing the Presi-
dent TO declare by public proclamation.
historic landmarks, prehistoric struc-
lures and other objects of historic
and scientific interest situated upon
lands controlled or owned by the
United States to be national monuments
and to reserve, as a part thereof. parcels
OF land, the limits of which in all cases
shall be confined to the smallest area
compatible with the proper care and
mana cement of the objects to be pro-
tected All persons are forbidden under
heavy penalty to injure. destroy or ex-
cavate at such places except for the bene
tit of museums, universities, colleges and
other scientific or educa tional institutions
under proper permits from the proper
officers.
Under this law eight national monu-
ments have been created within the ma
tional forests. and nine outside of the
national forests, which are under the care
of the commissioner OF public lands.
An eighteenth monument has been
Created ny a SpeCldl act OF congress,
known as the Casa Grand RUINS in
Arizona. which is the largest and best
example OF prehistoric architecture in
this country. 1t is an enormous building
and although partially destroyed by van
Gals and the tooth of time. there are
fifty-Seven large rooms still remaining
which have been fitted out and put in
order under the direction of DIR. J. Walter
Fewkes of the National Museum.
The National Monuments.
The eight national monuments. under
the direction os the chief forester are as
follows:
Acres.
Cinder conc. California. INSTRUMENTATION. 5,lO
ella clif dwellings. New Mexico. ...... 100
Grand Ccnyon Of the Colorado. sos 400
Jewel cave, South Dakota. $50
l4assen peak. California ............... $50
The Pinnacles. California. -.......... 2.OS9
Toronto, Arizona a-..-.-................ $40
Wheeler monument. Colorado ......... 200
The following national monuments are
H. H.