The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-06-10

supporters. Numerous national parks have al
ready been established by the government some
because OF their recognized standing as natural
"onderands such as Yellowstone, and others
through insistent championship of enthusiasts
The youngest member of the playground fam
lly now knocking at the door for national protec-
ton, is the proposed Glacier National park in
northern Montana There are some people in the
east who do not even know that there are gla
ciers in the United States today but think OF
them as extinct monsters belonging to a past geo.
logic era. To such the very name, Glacier park,
is an education. There are no longer, it is true,
vast continental glaciers; even the great frozen
regions Of Alaska are small in extent compared
with the ancient glaciers but the remnants of the
onetime universal ice sheets, such as can be
seen in Glacier park, are so majestic and numer-
Gus as to awaken in the mind of the traveller SEN
timents Of unbounded awe and wonder at Ma
lures matchless handiwork.
Give month at least to this precious re-
serve" says John Muir, some ten years ago, in
speaking Of the delights of this region. "The
time will not be taken from the sum of your life.
Instead of shortening it will indefinitely lengthen
1t and make you truly immortal"
Nor are the attractions Of the Glacier park
region confined to the scenic. Here lies, for in
stance the majestic Lake Mcdonald, full of brisk
trout as described by Mr.. Muir, in the heart Of
the splendid Flathead forests of giant pine,
spruce and cedar, while ten miles above is Ava
lanche lake. shimmering at the foot of group Of
glacier-laden mountains. Far up the white peaks
one can hardly fail to meet the white goat or
American chamois, while in other retreats dwell
deer, elk and bear, and many smaller sleekfurred
animals enjoying their beautiful lives in company
with numerous bird species.
+ H.
gress will preserve for the nation this latest
playground and constitute it another of our ma
tional parks. 1t will then be our second largest
park, surpassed only by the Yellowstone.
The Sixtieth congress made favorable re-
port on a Glacier park bill. which had also the
strong support of the secretaries of the interior
and agriculture. This report was based largely
upon a topographic survey made four years ago
| by a United States geological survey party, and
upon later compilation by Robert H. Chapman
| one of the party, embracing total area of about
100000 acres lying just south of the Canadian
| line and between Flathead river and the Black
/ feet Indian reservation This area contains SO
or more true glaciers, ranging in size from small
glaciers of few acres each to those covering five
square miles. 1t also contains over ESQ glacial
! lakes from few hundred feet to ten miles in area
The Rocky mountain system in the United
States abounds in regions of wild and magnificent
scenery, but it is doubtful If any of them sur
passes in grandeur and interest that Of Glacier
! park From it's area water flows to Hudson bay
! the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific ocean. Mount
| Cleveland, its highest peak, reaches an eleva,
| ton Of 10434 feet and there are many other rug
! ged mountains ranging from 5000 to 10000 feet
above sea level. This area of the northern Rocky
mountains says Mr.. Chapman which lies to the
north of the Great Northern railway and to the
south of the Canadian boundarySs one Of the
| most beautiful mountain regions in the world
Approaching the divide from the plains region tt
the east. the mountains present to the traveller