The Green Forest tribune., 1910-11-25

E@ W mentioned, let alone thought NV E of it, since you put aside
 your school geography. Yet it is one of the greatest natural won ders of America and at one time rivaled Niagara falls in popularity. l There was time when it was the Mecca of all newly-marrfed couples who could afford the trip. Travellers came from all over the world to see it. Today, however, it is practically forgotten Visitors even from near by cities are few and far between. In fact, Mammoth cave is the forgot ten natural wonder of the world.
 Representative Thomas of Kentucky expects to introduce a bill in con- gress providing for the purchase of Mammoth cave by the government and making it a national park like Yellowstone and Yosemite. His argu- ment will be that the United States government should take steps to pre- serve great natural wonder that is likely some day to be destroyed un- less some strong hand interyenes to protect it.
 There is as yet no indication that Mammoth cave will be destroyed; :; but no one can guarantee that science. in its constant search for new mate rial to convert to mans use, may not discover some profitable use for the curious geological formations that 20 to make up the g ory of this great hole in the ground.
 At any rate, this project for it's pur- chase by the government brings it once more to the attention of the public. Its present owners, the heirs of the late Dr. John Croghan, under the trusteeship of Judge Albert Gov ington Janin, have allowed the great cave to become neglected and forgot ten. Back in 1S44 more than 100 Der sons visited the cave every day. To- day the number does not average five. Yet the population of the coun- try has increased from 10000, 900 to almost 90,00O0O0 since that time.
 To discover what had brought about this condition a newspaper represen- tative recently journeyed to Mammoth cave. It required nearly an hour to buy ticket to the nearest point on the railroad. Only after a long. care ful study of railroad maps was it DOS sible to get ticket and this was to Glasgow Junction, Ky. This station was reached after a 24-hour ride. and there, on a siding, was the train for Mammoth Cave, nine miles away This train consisted of a little engine with the name Hercules" painted on it's sides, and one old-fashioned day coach lighted by smoky oil lamps. The writer and an old man With a dog were the only passengers. There were two conductors to collect the fare of two dollars which is demand ed for the short ride to the cave. The nine miles of grass-covered tracks were covered In about an hour and at last the lights of the Mammoth Cave hotel came into view
 The hotel is a rambling old struc- ture built nearly seventy-five years ago-part of 1t, in fact, almost 100 years ago. There were only three persons at the hotel during the wri ter's two day stay The big dining room, with its long rows of tables capable of seating 450 or 300 persons at one time, was deserted. The greater part of the structure was boarded up, deserted and fast falling into ruin.
 The cave itself, of course, Is just as wonderful as ever. It is the largest cave that has ever been dis covered and it's natural beauties ex- eel those of every other. There are more than 157 miles of walks in the cave, and some idea of its size may be gained from knowing that its main avenue is four and one-half miles long, 1"0 feet high and 50 feet wide There are 49 other avenues, large and small, and at least 100 cham bers. The present owners charge two dollars for the first admission to the cave and one dollar for each succeeding visit. Four trips are nee essary to see all the wonders. Each one takes from four to six hours to make, a ( the four enable one to see practically all the sights, if one is willing to walk some twenty-five or thirty miles. On one long trip prac- t1cally every important sight could be seen if the guides were disposed to show the cave thlt way If the cave shall ever become the property Of the government, is lighted by electricity and shown in a way that will not take three or four days, and modern hotel be built to replace