The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-08-14
OUR ALASKAN PARK
It Is CIassed as One Of Worlds
Colossal SpectacIes.
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY.
Mighty Mount Mckinley, Most Lofty Of
All Our country's Towering Peaks,
Crowns the Titanic Glory of the New
est of Uncle Sans Reservations.

Mighty Mount Mckinley, Most Lofty Of
All Our countrys 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
is one of the monster spectacles Of
the world To say that Mount McIIin-
ley rises 10000 feet above sea level and
that it is the Hottest peak in America
Is to convey no idea whatever of its
grandeur. There are several mountains
In the Himalayas 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
Kinley 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 2,200 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. Its southern plateau is o
perpetual winter Wilderness through
which glaciers Of great length and
enormous bulk dow 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 a 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.
| ut 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. 1.-The Piedmont plateau
that follows the range affords beau
tiful roadway direct to Mount McKin-
l III VII
all difficulties vanish and you see q
| view that is unique on this earth. You
see the huge mountain line of perpet-
uaI snow, rising like a great wall on
the southeast You can ride a pony to
where Mount Mckinley rises 1900
feet above you in glittering wall Of
snow and ice. It Is fianked by stu
pendOus mountains, which make won
derful 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 800 mountain sheep in o
| e1fcoIo dou ~ ordfDarxy travail ond khof
herds of caribou numbering from 1900
to 1900 are frequently seen.
As 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 a perpetual cen
ter of game supply for large neighbor-
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
recreational possessions. under which
| public interest in our national parks Is
| growing with unanticipated speed, and
! public realization, interest and prac-
teal use is the condition as well as the
object Of national parks development
Public patronage Of the parks has In
creased rapidly and steadily.
Cooperation In the public interest
has been promoted between railroads
and the government between conces-
sioners and park arrangements and be-
tween parks. Large private capital
has been induced to enter several ma
tional parks for the enlargement and
improvement Of hotel and transporta-
ton service. Prices to the public have
\ II.