Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-03-17

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your school geography. Yet
II is one OF the greatest natural won
ders Of America and at one time
rlvaled Niagara falls in popularity.
There was time when II was the
Mecca OF all newly.msrried couples
who could afford The trip. Travellers
came from all over the world to see
t. To-day, however, It is practically
forgotten. Visitors even from near.
by cities are few and far between
In fact Mammoth cave IL the forgot
ten natural wonder OF the world.
Representative Thomas OF Kentucky
expects to introduce bill In con
gross providing for the purchase OF
Mammoth cave by the government
and making II national park like
Yellowstone and Yosemite. His argu.
ment will be that the United States
government should take steps 10 pre-
serve great natural wonder that Ia
likely some day to be destroyed un.
less some strong hand intervenes TO
protect H.
There Is "a yet no indication that
Mammoth cave will bo 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 60
to make up the CORY OF this great
hole In tho ground.
At any rate, this project for its pur.
chase by tho government brings Il
once more 10 the attention OF the
public. lts present owners, the heirs
Of the late Or. John Croghan, under
the trusteeship Of Judge Albert Gov.
ington Janin, have allowed tho great
cave to become neglected and forgot.
ten. Back In 1874 more than 100 per.
sons visited the cave every day. 10.
day the number does not average
FIVE. Yet the population Of the coun.
try has increased from 10000. 900 TO
almost 9oOOo,OoO since that time
To discover what had brought about
this condition Newspaper represen.
tativo recently journeyed TO Mammoth
cave. It required nearly an hour to
buy a ticket TO the nearest point on
the railroad Only after long. cara.
ful study Of railroad maps was II DOS.
slble to get ticket, and this was to
Glasgow Junction Ky. This station
was reached after a 2i.hour ride, and
there, on a siding, was the train for
Mammoth Cave, nine miles awey
This train consisted OF a little engine
with the name Hercules" painted on
It's sides, and one old.fashioned dav
coach lighted by smoky oil lamps
The writor 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 tho short ride 10 tho cave. The
nine miles Of grass-oovered tracks
were covered n about an hour and
at last tho lights Of the Mammoth
Cave hotel came into view
The hotel is rambling old struc.
ture built nearly seyenty.nye years
ago part OF II. in fact, almost 100
years ago There we're only three
persons at the hotel during the wrl
tors two day stay The big dining.
room. with It's long rows OF tables.
capable Of seating 80 or 800 persons
At one time, was deserted. The
greater part Of the structure was
boarded up, deserted and fast falling
into ruin.
The cave itself. Of course. is Iust
as wonderful as ever. II is the
largest cave that has over been dls.
covered and its natural beauties az.
eel thoas Of every other. There ara
more than 1877 mlles OF walks IN the
cave, and some idea OF its size may
be gained from knowing that its main |
avenue Is four and one-hale mlles
long, 100 feet high and 90 feet wide.
There are 20 other avenues. la.Ee
and small, and II least 100 cham.