The Bismarck tribune., 1921-02-01
BAD LANDS PARK
AS MEMORIAL TO
'T.R.' is URGED
Rep. Olsen Would Have Con
gress Take Over Billings
County
HAS PETRIFIED FOREST
Scenic Wonders Would Make
Place Beautiful Spot for
Park, 1t Is Said
HAS PETRIFIED FOREST

The senate was to receive today {
concurrent resolution adopted by tn:
house of representative late yester
day petitioning congress to purchase
section of the Bad Lands in Bill
ings county containing petritiet
forest, to be named Roosevelt Ma
tional park.
The resolution was introduced BY
Representative Carl B. Olsen, OF Bill.
lings county.
The house also has Eefore it a bill
introduced by Paul johnson ana Wal
ter Maddox to appropriate $500 and
name commission to investigate the
proposed park and report to the pub
lic and to the national congress on
The feasibility of GREETING Il national
park
Describes Territory.
l. The resolution OF Representative
Olsen describing the area says:
First, That there is in the wester
part of this state, lying within tne
boundaries of Billings county, nea1
the town Of Medora, wonderful pet
rified forest, consisting of thousands
of petrified stumps ranging in size
up to and 10 feet high and as much
as IA feet in diameter. This prehis.
toric forest, appearing in certain
stratum of soil is apparently in its
original position, large number OF
the stumps being, erect while others
are PROSTATE, due to the action OF
the elements in wearing away the
soil on which this forest grew, Will:
others appear as huge mushrooms on
pedestals Of firmer soil. That there
is to be found among those petri-
fled stumps the fossil leaves"of these
once giant trees. These fossils OF
pctrified trees are found in the great
est profusion on four sections ot
land. =
Second: That the surrounding
country is wonderful and pictur-
esque section of Bad Lands along the
Little Missouri river, being a distinct
type Of country, very interesting and
alluring to tourists and sightseers
and of great scientific value.
Third: That there are Sgroves OF
pines and quaking aspens which are
found almost nowhere else within,
the state of North Dakota. Cedars
ash, cottonwood, box elders, cherries
plums and berry trees abound in the
hills and in the draws and canyons
and along the Little Missouri river
T. r. Rode Over II.
Fourth: That our late presiden:
Theodore Roosevelt, loved this coun.
try and made it his home and that
his cattle ranged over every section
Of this country while he was engaged
in the stock business in Billings
county, North Dakota.
Fifth: That this is the natura
home Of deer, elk, antelope and buf
Ialo and that there is now consid
cradle number of deer living on this
tract Of land. Bald and Golden
eagles are plentiful.
The land is described in the reso
luton. 1t includes the Roosevelt
range and less than five percent Of
the land is said to be susceptible tC
cultivation.
Although the southern border of the
proposed park is located on the North.
ern Pacific railroad and the Ret
Trail, it is nearly inaccessible under
the more convenient modes of traye
and a large part of it is only accessi
BILE with saddle horses. Due to this
fact, it is stated, the scenic and sci.
entific wonders of this region are al.
most wholly unknown except locally
Ideal Camping Ground.
There are said to be artesian wells
and natural fresh water springs a,
various points on this track which
make possible the most delightful an!
ideal camping grounds:
Representative Olsen's resolution
urges that congress take over this
land, and would have the secretary
Continued on Page 81