The Colorado statesman., 1922-03-04

Smoot saws it is a wonderland" 1t is indeed-a
land of scenic beauties, of geological marvels, OF
strange contrasts, of romantic history.
The High plateau of Utah is divided by canyons
into nine distinct plateaus which drop the surface
in successive cliffs from nearly the summit-level
of the Wasatch mountains to the desert out OF
which rises the Kaibab plateau. These cliffs ex-
pose In turn strata representing many millions
of years of world-buidng. They curve and twist
In fantastic outlines. They take every possible
erosional form They literally run the gamut of
color and shade and tint.
There is no space here for detailed description
of the Pink cliff the White cliff and the Vermll-
ion cliff of the great Hurricane fault, the Natural
bridges and the Rainbow bridge; of the Painted
desert; of Lees ferry across the Colorado, where
John ID. Lee hid out for 20 years after the Noun
tain Meadows massacre; of Utahs "Dixie". land
of cotton and sem-tropical fruits; of the varie-
gated hills Of sediment from prehistoric along
the Parah river where are gold and FREQ mercury.
Zion National park-a deep, many-colored gorge
cut In the plateau by the Rio Virgin-is famous
Cedar breaks, marvel of erosional forms and
stratified color, is yet to be by the public.
Bryce canyon thousand-foot niche in the top Of
the Pink cliff amphtheater-like canyon show
ing an endless variety Of erosional forms painted
In every color shade and tint of the artists pal
ette is Of the most gorgeous seNctacles of the
world.
Southern Utah and northern Arizona are working
together to exploit this land of wonders A branch
railroad is likely to be run from Lund to Cedar
City; the steel may be extended from Marysvale
to Panguitch Cedar breaks, Bryce canyon, Zion
and "The Presidents Forest to be connected
by automobile highways over the routes indicated
by the broken lines, according to present plans.
A bridge across the Colorado at Lees ferry Is
planned. Two of the Coorado-Utah highways to
be constructed by Colorado under the federal aid
plan will strike southern Utah. thus connecting
this region with Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain
National parks.
There is bill In congress to make Bryce canyon
the Utah National park 1t is more likely to be
made state park. Cedar breaks may be added
to Zion National park.
So there will be thousands of tourists
pushing from the north to the North Rim-there
were 1 200 last season. And now that the Kaibab
Suspension bridge has been built across the Col
orado in the Grand canyon a large proportion of
South Rim vistors-of whom there were 66,21S
last year-will cross to the North Rim On the
North Rim there is scant room for the public with
in the national park lines. Hence the need of
"The Presidents Forest"
"In these circumstances" asks Mr.. Average
Man. "why not make The Presidents Forest a
part of the Grand Canyon National park?"
Because 1t can't be done," answers the expert
enced national park enthusiast, Eat least not now
The people will be lucky to muster enough votes
In congress to get the joint resolution through
The Agricultural department and the forest
ice usual would fight to the last ditch to pre-
vent the transfer of national forest land to ma
tional park and the Interior department and the
national park service. Huh Didn't Theodore
Roosevelt make the Grand canyon n national mon
ument January II, 1908, with the idea that 1t
woud be made national park at once In response
to the nationwide demand? But the monument
was put In charge of the Agricultural department
instead of being transferred to the Interior de-
partment. And didn't 1t take the people just
eleven years, month and fifteen days from
January IL 1908, to get their Grand Canyon Ma
tional park? Verb sap.I" :.
One enthusiast writes of '"The Presidents For
est" as "the grtndest natural work of Almighty
God now left In all the world" Suffice 1t to say
that as a forest 1t is a worthy companion to the
Grand Canyon-the Canyon Of Canyonsi