White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-27

10 Lehman cave DdhtT, III THIS
county is Il subject which has re-
eelved some attention of late, and
when the facts are considered inter-
est in the matter appears TO grow
rapidly in the minds of those who
give 1t more than passing thought
In the late spring or early summer
of this year e. G. Boak of Tonopah
visited the wondrous cave and i'm
mediately became attracted by its
great natural advantages. He filed a
petition with the government park
service at Washington and drew the
matter to the attention of the repre-
sentatives from this state in the na-
fional congress. His petition was re-
ferred TO the forest service by letter
of October 2S by reason of the fact
that the lands embraced come within
the Nevada national forest and the
administration OF such lands would
hall upon the forest service, through
the jurisdiction of the secretary of
agriculture.
Mr. Boak in his petition requested
that an area of three miles square
surrounding the entrance 10 the cave
be set aside by the federal authori-
ties. Through the regular channel
the matter was referred TO the office
of the district forester at Ogden and
then to Alexander Mcqueen. super
visor of the Nevada national forest
with headquarters at Ely. The local
official, after a thorough investigation
of the matter. by letter of November
10 submitted his report 10 the dis
trict office at Ogden. with the recon-
mendation that a national monument
be established. embracing an area of
one mile square at the entrance To
the cave.
The reasons set forth by Supervisor
Mcqueen IN recommending that the
area be limited TO one mile instead OF
three were that a limit of one mile
would undoubtedly answer all pur-
poses for the present. at least; that
10 set aside so large an area as three
miles would be taking in land that
would he of no real value as a ma
1ional monument and would perhaps
encroach upon ground otherwise val
liable. The one-mle limit would not
lake in any grazing ground OF value.
while an area three miles square
would take In at least two estab-
lished mining claims.
The act of congress OF June s,
1906. under which II Is sought to es.
rablish the national monument. pro-
yIhdrawn for the preservation of all
Antiquities or other features of sci
entific value. and II further provides
a penalty for defacing or destroying
any OF the features of the monument,
as well as the issuance of permits for
the removal of any of the features for
he benefit of educational institutions.
The possibilities of development at
the Lehman cave are said by those In
position TO know TO be wonderful
Many who have visited this splendid
gife OF nature in White Pine county
after having visited the world-famous
Mammoth cave OF Kentucky have
made the statement that while Leh-
man cave may not be quite so large
as the Mammoth cave. in scenic beau
" II far exoels II. While many have
visited Lehman cave and explored IL
for considerable distance. the ac-
tual extent of IL remains TO be de-
termined. Al. so far known is that
the entrance ls in the eastern part of
White Pine county, in the Snake
range of mountains, whore it presents
features OF such extraordinary beauty
as to cause visitors 10 stand in Won
drous amazement. and Just where II
extends To no one knows.
There are forty-six acres of pat
ented land within six rods OF the en-
trance To the cave. On this patented
area there are approximately 100
growing fruit trees and five or six
acres under cultivation. water for ir-
rigation and domestic purposes being
carried by ditch from Lehman creek.
In the immediate vicinity trout fish-
ing Is abundant aud II this delightful
spot could be brought to the atien-
zion of the travelling public 1t would
..kttract tourists from all over the
world.
The benefit of tourist travel was
made apparent in this district during
the last summer and this travel could
be enormously increased by the es-
tablishmert of q national monument
In White Pine county. The trip from
Ely to the cave by the ordinary auto
mobile can be made In about three
hours over good roads. During the
last season, under the direction OF
the forest service. q road was con-
structed from the boundary line
across the land within the Nevada
national forest to the entrance OF the
cave. at a cost of about 5 900. To
this White Pine county and the pub
ic-spirited citizens residing In and
about Baker added about 5000,
which was expended in road work to
the national forest boundary line.
Since the construction OF this road
any automobile can now run right to
the entrance of the cave In interme-
diate gear. The cost to the county
mas been negligible. Under the forest
regulations 10 per cent of all moneys
received from grazing permits, sales
OF timber and special uses of the land
set aside In a fund to be used for
the construction OF roads and trails
within the forest. Last year Super
visor Mcqueen succeeded In getting
: good share Of this money. which
made the construction of the cave
road possible.
When all features are considered
.ne matter should he OF great interes,
70 every citizen who has the welfare
ot this section at heart.
As matter OF public record about
bZ,U0D waa nronuraI Iaat uaar f~~ -