The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-07-30
NEW PARADISE
IN CLOUDLAND
Rocky Mountain National
Park Now Ready to Ac-
commodate ThouS-
andS
SUPERB sNoWCAPPED RIDGE
A Tumbled Wilderness of Lofty Peaks
Varied with Valleys of Rare Low
illness, Canyons, Lakes, and
Rivers.

This is the first season under ma
tional control of the stupendous,
snowcapped mountain ridge of Colora-
do, tie "Top of the World" the
great backbone of the continent, now
and hereafter to be designated the
Rocky Mountain National Park.
There are many mountains in the
Colorado Rockies that exceed $4,000
feet in height, but only one of them
is included in the park. Not for
record-breaking attitudes, but for its
supreme scenic magnifcence and
availability for pblic use and resort,
was that portion Of the great range,
of which Longs Peak is the center,
set aside for special development and
administration.
This was done by Congress at its
last session. On July l Secretary
Lane took formal possession by the
appointment of Charles r. Trow-
bridge as temporary supervisor, with
permanent headquarters at Estes
Park, the natural gateway to this re-
gion Of enchantment. The work of
building a road by the Fall River
Canyon from Estes Park across the
range to Grand Lake on the west is
now cctively under way. This road is
the States contribution to the park.
The Rocky Mountain National Park
lies about 10 miles northwest of Den
Yer. 1t contains about $50 square
miles not foot of which is less than
5000 feet above sea level. 1t lies on
either side of the Continental Divide,
which at this point runs irregularly
north and south.
Bristles with Lofty Peaks.
This is "a wonderful snowcapped
range carrying glaciers in its hol-
lows. 1t includes, from Specimen
Mountain on the north, the finest
breeding ground in the world for the
celebrated Rocky Mountain sheep,
Mounts Ida and Julien, Terra Tomah
Peak, Nakai Peak, Snowdrift Peak.
Flattop Mountain, Hallett Peak, Otis
Peak, Mount Lady Washington, Longs
Peak (14.255 feet). Mount Meeker.
Pagoda, Chiefs Head, Mount Alice,
Tanima Peak, Mahana Peak, Uuzel
Peak, and Mount Copeland, to say
nothing Of many noble mountains riS- |
ing well apart from the Divide
ut simply bristles with mountain |
pca',',' said En- 5 Mills to the House
Committee on the Public Lands last
December, "thtre are more ,han SIN |
ty that rise sbove 1900 :eat a,lt
number between $4,000 and $4,000 |
feet, and one that rises above 14,OOO .
feet. Between these peaks are a
number of mountain lakes, nearly 200 |
of them. These vary in size from
few acres up to fifty or sixty acres.
They are all beautiful. Then, along
with this, remembering that this Is
the Continental Divide, it is not
high barren region. For instance,
the timber line in the Alps is gener-
ally about $500 feet, but on these
it is about II 800 feet and
over to timber line. There are more
than forty species of plants growing,
In this region there are not only
peaks and mountain lakes
tut there are manv kinds of wild life.
For instance, you have in this region
4 great number of mountain sheep,
an animal as active and as alert and
agile as the chamois in the Alps. He
'anges in the higher parts of this
'ection, sometimes running down to
he lower regions.
, Grizzlies and Others.
In addition to the mountain sheep
,ther big game are the grizzly bear
md the black bear; deer are quite
ommon, and that interesting animal,
he beaver, is exceedingly common. In
edition to this, hope you will re- {
member that there are blooming in Il
his section each year not less than s
900 varieties of wild flowers. You {
an not find in all the Alps in an equal u
rea as many kinds of wild plants. In S
eference to this area being scenic, {
I want to call your at r
ention to the fact that there is no d
lace in he world, off the railroad, D
hat has, during the past few years, c