Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-11
WONDERS OF NATIONAL PARKS
Government Has Preserved Wide and
Beautiful Tracts in West.
FOREST, MOUNTAIN AND STREAM
Yellowstone for Touring, Yosemite
for scenic Beauty, Crater Lake
for Display of Natural
Wonders.

WARRINGTON. June 10 - Especially -
Every year the great resorts OF Europe are
visited by thousands of tourists who APP
parently have no knowledge OF the great
national parks which have been created
by congress for the benefit Of the people
and in which there are natural features
and views than can not be surpassed. II
the traveller seeks Alpine glaciers he has
only to go to the Glacier National park
where there are more glaciers in the same
area than In Switzerland; II 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; IL he Is at
tracted TO Europe by the mystery Of the
Black Forest he can find majestic and
impressive forests on the slopes of the
Sierra Nevada in the Yosemite, Sequoia
and General Grant parks; II his thoughts
turn to the clear blue lakes OF Switzerland
he can find their counterpart in the Glacier
and Crater Lake National parks; II he is
anxious to risk his life in scaling snow
clad peaks he has only to repair to Mount
Rainer In Washington, whose steep slopes
and lce-covered top will furnish sport ex-
citing enough for the most daring of noun
taineers; II he Is interested in the ruins OF
RAohAeNOAAS ptoRlS III AdSd vi dhC rum III
Arizona and the Mesa Verde National park
In Colorado will show him how the abor-
iginal inhabitants of America lived hun
dreds OF years before its discovery by
Europeans.
yellowstone IL Oldest Park.
The Yellowstone National park in north
western Wyoming is the oldest and best
known OF all the parks and reservations.
II was created by an act Of congress in
1872 and ever since that time the govern
ment has been constructing roads and cut
ting trails until now the park is in high
state of development and all parts of It are
accessible to the traveller. Well built roads
traverse the major portion of the park
impressive and substantial bridges cross the
streams, and commodious hotels and camps
have been provided for the accommodation
OF visitors. In this park may be seen
natural phenomena the like Of which is
found nowhere else in the world. There
are geysers that throw Jets of steam and
hot water into the air, great terraces
formed from the deposits of mineral mat
ter In the water thrown up by the geysers
and the great falls of Yellowstone river
which traverses a Beautiful multi-colored
canyon that Is second 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
hunting is prohibited and the bands OF deer
and antelope roam through the valleys and
over the slopes as they did years before
they were practically exterminated in the
greater part of the west Comfortable
coaches take the tourist over a regular
route to the principal points of interest,
but II he desires to make a more extended
stay or to get far from. the beaten track
-. oR hi
and make excursions into the less fire.
quented portions of the park or climb the
many peaks which may be seen from the
main roads.
Nearly n Million Acres.
The Glacier National park in northern
Montana on the Canadian border is the
newest of the parks controlled by the
federal government This park has an area
of approximately 915,0OO acres and has
maximum length of sixty miles. 1t has
been we'll called the top OF the continent
for within its boundaries is situated the
great continental divide At one point in
the park tourist may take a cup of water
and cast the contents to one side whence
1t will find its way to the gulf OF Mexico
to another side whence 1t will find its way
to the Pacific ocean. or in a third direction
whence It will find its way to Hudson bay
Inc park ObNalho lNs NdHle AIoiH lHe
numerous glaciers which gllsten in dazzling
white in the saddles between the high
peaks. 1t is well supplied with streams
and lakes that have been formed by the
damming Of the valleys by the great mass
of debris left by the continental glacier.
The lakes are all long and narrow and in
places wooded slopes, which are covered
with a thick growth of pine and fir. lay
close to the waters edge. while at other
points precipitous cliffs form the border
OF the lake, and dashing rivulets pour their
crystal waters over the steep sides. As
less than two years have elapsed since
Glacier park was created, little progress
has been made in the construction OF roads
and trails. The traveller visiting this park
must be prepared to travel on horseback.
Those looking for comfort only had better
go elsewhere. out those who desire to see
nature in its widest mood or to travel
through the reslnous forests OF pine and
fir OF to escape the common luxuries OF
travel will find no place In two continents
that will be the equal OF this park.
Yosemite and Its Cascade.
When one speaks OF California, the
Yosemite park naturally comes in mind
As long ago as 1864 an act of congress
granted the Yosemite valley and the Mari
fornia for public use and recreation. The
legislature OF California, by the act APP
proved March 3. 1896, receded the jurisdic-
ton and ownership OF this tract to the
United States and only since June II. 1906.
has the management of the Yosemite Ma
tional park been under tae control OF the
federal government The entire park has
an area OF about thirty-six by forty miles.
The Yosemite valley, which IL the most
frequently visited place, Is about seven
miles long and three-fourths OF a mile
wide In the center OF this valley is a
level psrk-like meadow through which
runs Mereede river. while on either side
the mountains rise steep and precipitous
70 q height OF 1000 feet above the floor
OF the valley. Numerous streams drop
from the edge of the cliff TO the valley
below. The first OF these as the tourist
sntels the valley is Bridal Veil falls. A
stream fully thirty feet wide falls a dis
lance OF 600 feet. then rushes over a
sloping pile OF debris. and then drops per-
pendicularly 800 feet more. From the
points which II is generally viewed it seems
10 make but one plunge and the general