The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-11-25

IA
w mentioned, let alone thought
H 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.
There was a time when it was the
Mecca of all newly-married 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 a great natural wonder that is
likely some day to be destroyed I'M
less some strong hand intervenes 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 go
to make up the CORY 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 1874 more than 100 per-
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 100000 since that time.
To discover what had brought about
this condition a newspaper represen-
tative recently journeyed to Mammoth
cave. 1t required nearly an hour to
buy ticket to the nearest point on
the railroad. Only after long. care
full study of railroad maps was it DOS
s1ble to get ticket, and this was to
Glasgow Junction, Ky. This station
was reached after 24-hour ride. and
there, on siding, was the train for
Mammoth Cave, nine miles away
This train consisted of little engine
with the name Hercules painted on
its sides, and one old-fashioned day
coach lighted by smoky oil lamps.
The writer and an old man with q
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 Tho cave. The
nine miles of grass-cov,red tracks
were covered In about an hour and
at last the lights Of thu Mammoth
Cave hotel came into view.
The hotel is a rambling old struc-
ture built nearly sevent-five years
ago-part of it, 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 ESQ or 800 persons
at one time, was deserted. The
greater part of tho structure was
boarded up. deserted and fast falling
into ruin.
The cave itself, Of colrse. is 1ust
as wonderful as ever. It is the
largest cave that has e'er been dis
covered and its 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 ole-half miles
long, 100 feet high and so feet wide.
There are 40 other arenues, large
and small. AVID Ut Leaf 100 cham
bers. The rSesent owners charge
two dollars for the fist admission
to the cave and one ddlar for each
succeeding visit. Four rips are nee
essary to see all the w,nders. Each
one takes from four to six hours to
make, I'D the four cable one to
see practically all the lights, If one
is willing to walk some twenty-five or
thirty miles. On one Ing trip prac-
tically every important sight could
be seen if the guides we're disposed
to show tha cave that way. If the
cave shall ever become the property
of the government, is lighted by
electricity and shown Il way that
will not take three or fur days, and
a modern hotel be butt to replace