The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-18


the western entrance of the park.
ready for the 1853 mile tour In tho
Monida and Yellowstone stages that
are awaiting him. The trip through
the park may be made in five days,
or 1t may be cut down to two by WIS.,
iting the region OF the geysers alone.
Many. Many Wonderful Things.
There are many wonderful things
on the road before one gets to the
Yellowstone park. however. Going
west from Ogden on the Union Pc
cific is one Of the most stupendous
pieces Of railway engineering in the
world, the great Salt Lake cutoff that
was constructed at cost Of S6,00O,-
600 to save forty-three miles Of tho
distance between Ogden and San
Francisco 1t crosses the Great Salt
lake at its deepest portion and Is
1922 miles long. Some of the best
engineers in the world pronounced
this cutoff impossible, but 1t was
built and is one of the unique fea-
lures Of American railroading.
Another thing that attracts trav-
elers is Salt Lake City itself, which
has been constantly in the public eye
ever since 1t was a little huddle Of
wagons in the wilderness more than
three generations ago. In many ways
1t Is one of the most remarkable
cities in the world, and as the seat
of power of the religious empire Of
the Mormons 1t is unique. The Taber-
nacle. with its great organ, the big
gest in the world, and the other nota-
BILE buildings have been described
over and over again. but no words or
photographs can picture them ade-
quately any more than they can a
bath in the lake itself-in water In
which one cannot sink.
To get to the Yellowstone National
park or to Salt Lake City is now one
of the easiest things imaginable. The
directions are simple: You go to Og-
den by the Union Pacific, the new
and direct route, turn to the north
for the park and to the south for the
"City OF the Saints"
The "Flrst Man on the Ground"
It is Just a hundred and four years
since the Yellowstone territory was
discovered. A trapper and hunter
found it. He was one John Golfer, q
private Of the famous Lewis and Clark
| expedition. When, in 1906, this dis
tinguished band of pioneers retraced
their steps and started back to St.
Louis over their route that eventually
opened up the great northwest Golfer
broke away. All by himself, he set
out for the headwaters Of the Mis-
souri,. He was practically forgotten
when, four years later, he came into
st. Louis, tattered, torn, Indian-like
in his ways, but bubbling over with
enthusiasm.
He had seen the most wonderful
place in the world, he said, where
steam came out Of the earth and
scalding water leaped miles high.
where there were diabolical furnaces
under ground. 1t would have been
the "abode of the damned" he said.
but for the fact that there was no
sign, for hundreds of miles. Of human
beings. Surrounded by the curious.
John Golfer talked for days Of the
wonders he had seen. And he met
with the fate Of many; no one be-
lieved him.
He told, OF too many wonders. st.
Louisans marveled, then laughed.
then for many long year spoke Of
Golfers He'll" They thought he had
imagined it all.
But Golfer, trapper pioneer and
discoverer, proved exactly right II
was not until thirty-four years later
that he was found to have told the
truth Bridger. the noted guide, con.
firmed his romantic story