Vernon Parish Democrat., 1919-11-15

can people the WealCn1eSt possession held Dy any
nation in the world. Mineral, agriculture, fish
ment. 1t is the golden land Of promise for the
coming generation. All they want is your help.
Come and help them Let us have 250,O00 people
in Alaska.
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 a
surrounding area of 2,200 square miles, is now
Mount Mckinley National park. The government
railroad runs close to one corner Of the peak and
will make it accessible.
Mount Mckinley National park lies approx
mately in the center Of Alaska in the midst of
the vast wilderness to the south Of the Yukon and
to the west of the Tanana. Here the Alaskan
range, which forms a line OF snOw-capped sum
mts 200 miles long, eliminates in several gigantic
peaks the highest Of which-Mount Mckinley
towering 10000 feet is the highest mountain in
the world above the line of perpetual snow, and
one of the most impressive mountains OF the
earth. Seen from an altitude Of 1900 feet Mount
Mckinley is stupendous; travellers say that there
is nothing like It, even among the higher Andes or
Himaayas.
The park area is in scenic keeping with forests,
glaciers lakes streams and lofty peaks. So from
q scenic viewpoint the new Mckinley National
park takes place in the front rank Of our IL ma
tional parks.
Mount Mckinley is a natural big game refuge.
II is the fOuntain-head of the big game supply
south of the Yukon and west of the Tanana. 1t Is
the center Of q region where big game abounds.
Here can still be 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 bighorns
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 are
closing in The white mans civilization is draw
ing near Already sledloads Of wild game reach
tbe Fairbanks market. With the completion of
fhe government railroad New York will be but
three weeks away. Our national expansion has
always carried with it evils as well as good
Fires have swept away forests; dynamite and
Altb have killed off the fish; leaden hail has
exterminated the wild life. Remember the buff
falo"
When this day comes the big game of the region
will naturally gravit8te to Mount Mckinley And
there it will find sanctuary in the national park
So aside from its scenic magnihcence the creation
of Mount Mckinley National park is we'll worth
while as a game preserve.
On the other hand, so remote is this vast wilder
ness that the act contains concession to the pros
hector and the miner in the matter of killing
eame for food. The act establishes the park as 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 NAV
take and kill there so much game or birds as NAV
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 or removal therefrom
or wantOnly."
1t is obvious that inasmuch as the passing OF the
mark modify affect fha unfnora1
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.