The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-08-25

VER1 year Tue STSdI TScOItS Va
Europe are visited by thousands
of tourists who apparently have
IL no knowledge of the great ma
tional parks which have been
created by congress for the benefit
OF the people and in which there are
natural features and views that can
not be surpassed.
II the traveller seeks Alpine glaciers
he has only to 60 to the Glacier Ma
tional Park. where there are more
glaciers in the same area than in
Switzerland; If he desires to travel in
comfort over finely built roads that
rival those of France, Switzerland and
Germany. the Yellowstone Park ex-
tends its invitation to him.
II he is attracted to Europe by the
mystery of the Black Forest. he can
find more majestic and impressive
forests on the slopes of the Sierra Ne
vada, in the Yosemite, Sequoia and
General Grant perks. If his thoughts
turn to the clear blue lakes of Swift
zerland, he can find their counterparts
in the Glacier and Crater lake national
parks.
Should he be anxious to risk his
life in scaling snow-clad peaks, he has
only to repair to Mount Rainier in
Washington, whose steep slopes and
Recovered top will furnish sport ex-
citing enough for the most daring Of
,mountaineers. If he is interested in
the ruins Of prehistoric people, the
Casa Grande ruin in Arizona and the
Mesa Verde National Park in Colora-
do will show him how the aboriginal
inhabitants of America lived hundreds
of years before it's discovery by Euro
peans.
Yellowstone Is Best Known.
The Yellowstone National Park In
northwestern Wyoming is the oldest
and the best known of all the parks
and reservations 1t was created by
an act of congress in 1872. and ever
since that time the government has
been constructing roads and cutting
trails. until now the park is in a high
state of development and all parts of
1T are accessible to the traveller.
In the park may be seen natural
phenomena the like of which is found
nowhere else in the world. Here are
guysers that throw Jets of steam and
hot water into the air. great terraces
formed from deposits of mineral mat.
ter In the water thrown up by the
geysers. and the great falls of Vel
lOwstone river which traverses beau
tiful multi-colored canyon that is sec.
ond only to the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado.
In this park may be seen the deer,
the bear. the antelope and the bison
on their native range. because hunt.
Ing Is prohibited and the bands OF
deer and antelope roam through the
valleys and over the slopes as they
did years before they we're practically
exterminated in the greater part of
the west
The Glacier National Park in north.
ern Montana on the Canadian border
Is the newest of the parks controlled
by the federal government This park
has an area of about $4,000 acres and
has maximum length of sixty miles.
Yosemite in Glass by Itself.
When one speaks of California the
Yosemite Park naturally comes tn
mind. As long ago as 1864 an act
OF congress granted the Yosemite val.
ley and the Mariposa big tree grove
to the State of California for nuh,,c
use and recreation. The Legislature
OF California by the act approved
March ;. 1905. re-ceded the jurisdic.
ton and ownership Of this tract n
the United States. and only since June
IL. 1906. has the management Of the
Yosemite National Park been unde,
the control OF the federal government
The entire park has an area .,
about 36 by 40 miles. The Yosemite
valley. which 10 the most frequently
visited place Il about miles Ions
and 4 mile wide. In the center y
tbs valley 10 q level. parklike mead
ow. through which runs the Mercsd
river. while On either side the NOM
tains rise steep and PERCEPTIONS To ,
height Of 1000 feet above the door q,
to valley.
numerous streams drop from IL.
ease Of the clif to the valley he,ov
The hrst Of these a. the tourfst a
eers the valley ID the Bridal Ven HIN
A stresm fully thirty feet Wide I'm,
sdistancs Of 600 feet then fusheI
Over sloping rils Of debris, and the.
drops OVERWHELMINGLY 30 Net me-
The great waterfall In this pari
hoWsvsr. b The Yosemite Falla ~