The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-11-25


It is one of the greatest natural Won
ders OF America and at one time
riyaled Niagara falls III popularity.
There was a time when it was the
Mecca of all newly-married couples
who could afford the trip. Travellers
came from all ove 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
gross providing for the purchase of
Mammoth cave by the government
ana making it q 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 un-
less some strong hand ~interyencs to
protect it.
There is as yet no indication that
Mammoth cave viii be destroyed;
but no n can guarantee that science.
i'm its constant search for new nate
rial TO convert 10 mans use, may not
discover some profitable use for the
curious geological formations that 90
to make up the < DRY of this great
hole in the ground.
At any rate, this project for its pur-
chase by the government brings if
once more TO the attention of the
public. It's 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 1914 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 20, 600. 900 to
almost so, 000, 600 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 a ticket to the nearest point on
the railroad. Only after a long ca re-.
full study Of railroad maps was it pos.
stble to get a 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
its sides. and one old-fashioned 6ay
coach lighted by smoky oil LAMPS.
The writer and an old man with a
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 g~rass-covered tract
We're covered in about an hour and
Mt last the lights of the Mammoth
Cave hotel came into view.
The hotel is a rambling old struc-
ture built nearly seventy-fve 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 10 or 300 persons
at one time, was deserted. The
greater part of the structure was
boarded up, deserted AMI fast falling
into ruin.
The cave Itself, OF course, Is lust
as wonderful as ever. 1t is the
largest cave that mas ever been dis.
covered and its natural beauties ex.
rel those of every other. There are
more than 157 miles Of walks in the
cave. and some idea Of it's size NAV
he gained from knowing that it's main
avenue is four and one-half miles
long, 40 feet high and 60 feet wide.
There are 40 other avenues, large
md small. and 1T least 100 cham