River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-11-24

~ mentioned, let alone thought
Nv Of it, since you put aside
A' your school geography Yet
II Is Sns nf the greatest natural won
ders of America and at one time
riyaled 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 bill in con-
gress providing for the purchase OF
Mammoth cave by the government
and making it 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 1ntervenes to
protect it.
There is as yet no indication that
Mammoth cave will be destroyed;
but no one can guarantee that science,
in it's 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 glory 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. 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 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 100000 to
almost 90,O00,000 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
the railroad. Only after a long, care
fu1 study of railroad maps was it pos
sable 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 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. 9he
nine miles Of grass-covered track
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-
sure 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 it's long rows of tables,
capable of seating $50 or 300 persons
at enc 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. 1t 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 it's main
avenue is four and one-half miles
long. 40 feet high and go feet wide
There are 49 other avenues, large
and small, and 1t least 100 cham