Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-26
The Monster Of meant.lns.
Mt. M'KINLxY, DUB NEWEST NATIONAL
PARK, AN AMAZING SPECTACLE.

| Congress created last spring 10 one OF sns
monster spectacles of tho world. To say
that 1t rises 20, 800 feet above sea leve
and that It 10 the loftiest peak 10 Americi
10 to convey no idea whatever of Its gran
deur. There are several mountains In
the Himalayas which materially exec cd
lts height, ono which rises moro than
q, 900 feet above sea level; and yei
Mount Mckinley, to the observer, Ii
loitier than any Of these.
/ The reason 10 that the greatest Him.
alayas are seen from valleys seven to ter
thousand feet In altitude. while Mount
Mckinley rises ABRUPTLY from valleys
three thousand feet aud even less in alti.
tude. The visitor to the Mount McKin
Icy National Park will look up more than
seventeen thousand feet to the double
peak, the upper fourteen thousand feet
of which are covered with perpetual snow.
This enormous mass is the climax OF
the great Alaskan Range which extends
roughly east and vest across southeast
central Alaska, separating the vast north;
ern inland from the more populated
country whose shores are the Gulf Of
Alaska. The range parallels the mighty
Yukon many miles to its south.
TITANIC ALPINE SCENERY.
The reservation contains 1900 square
miles. It's northern slopes, which over.
look the Tanana watershed with it's gold
mining industry, are broad valleys in
habited by enormous herds of caribou.
It's southern plateau 10 . perpetual
winter wilderness through which glaciers
of great length aud enormous bulk flow
into the valleys Of the south. In this
national park, which tho railroad now
building by Government into the Alaskap
interior will open presently to the public,
America possesses Alpine scenery upon
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.
''It is an awe-ipspiring region of mas
sive mountains and ice-capped peaks, "
Belmore Browne of the Camp Fire Club
testified before the Senate Committee on
Territories. 1.-THE Piedmont Plateau
that follows the range affords beautiful
roadway direct to Mount Mckinley, and
when you reach the plateau all difficulties
vanish and you see view that is unique
on this earth. You see the huge noun
tain limo of perpetual snow, rising like
great wall on the southeast. You can
ride pony to where Mount Mckinley
rises seventeen thousand feet above you
In glittering wall Of snow and Ice. 1t
is flanked by stupendous mountains
which make . wonderful setting for the
monster"
ENORMOUS HERDS OF CARIBOU
North of the vast mountain, however,
is rolling country dotted with beauNful
lakes and forests and Inhabited by enor.
nous 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 advance of the invasion of
hunters which the new Government rail.
road will bring into Alaska, the road as
projected running within twenty miles
Of this greatest of natures spectacles.
Charles Sheldon, of the Boone and
Crockett Club. told the Senate committee
that several times be has counted as
many as FIVE hundred mountain sheep 10
single day of ordinary travel, and that
herds of caribou numbering from twelve
to fifteen hundred are frequently seen.
As q game refuge and breeding ground,
the new National Park conserves Alaskan
game which elsewhere Is rapidly dis
appearing. As in the case of the Yellow.
stone National Park, the reservation
serves as perpetual center of game sup
ply for large neighboring 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.