Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-16

getting it out Rumors concerning larse
deposits of iron. copper. galena ana even
gold have also been current Ior genera
TONS and the mountainsides are now De-
ing searched by prOspectOrS, whose camp
fires may be seen glimmerins iine oldi .
when the sun goes down. >,
The pass has been known for ages. 1t
was used by the Indians from time lmme-
mortal. before the Hudson Bay company
made it a thoroughfare. 1t was surveyed
by the Canadian Pacific before the route
Of that railway was fixed, and at least
one settler has been living on the oia
trail pass for more than thirty years.
squaw man. hunter and trapper. VINO OF
late has been raising cattle and culti-
waiting vegetables to feed the conHruc-
tons gangs. He is squatter and mas
no proper title to his ranch. but the gov
eminent will undoubtedly recognize us
rights acquired by long residence.
There are innumerabe lakes all the
way from Edmonton through 10 the
mountains Some of them are very
picturesque and furnish good fishing and
shooting Just now the ducks are skim
ming over the waters by the thousands
and nobody seems to take any notice OF
them Pioneer ''resorters' have been
taking up homesteads on some of the
lakes and building cabins to when iie tney
can retreat in the summer with their
families, and one amateur hotel has al
ready been opened.
The pass through the mountains is the
center of a government reserve called
Japer Park, beginning 100 miles west OF
Edmonton. where the railroad crosses the
Atha basca river and from there following
the Athabasca and the Miette rivers for
fifty-nine miles The park is ten miles
wide or less extending from peak to peak
on either side, and II is inclOsed In Il
forest reserve of several thousand square
miles. To preserve the timber from fire
and the depredations Of thieves squad
of forest rangers Is always on hand and
they it is also required to protect the
scenery which Is very picturesque and in
places sublime.
There are no foothills; the mountains
are like the climate, which is without
both spring and fall. 1t jumps from win
summer to winter. Just as the NOUN
tains shoot up to 10000 and 1900 feet
from the level of the prairie. The high
est peak Is Mount Robson. which rises
IL, 600 feet with three-sfded pyramid at
the crest.
The SUBMITS of all the mountains are
bold and rugged Their bases are clothed
with evergreen forests reaching to the
timber line which is distinctly marked in
every direction. Above 1t the monsters
are stark naked, but fieecy clouds en-
deavor to shield the modesty and cold
shrouds of eternal snow are wrapped
around tne1r Suflilllts
At first the pass of Yellowhead is wide
and level. set with pretty lakes and divid-
ed by dashing rivers. The Athabasca is
swift and relentleses stream. The
| Miette is much smaller and has less char
acter, but partakes of the spirit of the
mountains. for it dashes along without
regard to the damage 1t may do. and
when 1t rains, as is frequently the case In
this climate, il swells up with a sense
of it's own power and washes away
trestle work and entertainments which the
railway contractors have built at the
cost of much trouble and money. The
water Of these rivers is of that peculiar
light green color that comes from glaciers
and it is intensely cold. There are sew
eral glaciers in the mountains, but only
one In sight, and that is sixty miles
away.
Held Up by Washout.