Arizona republican., 1921-04-05
AN ALASKAN PARK

the most valuable ones from the standpoint of food supply are the mountain sheep, or bighorn, the moose and the caribou. The moun- tain shep, which is elsewhere rare animal, here exists in great numbers. The caribou rang ein enormous herds that are so tame they trot alongside the pack trains that enter the coun- try, fascinated by the curious spec tacle. Moose are found on the lower slopes in great abundance. There are many bears and abundant small game.
 All of this is on the northern slope for the southern side is almost devoid of life. This curious state of affairs
 is caused by the fact that the north
 ern slope of the great mountain is warmer by winds blowing off the Japanese current. As a result it has warm summer. In winter the ther-
 mometer sometimes drops far below
 zero, but the snow is not very deep nor the climate difficult to endure. We are accustomed to think winter | there is cold, said Charles Selden
 who spent whole year alone on | Mount Mckinley. Winter is the
 most delightful season of the year ] He went on to say that he did not suffer from the cold even on the cold | est days. and that he wore no more
 clothing than he would have in winter | in the Adirondack mountains. Win | ter, he says. is the best time for trav- cling over the mountain because then
 the ground is frozen and the footing l is good. In the summer there are
 many bogs and marches.
 Qualifications as a Park Site This northern slope is described as
 one of the most beautiful regions in | the world, rich i'll animal life. full of
 wild flowers. healthful all the year
 round. The southern slope is a vast l rock slide where almost nothing can
 live, covered in winter with snow which sometimes reaches a depth of 50 feet
 Mount Mckinley is said by those who have. seen it to be the most spec tavular peak in the world. It rises in | a great dome, crowned with glittering 2 ice and snow, to an elevation of 17,OOO
 feet, and is flanked by smaller noun
 tains 14,000 to 15.000 feet high. A few
 hunters and a few prospectors. most
 of whom work on placer gold de-
 posits. are the only human beings in
 the vast wilderness. Although 1t is
 rich in minerals it is said that no mining industries have yet been es- tablished within the park boundaries
 The establishment of the park will
 not in any way interefere with min ing and prospecting. It will, how
 ever prevent private individuals from getting hold of the land and controll- , ing it. It means that this region vii l be free to all Americans for all time
 This freedom is perhaps the great
 est boon which is conferred by oui f whole system of national parks auo , forests and it is one that will be ap- f preciated more and more as time zoe: on. The pity is that national park: 1 and florists were not also established I in the East before all of it's wild land' l fell into private hands. There are , of course a few state and nationa :. parks in the East but not nearl! @ enough
 0 Reasons for Park Reservation t These national parks and forests II : the West mean that there are grea ,. areas of beautiful country which vii a never be devastated, and where an. : man may roam, hunt. fish, camp O e build his own cabin. What this i
 worth in health and pleasure tn = people of the Rocky Mountain State t well know. What is equally import t ant, though perhaps not so general, = recognized, is the mental value O t physical freedom. A man who ha