The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-08-09
Jour ALASKAN PARK
It Is CIassed as One of Worlds
Colossal Spectacles.
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY.

The national park in Alaska which
congress created in the spring Of 1917
II one of the monster spectacles Of
the world. To say that Mount McKis-
ley rises 10000 feet above sea level and
that it Is the loftiest peak In America
is to convey no idea whatever of rs
grandeur. There are several mountains
In the Himaayas which materially ex-
coed it's height, one which rises more
than $4,000 feet above sea level, and
yet Mount Mckinley to the observer is
loftier than any of these.
The reason Is that the greatest Him
alayas are seen from valleys 1000 to
10000 feet in altitude while Mount Nc
K;nley rises abruptly from valleys
5000 feet and even less in altitude.
| The visitor to the Mount Mckinley
| National park will look up more than
| 1900 feet to the double peak, the up
per $4,000 feet Of which are covered
with perpetual snow.
| This enormous mass is the climax Of
the great Alaskan range which extends
| roughly east and west across southeast
| central Alaska, separating the vast
| northern inland from the more pOpu-
lated country whose shores are the
| gulf Of Alaska. The range parallels
the mighty Yukon many miles to its
mouth.
The reservation contains 1900 square
| miles, It's northern slopes, which over
! look the Tanana watershed with its
| gold mining Industry, are broad val
leys inhabited by enormous herds Of
caribou. It's southern plateau is II
| perpetual winter wilderness through
which glaciers of great length and
enormous bulk flow into the valleys Of
the south. In this National park which
the railroad now building by govern
ment into the Alaskan interior will
open to the public, America possesses
Alpine scenery upon Il titanic scale.
From the stormy south Mount Nc
kinley is wholly inaccessible. But
from the plains OF the north valleys of
easy grade lead one from another to
its foot. r., a,,y -,. -....
ct is an awe inspiring region of mas
sive mountains and ice capped peaks"
Belmore Browne oftthe Campfire club
testified before thee senate committee
on territories 1.-THE Piedmont plateau
that follows the range affords q beau
tiful roadway direct to Mount McKin-
ley, and when you reach the plateau
all difficulties vanish and you see a,
view that is unique on this earth. You
see the huge mountain line of perpet-
ual snow. rising like a great wall on
the southeast You can ride pony 70
where Mount Mckinley rises 1900
feet above you in glittering wall Of
snow and ice. 1t IS fanked by stu
pendous mountains, which make won
derfu setting for the monster.
North Of the vast mountain, however,
is a rolling country dotted with BEAU
tiful lakes and forests and inhabited
by enormous herds of caribou. In fact,
the special reason why congress set
apart the region at this time was to
conserve the wild animal life in I'D
vance of the invasion Of hunters which
the new government railroad will bring
into Alaska, the road as projected run
ming within twenty miles of this great
est of natures spectacles.
Charles Sheldon Of the Boone and
Crockett club told the senate commit
tee that several times he has counted
as many as 500 mountain sheep in
single day of ordinary travel and that
herds of caribou numbering from 1890
to 800 are frequently seen.
AS a game refuge and breeding
ground the new National park con-
serves Alaskan game which elsewhere
is rapidly disappearing. AS in the case
of the Yellowstone National park, the
reservation serves as perpetual cen
ter of game supply for large ueighbor-
ing areas.
These animals do not greatly fear
man. because they have never been
hunted. One can approach the great
herds of caribou. There are also many
Alaskan bear of great size.
An extensive educational campaign
has been inaugurated by the depart
ment of the interior for the infOrma-
ton Of the people concerning the hith-
erto unknown quality and extent of
our national parks, OF their scenic and
public interest in our national parks is
growing with unanticipated speed and
public realiZati ton. interest and prae-
| teal use is the condition as well as the
object of national parks development.
Public patronage of the parks has m
creased rapidly and steadily.
! Cooperation in the public interest
ha, u Il
! AID the government. between conces-
sioners and park arrangements and be-
tween parks. Large private capital
has been induced to enter several ma
| fOnal parks for the enlargement and
improvement of hotel and Transports
| tien service. Prices TO the public have.
been decreased wherever possible
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Boudoir Gardening.