Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-03
NATIONAL PARK
PLAN IS REVIVED
1T is BELIEVED THAT BURNING
OF THE OLD HOTEL HAS RE.
to MOVED THE OBJECTIONS
no HOSIERY THERE At PRESENT
Priced Records Of 100 Years Lost
=. in Firs--Rsiiroad Ready to
.kF. Turn Over Land.

Louisville, Ky.-The passing OF the
century old hotel AT Mammoth Cave
is believed TO open the way for the
realization OF the dream. long cher
ished b, the people OF Kentucky. 10
have the Federal Government take
over the property and convert II into
q national park.
A movement TO this end was started
by Representative r. y. Thomas OF
that district, but. owing to obstacles
placed in the way by Judge Albeit ).
Jsnir. one of the three heirs owning
the property. who conducted the
hotel, the proposal was dropped. The
destruction OF the hotel leaves the
place without suitable Accommodations
for visitors, as the only building
standing is modern four-room bun
galow. and the assumption Is that tho
heirs will not consider the recon
struction OF The hotel. Guests are be
in. accommodated in the bungalow
and the neighboring Cottages.
The hotel and cave registers, which
were highly priced. were lost. One OF
these registers was more than lo0
years old. Among the names OF mo-
tables contained in some OF the reg
listers were those OF King Edward OF
England, Jenny Lind. Edwin Booth.
the Grand Duke Alexis Of Russia and
Dom Pedro OF Brazil.
The hotel was built TO accommodate
men who We're working in the salt
peter mines In the cave. These mines
were opened in 1871 and saItpeter de
rived from them was the main source
OF this material for the powder mills
which supplied the powder for the
war Of 1872. The mines were discOn-
tinued about 1920. but the wooden
conduits used in supplying water to
them are still in place In some parts
at the cave, as are also the watts used
in the process Of preparing the salt
peter.
Mammoth Cave IL about 40 miles on
OF the main line OF the Louisville u
Nashville Railroad and Is reached by
means Of q private-owned railroad,
and the very isolation OF the place
has shielded it from changes. A visit
there was like stepping back into the
days before he war.
For one standing before the old
hotel and looking al the "0x-mObile"
used to carry visitors, it required lit.
tie effort of the imagination to call w
the scenes OF the grandfathers. Many
held a sentimental, attachment for
the place because Of the memories as
ISOLATED with visits to the cave. For
many of the older residents OF the
State Mammoth Cave was the scene
Of their bridal trip" as IL was u
favorite place for spending honey
moon when travel was more difficult
than II is today.
Adjacent to Mammoth Cave and ad-
joining ii at certain underground
puiHta Is tolosSol NdNCiH, Wv Ca al"
conducted by Louisville a. Nashville
Railroad Co., which also owns about
$4,000 acres OF land rights about the
cavern. In many respects Colossal
Cavern is more wonderful than Mann
moth Cave. Ii was discovered in 1898
and during the past few years there
Ia
moth Cave 1t has not been fully ex-
plored. The Louisville d Nashville
Co. is ready TO turn its holdings over
TO The Government and to construct II
fine hotel and institute other accom-
modatIons, II ownership OF Mammoth
Cave is transferred.