Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-06-09
5isALuTA TORY.

l1ll([ ! d l i III u ~
sALUTAToRY.
"The Natural Scenery. o. America; lie
Effects on Characteristics Of
Ito Peoples"
Thorwald p. Hanson.
Every American is proud to call his
land the land Of scenic beauty. Nat.
ure has stretched across this contin.
emit a panorama Of rivers. lakes, for.
ests, prairies, valleys and mountains
This diversity of formation has lo
parallel on any continent in the world
Europe has it's wonderful monuments
which show the artistic and architec.
tural genius of man; America embrac
es much more than this. Within its
boundaries are found the greatest
natural specimens of sculpture. Here
the workmanship of nature has ex
pended it's energie for centuries. Nc
army of the world is large enough
nor would it have devastating power
enough for the destruction of these
great natural monuments Of art.
From the lofty rockies to the deep
Colorado canyon; from the majestic
Mississippi to it's spring fed rivulets
by the thousands; from the Great
Lakes on it's northern boundary, to
the thousands of specks of clear wat.
er, natures greatest mirror for reflect.
ing it's incompatible grandeur; from
it's inland seas upon which rides the
commerce of nations to the rivers be-
tween, whose pictured shores flows
ever and ever on the crystal waters,
one Of the great forces of commerce.
We are enthralled and fascinated by
these magnificent specimens Of nat
ure.
For years our tourists have turned
to the east to satisfy their artistic IN
| stincts, they have revelled in the beau
ties of Switzerland and historic Italy,
scenes along the Rhine, and the beau
ties of the midnight sun of northern
Europe: but they have not realized
that Americas natural scenery far
surpasses anything across the seas.
On account of the war in Europe,
which offered only destruction on ev-
cry hand, many of our pleasure seek
ers, will, for the first time, compre-
bend the great beauties their own
country offers. The Panama EXPOSE
ton will naturally draw the attention
of the whole country to the west and
south, and. this will offer an excellent
opportunity to see the great sights of
our own continent. Just as the great
Americans show their foresightedness
in every great commercial and finan-
cial undertaking, just so must the
tourist show his, and see the great
wonders Of Niagara.
Standing on the brink of the preci-
pice at Prospect Point, and taking the
first good view of the falls, everyone
is impressed with their majestic bea1l-
ty and enormous power. One cannot
| comprehend the vastness of the
amount of water flowing over the
rocky ledge, but listen, the waters
seem to hesitate a moment before
they plunge down into the vast gulf.
Just SO, has the American nation for
years past, hesitated, before plunging
into the great national problems. De-
liberateness in decision stands out as
one Of the great characteristics of the
American people. Every great war
problem that has been fought, has not
| h0on 70 Oh Into
sity was at hand. But once begun,
no power of the world has been great
enough to stem the tide. Just as the
observer contemplates the immensely
of the volume of water, the great
depth of the chasm into which it
makes it's mad, though graceful
plunge, a mingled feeling of awe and
admiration takes possession of the be-
holder. Here one comprehends one
Of natures finest examples of power
and magnitude. The power of this
great water fall is equivalent to 200.
900 ton Of coal every twenty-four
hours, or between five and six million
horse power. Just so does the power
and magnitude of the American nation
present itself to the other nations OF
the world. What nation stands for
the greatest achievement of the engi.
neering world? Whose work is it,
that today, by narrow channel OF
water, can embrace and command the
commerce of the world?
The transformation that the Pana.
ma canal has made in the worlds
commerce seems almost incredible
when we think of this little narrow
channel of water; this great accom-.
plishment makes pause we'll worth
our time for reflection. Let us ask
the question, HAS the wonderful nat
ucal scenery of this country had its
effect in developing the characters
tics of it's people?" Just as the n.y.
draulic power of Niagara, has beer
transformed into electrical power, OF
which the engineering world does not
afford parallel, just so do we find on
this continent nation composed of a
cosmopolitan people, taken from all
the other nations of the world, which
has been transformed into a magnif1
cent power far surprising that Of
Rome. We must not linger in this at
mosphere of charm too long, for the
ever hurrying tourist wishes to feed
on other splendors of this great seen
ic beauty. To soul sensitive, to the
beautiful and sublime, have appealed
the great wonders of our nationa
parks. Here we find the brilliance Of