The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-07-27
OUR ALASKAN PARK
1t Is Classed as One Of Worlds
Colossal SpectacIes.
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY
Mighty Mount Mckinley, Most Lofty Of
All Our country's Towering Peaks,
Crowns tho Titanic Glory Of the New.
est Of Uncle Sans Reservations.

congress created In the spring Of 1917
Is one Of the monster spectacles OF
the world. TO say that Mount Mckin-
ley rises 10000 feet above sea level and
that it Is the lOtticst peak In America
IL TO convey no idea whatever Of its
grandeur. There are several mountains
In the Himalayas which materially ex.
ceed It's height, one which rises more
than 5000 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
kinney rises abruptly from valleys
5000 feet and even less in altitude.
The visitor to the Mount Mckinley
National park will look up more than
per 1900 feet Of which are covered
T 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 900 square
miles Its northern slopes, which over
look the Tanana watershed with its
gold mining industry are broad val
laU- itlllp n Iita1 hp Inp1c nP
( caribou. Its southern plateau is a
I perpetual winter wilderness through
which glaciers of great length and
enormous bulk flow into the valleys OF
the south. In tLis 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 Nc
kinlcy 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 inspiring region of mas.
sive mountains and ice capped peaks
Belmore Browne of the Campfire club
testified before the senate committee
on territories. The Piedmont platear
( that follows the range affords Il beau
tiful roadway direct to Mount McKin
I ley, and when you reach the plateau
f, all difficulties vanish and you see 6
p, 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 pony to
where Mount Mckinley rises 1900
feet above you in II glittering wall OF
snow and ice. 1t is flanked by stu.
pendous 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 ad.
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 ant
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 tina
herds of caribou numbering from 10,
to 800 are frequently seen.
AS n game refuge and breeding
ground the new National park con
serves Alaskan game which elsewhere
is rapidly disappearing. AS in the cas-
of the Yellowstone National park, th
reservation serves as a perpetual cen
ter of game supply for large neighbor
ing areas.
These animals do not greatly fea
man, because they have never beel
hunted. One can approach the grea
herds of caribou. There are also man.
Alaskan bear of great size.
An extensive educational campaign
has been inaugurated by the depart
ment of the interior for the informa
tion of the people concerning the hith
erto unknown quality and extent o
our national parks, of their scenic ant
recreational possessions. under whicl
public interest in our national parks Il
growing with unanticipated speed, an(
public realization, interest and prac
tical use is the condition as we'll as tn,
object of national parks development
Public patronage of the parks has in
! creased rapidly and steadily.
Cooperation in the public interes
has been promoted between railroads
and the government, between conces
sioners and park managements and be
tween parks. Large private capita
has been induced to enter several ma
tional parks for the enlargement ant
improvement of hotel and transporta
ton service. Prices to the public hav,
been decreased wherever possible.
Boudoir Gardening.
How is your wife making out witt
those onions she is raising in flower