The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-07-24
OUR ALASKAN PARK
It Is CIassed as One Of Worlds
Colossal SpeCtaCIes.
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY.

s;ghty Mount Mckinley, Most Lofty CT
All Our country's Towering Peaks,
Crowns the Titanic Glory Of the New
est of Uncle Sans Reservations.
The national park in Alaska which
congress created in the spring Of 1917
l. one of the monster spectacles Of
the world. To say that Mount MeKin-
ley rises 10000 Feet above sea level and
that it is the loftiest peak in America
IL to convey no idea whatever of It's
grandeur. There are several mountains
In the Himalayas which materially ex-
coed its height, one which rises more
than 25.C00 feet above sea level, ana
yet Mount Mckinley to the observer IL
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 Me
Klnley rises abruptly from valleys
1900 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 1900 feet Of which are covered
with perpetual snow.
This enormous mass is the climax of
the great Alaskan range which extends
roughly cast and west across southeast
ccutrnl 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 Il
mouth. .sn.
Tho reservation contains goo square
miles Its northern slopes, which over
look the Tanana watershed with its
gold mining industry, are broad val
legs inhabited by enormous herds of
caribou. Its southern plateau Is a
| 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 titanic scale.
| From the stormy south Mount Me
Elnley is wholly inaccessible. But
from the plains Of tie north valleys Of
easy grade lead one from another 10
| is foot.
at Is an awe inspiring region OF mas
sive mountains and ice capped peaks"
Brlmore Browne Of the Campfire club
testified before the senate committee
ON territories ''1he Piedmont plateau
that follows the range affords a bean.
uful roadway direct TO Mount McKin.
lev, and when you reach the plateau
all difficulties vanish and you see a
view that Is unique OH this earth. You
see the huge mountain line of perpet-
ual snow, rising like great wall on
the southeast You can ride u pony to
where Mount Mckinley rises l7O00
feet above you In a glittering wall Of
snow and lee. 1t Is thanked by stu
pchdous mountains. which make Won
derful setting for the monster.
North of the vast mountain, however.
is 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 nd
vance of the invasion Of hunters which
| tIn now ,,nVoru ont roilpnad will httn 20
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 a
single day of=aEdlnay travel and thai
herds ofGaEhdA numbering from /. 2oC
to 1900 are frequently seen.
As a game refuge and breeding
ground the new National park con
serves Alaskan game which elsewher,
Is rapidly disappearing. AS in the Gus,
Of the Yellowstone National park. til,
reservation serves as Il perpetual cen
ter OF game supply for large neighbor
Ing areas.
These animals do not greatly feal
} man. BECAUSE they have never beer
hunted One can approach the grea
herds Of caribou. There are also many
Alaskan bear of great size.
An extensive educational campaign
has been lnauguratod 10y the depart
ment Of the interior for the informa
/, ton of the people concerning the hith
erto unknown quality and extent o
our national parks, OF their scenic an,