Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-10-21


national park is now pending in the
House of Representative INTRODUCED
by Addison +. Smith, and a similar
bin has beenintroduced in the Senate
by Senator Borah. The Secretary OF
the interior has made a very strong
report in faVorof the legislation, and
it is quite probable the bill will be
enacted at thy next session. The
women's clubs of Idaho took the
initiative in the matter of estab'
fishing the park, and it is due to
their persistent efforts that it has
progress thus far Much credit is
due to Mrs. Jean Comfy Smith, of
Boise, who started the movement and
has been untiring in working for its
advancement.
The SaWtooth mountains of south
central Idaho have scenery of such
Alpine grandeur and wild magnifi-
cence that a movement has been
started to have the region made a
national park. People who have al
ready been fortunate enough to visit
these mountains have Immediately
become enthusiasts in the campaign
for the park, They have been fas-
cinated and charmed, and have le1t
with regret and with an insistent de-
sire to return.
The Indians called Idaho THE
Gem of the Mountains" In the
chaos of peaks, some rise to an
altitude of twelve or thirteen thou
sand feet above the sea. Many are
unnamed and nscaled-mighty monu-
ments in an enchanted land. Here
one feels the lure of the wilderness
and the spell-weaying vastness of the
great outdoors.
At the foot OF towering peaks
nestle scores of sparkling alpine lakes
with beautiful fOrCsted shores of pine
spruce and fir-each with a distinct
charm of it's own Combined with
these are waterfalls and streams OF
great beauty. Rugged precipitous
mountains, deep canyons great up
land meadows, and the absence of in
tervening foothills mark the region as
one where visitors can spend sunny
days and moonlight nights of perfect
delight.
Most of the lakes are of glacial
origin. They are deep and vary in
size from one to hundred acres
From a single peak the visitor can
count nearly score of these noun
tain jewels i'm their wild and pic
turesque Alpine setting.
Alturas Lake is at the south end
of the group and is one of the most
popular. 1t is noted for its good fish
ing, fine camping grounds, and sandy
bathing beach.
Petit Lake is another beautiful
spot The peaks at its head rise
above ten thousand feet, and the
shores are deeply forested.
Columbian Lake was named in
honor of the Wom,r's Columbian
C ub of Bois, This cIuh was leader
in the movement to make he esion
a national park Since then all the
women's clubs of Idaho nayh taken
up the campaign.
Near the middle of the par region
lies Big Reddish Lake, the largest and
one of the most visited of the chain
of lakes. It's shores are heavily TIM
bered and the lake is of great
beauty.
Stanley Lake, the most northern of
the group is located on Stanley Creek
During the day it is often like a
sheet of glass, but at might the roll
ing surf beats it's wild and lovely
shores. Wild Alpine scenery ex-
tends away to the west, while to the
south is the vast green glory on sllm
lodge pole pines and pointed Engel-
mann spruces that grow down to the
waters edge.
Among the many rugged and dis
tinctive peaks of the region Fenn s
Peak is one of the most prominent
SO far as is known, the summit has
never been reached Another peak or
great individuality is Stanley Noun
tain. This was favorite haunt of
big game and was formerly called
Goat Mountain because of the number
of mountain goats which ranged
there A magnificent view of the SUR
rounding country may be had from its
summit.
1t is evident from casual examina-
ton of the geological formations that