The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18
By ID. It. FIELD.

Thirty years ago, one train a day,
with a single sleeper. carried every
passenger that travelled by rail TO the
racine coast. Now more trains, fully
outhtted and equipped with every
known comfort and luxury of modern
railway travel, leave Chicago daily
for the Pacific coast than leave many
Eastern cities in every direction.
The area bounded by the Canadian
border on the north, the Mexican bor-
der on the south, the Missouri River
on the east and the Pacific Ocean on
tho west. is unsurpassed anywhere in
the world in scenic features. In no
other part of the world is there TO
be found so vast. region containing
| throughout it's entire extent scenic
features Of such unexcelled beauty,
with every variation OF climate, afford
ing hygienic conditions adapted in the
highest degree to both recreation and
health for every conceivable class Of
persons. healthy or invalid. The rail
road facilities by which this region Is
reached and travelled afford the acme
or travelling convenience and luxury.
No political boundaries with the un-
pleasant concomitants OF custom-house
officers and passport inspection here
confront the traveller in search of
health, or pleasure or business; each
one exercises that absolute freedom
of movement so inseparable from true
enjoyment. free from the interference
on government control. police sur
unwarranted exactions of petty Off
Gals which so frequently vex the
traveller in Europe.
Tho assertion is often made that 1t
is disgraceful thing that millions
upon millions of American dollars
should be squandered In Norway and
the Alps by people ignorant OF the
had II.
tive land The region heretofore de-
fined contains practically 100000
square miles OF mountains. The Amer
lean counterpart of Mount Blanc, the
highest peak In Eu<ope, Is Sierra
Blanca, 1890 feet, In Colorado, which
American range. Mount Rainier, a.
526 feet, in Washington, guards the
northern flank OF this great noun
tain phalanX: while in advance in Cali
fornia, as If leading in majestic march
10 the western ocean, stands Mount
Whitney. 14.S9S feet Between these
north and south extremes there are
than the famous Jungfrau, in SwitZer-
land, 1850 feet Timber grows much
higher in the American than in the
European mountains. Cascades and
waterfalls. fed by melting SHOWS. are
! abundant in al! mountain regions. and
are never falling attraction. Some
are of extraordinary proportions. The
lower falls OF the Yellowstone descend
80 feet in one vertical plunge; the
! Bridal Veil Falls of the Yosemite are
more than twice as high and over
nifty feet In width. while the Yosemite
FAN. the highest waterfall in the
known world. with anywhere near the
same volume. leaps $500 feet in three
plunges, clearing over 1900 feet at
the first Jump. $50 at the second. and
the remainder at the last. The fRrthest
descent OF Niagara Falls is ITO feet
a mountain lake is always a scenic
gem. They are the mirrors in whicl
man secs reflected the countless moods
and fancies OF Deity. Like tn,
cataracts. they are born OF the melt
Ing snow. Their name Is legion. Tc
attempt to specify even the leading
ones would be like trying to list the
cities of the world. To mention hall
dozen best known to the tourist
one would select Lake Mcdonald. ir
Montana near which is found the most
typical glaciers in the United States
Lake Chelan. In Washington. with 1T,
sixty miles OF changing landscape nr
either shore; Lake Yellowstone. in Vel
| lowstone Park: Lake Occur dAlene, ir
Idaho; Lake Tahoe, In California. anG
Lake San Cristobal. In Colorado.
But tho Great Salt Lake that i'm
prisoned fragment OF prehistoric
ocean. reached by tho Salt Lake Route