The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-09-02
,oETRv AND RHETORIC Run RIOT

from the bright, red-cOiOTed SdHu-
stone formation of the bluffs along
the Colorado River throughout a
large portion of its length and also
from the very reddish color Of the
water Of the stream after heavy rains
and cIoudbursts among the red sand
stone hills, which gives the water of
the stream very reddish appear
ance, often for weeks at a time.
AS you all know. the Colorado
River Is by far the most picturesque,
scenic, unique, marvellous. and fam
Gus river in the world It is the Nile
of America Travellers from every
nation Of the earth visit the stream,
especially the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado, every year; and there are,
presume, hundred volumes writ
ten about it. But no tongue or pen
can ever adequately describe the sub
lime and awe-inspiring grandeur of
the Grand Canyon Of the Colorado.
L
in the Rocky Mountain National Park
in Colorado to the Gulf Of California, is
the greatest natural museum and liv-
ing laboratory In the world. 1t wildly
presents the most varied, realistic,
sublime, and awe-inspiring example Of
the workings of nature, which Secre-
tary Lane says, Tells the history of
the making of the continent, where
the primal forces may yet be seen in
action.
What state would not be proud to
bear the name of Colorado and have.
its largest river bear the same name?
No wonder the friends of the then
proposed territory of Arizona tried
in congress TO take the name from US
and give it to that territory. No won,
der the United States senate so years
ago approved the sentiment that it
was the handsomest name that could
be given to any territory or state.
liz 1OIOidu hltSI lids uO rival III
the world. 1t is the giant of the Rock
les. 1t bears message from the pre-
historic past. The entire river is
marvel Of rcagic and mystery. All
nations will some day make their pill
grimage 70 the sublimest marvel OF
natures revelation on this planet, as
shown in the Grand Canyon of the
Colorado. 1t is a weird, fascinating,
moving, imperial tragedy Of nature.
It certainly is the waterway Of the
gods, and that canyon is the Titan
of chasm. Incomparably the gratest
abyss on earth. It is the subIimest
vision ever offered to the huraan eye.
The wonder that dwarfs all other
wonders of the world. That canyon
itself is the most instructive exposi-
ton of geology in the world. Verify
here nature hath done her xuttermost.
1t has been pronounced the greatest
thing on earth, in heigth and depth.
and in wonderfulness of shapes and
cOlors. The reason its water in the
lower portion of the river is always
muddy is because it has washed down
that canyon Ii miles wide and 5000
feet deep and 217 miles long. 1t is the
muddiest stream ever saw down near
its mouth. The river carries solid
cubic mile Of rock everyl century. be-
sides world Of surface soil and vege-
table matter
Water is the master sculptor of the
world and sand is the effective work
ing tool of nature in our mountain
The waters >of a hundred roaring
rivers unite to form the
Colorado River That river falls
$4,000 feet from its source on the
backbone of this continent, and as it
dashes down to the sea its waters are
always ladened with rock, sand. and
other debris, which for millions Of
years has been constantly cutting
deeper and deeper into the rocks
through which it runs until their sides
are now towering cliffs Of solid rock.
Biologists tell US that it has re-
CURED 100000 years to form the |
Grand Canyon Of the Colorado, and
that during all that time this earth
has been inhabitated by man. a de-
scription Of the origin of the Grand
Canyon and the geological workings
Of the Colorado River from the top Of
this hemisphere to the Gulf of Cali
fornia reads like a weird, gigantic.
and superhurnan fairy tale.
The whole mass of the Alps Noun /
tains could be put into the 500 miles /
i this abysmal chasm Of the Colorado /
River without filing it up.
Ii is q CRYING shame that 49,