The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-11-06

can people the wealthiest possession held by any
nation in the world. Mineral. agriculture fish,
cries. stock raisng-every ything for future develop
ment. 1t is the golden land of promise for the
coming generation. All they want Is your help.
Come and help them. Let have 250OOO people
In Aaska.
None Of the speakers mentioned Mount Nc
Kinley 1t will be noted that the small map sug-
gesting the general course Of the Alaskan railroad
shows Mount Mckinley. This great peak. with q
surrounding area Of 2.2OO square miles. II now
Mount Mckinley National park. The government
railroad runs close to one corner of the peak and
will make 1t accessible.
Mount Mckinley National park lies approxi-
matsly In the center Of Alaska. In the midst Of
the vast wilderness to the south Of the Yueoo and
to the west Of the Tauana. Here the Alaskan
range. which forms . line of dhew-capped sum
mts 200 miles long, eliminates in several gigantic
peaks the highest Of which-MOunt Mckinley
towering 2O,SOO feet, 10 the highest mountain In
the world above the line Of perpetual snow. and
one Of the most impressive mountains OF the
earth Seen from altitude OF 1,6OO fest, Mount
Mckinley is stupendous; travellers say that there
is nothing like 1t, even among the higher Andes or
Himalayas.
The park area Is in scenic keeping with forests.
glaciers lakes streams and lofty peaks. So from
= scenic viewpoint the new Mckinley National
mark takes place In the front rank OF our II ma
tional parks.
Mount Mckinley is natural big game refuge.
If IA the fountain head of the big game supply
south Of the Yukon and west of the Tanana. 1t u
, the center of q region where big game abounds.
Here still he seen the Wild game living In
security, protected by the remoteness and rugged
ness Of the region. Great moose stalk through the
valleys about timber line. Herds of caribou feed
on the mOss-covered hills. Bands Of blghOrns
browse on the high mountain slopes. The grizzly.
monarch of the American wilderness, gives the
crowning touch to this picture Of a wild game
paradise.
But already Is this big game paradise menaced.
The prospector, miner and market hunter
closing in. The white mans civilization is draw
ing near Already sledoads of wild game reach
the Fairbanks market With the completion Of
the government railroad New York will be but
three weeks away Our national expansion has
always carried with It evils well good.
Fires have swept away forests; dynamite and
flth have killed of the fish; leaden hail has
,exterminated the wild life. Remember the buf-
falo!"
When this day comes the big game Of the region
will naturally gravitate to Mount Mckinley. And
there 1t will find sanctuary In the national park.
So aside from its scenic magnifcence the creation
of Mount Mckinley National park is well worth
while as a game preserve.
On the other hand. so remote is this vast wilder
ness that the act contains concession the pros
hector and the miner in the matter of killing
game for food The act establishes the park az a
game refuge and provides heavy punishment for
the killing of game. There is, however. this pro-
viso:
"Provided That prospectors and miners en-.
Gagged in prospecting mining in said park may
take and kill there so much game birds as may
be needed for their actual necessities when short
of food: but in no case shall animals or birds be
killed in said park for sale removal therefrom
or wentonly."
1t is obvious that inasmuch as the passing of the
park act does not modify affect the mineral apd
laws now applicable to the area and hence does
not exclude prospectors and miners It would not
do to prohibit the killing Of game for food by them
in case Of necessity.