Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-03-10
SAVING OF THE
JOSEPHINE CO.
CAVES IS TOLD

4
are in Cave Mountain, four miles
from the line OF the new railroad,
and It Is proposed to build an auto
road this distance and erect hand
some mountain inn for the accom-
modations Of tourists.
Cave Mountain rises to an eleva-
ton Of 5000 feet and is mountain
in l847 by Eliza Davidson while
bear hunting, and in 1877 Mr.. Frank
NJ. Nickerson, now Of Kerby, with
others made extensive exploration
and partially opened four floors or
levels and many OF the ladders then
of limestone formation, portions OF
which is the finest quality OF com
mercial marble. Exploration work
within the caves has sometime been
in marble that If polished would
rival that OF the most costly halls
Of civilization.
The openings to these caves, about
1000 feet elevation, was discovered
used are still doing duty though
der which this great natural wonder
was withdrawn by the government as
national monument, has been var
lously stated, and In a recent Illus
trated article in The Oregonian the
credit is given the Oregon Con-
servation Commission through C. B..
hardly safe.
The date and circumstances un-
Watson, OF Ashland. In order to set
tie the question for good the follow
Ing copies OF original kilograms now
In the government files are pub
lished for the first time.
Grants Pass, Ore, Aug. 3, 1907.
Forester, Wash, ID. C:
Withdraw at once from entry sec
tions 8, 10. Is and 16, T. 40, s. r.
west to prevent mineral entry of
Oregon Caves until can locate ex-
actly. Have sent men today to To-
cate as national monument. Danger.
(Signed) Anderson.
Wash, d. c., Aug. 8, 1907.
Anderson, Grants Pass.
Withdrawal Oregon Caves re-
quested today. Post notices. viii
wire when signed. Chapman.
Wash, d. c., Aug. 10, 1907,
Anderson, Grants Pass;
Withdrawal of Oregon Caves made
August ~, McVean.
The Oregon Conservation Commits
sion did not exist until over year
after above date, and j. n Teal, its
president. wrote at Mr. Watson's re-
quest on June q, 1909, or nearly
two years after action had been
taken by the government So the
caves were withdrawn by request of
citizen of Grants Pass.
To JouQuin Miller, the Poet of the
Sierras, Is the credit due for the
title Marble Halls" and they are
halls or galleries more than caverns.
Miles Of these galleries have been ex-
! plored sometimes narrow and rough
with stalactites and stalagmites
then widening into fair-sized rooms
with beautiful alabaster pillers, ap.
parontly supporting roof that glist.
ems with millions of diamonds as the
drops OF water highly lnlpregnated
with lime reflects the light. for the
work of beautIfying Is still in prog.
ress, as It has been for ages past
Thousands of galleries, leadins aa.y
In every direction, pa.Ua,iy o
! by stalactltes, Lave uey,. been ,a.
tered by man, lal Ua-. ,... w.g
explored have bc,a lus.I o. p.,g. ..
accidents, rs some "a less ..
crossed by chasms OF unknown
depth, line OF 800 feet In length
falling to reach bottom In several
such cases and sound OF runnng
water Tar below would lead one tu
believe the greater galleries. hay,
mover yet been visited.
There is a strong current VI wind
In many places and to this is prob
ably due the varied forms witch the
stalHctites take, for in no two rooms
are the decorations alike, sometimes
plain iciclc-Shapod stalactltcs. then
floor and ccllIng adorned with mnsh
room-llke adornments, aud agau
broad drapery-like sheets of s,on,
with the waves as plainly defined a.,
though recently moved by the wlna
There are many small openings on
The side OF the mountain, some nv.
or six miles distant from the Oh
frances, included Ia the national
monument which cover iSO acre.
loud 70 viii take much time
money To explore ths old hone,
'omoed mountain property Sow
that there viii Dee aD easy way q.
reach The marble halls they vln mh
'hch proper pRcc among no b.