The Dolores star., 1924-06-06


carved md colored Is one of the natural wonders
of the world
Curousy enough, Mrs. Rlnehart omitted mention
OF the one feature that in the oplniol of many,
does entitle Glacier to place among the unique
national parks-its Lewis Overthrust" and the
gorgeous coloraton of its mountains Zion Ma.
tional Park in Utah. Bryce Canyon in Utah. likely
TO be made the Etah National Park and Grand
Canyon probably surpass Glacier in cooration, hut
their colors are down in the depths, while Ga.
ciers are flung up into the sky
Now don't be scared by the Lewis Overthrust
Here's briefly what the biologists mean by the
term: The rock nearest the center of the earth
Is called Archean and the biologists know very lit.
tie about II. The next Oldest strata are the Algon.
khan, which were laid us an ocean bottom sedl.
ment something like SO.O0OOOO years ago 1t Is
this Algonkan group that are exposed in Glacier;
nowhere in tire world are they displayed la such
hrea. profusion and variety and in such magnA.
cence of cOloring.
These Algonkian rocks lie in four differentiated.
ored strata. all of which the Glacier visitor NAV
see for himself. The lowest is the Allyn limestone,
about 1GOO feet thick. 1t weathers a pale buf
There are whole yellow mouatains of this on the
eastern edge of Glacier Next above lies
stratum of Appekunny argillite or green shale
about 3,4oO rect thick. 1t weathers every possible
shade of dull green. Next above that lie about
100 feet Of Grinnell argillits or red shaIe 1t
weathers every possible shade deep red and pur.
gray and running in places to yellow. Horizontally
through the middle of this limestone is II broad
dark band called the diorite intrusion
Now, when these brilliantly colored strata were
thrust up from the bottom of the sea they were
practically level Then there came gigantic
squeeze. The strata yielded in long irregular
waVe-ike folds Finally they cracke, and then
broke One broken edge, the western was thrust
upward ahd over the other. This western edge
was thousands of feet thick. 1t overlapped the
eastern edge ten to fifteen miles
This is the Lewis Range) Overthrust. IT ia this
o'erthrust that accounts for the inconceivaby
tumbled character Of the vast rocky masses rhoro
Is n sag where the park lies A horizontal limo
drawn straight across Glacier would pass through
the bottom of the Allyn limestone on the east and
west boundaries and In the middle of the mark
through the top of the Syeh limestone If would
cut diagonally through the green and red shoIos
on both sides of the Continental Divide
The unfaformed tourist doubtless says to him
SELL as he heads the tvver west "Three fine na
tonal parks n row-Rocky Mountain Yellow
STONE and Glacier All three In the Rockies and
on the Continental Divide. Probably nil mucb
alike. See one and I've seen them all"
That shows the pecessty of the camn,,pn of nd
uc'toh 'hat the federal government and the Ma
tional Parks association and many out door mr.
shn""ations are waging TO get the American peo.
PIE 10 see thelr national parks with understand
ing as well MS emotionally.
For Rocky Mountain Yellowstone and c,,
are essentially different. Rocky Mountain I. eo,,d
granite most astonishing aggregation Of ,oft
peaks and beautiful valleys perched on the ton
ol the Continental Divide. Yellowstone is voIconIn
Win volcanic activities everywhere in evidence
uacier is sedimentary rock. twisted and jumbled
and gorgeousy coiored e'
congress has just passed an act autbor,z,,c ~,
l'ahins or budget for road building purposes in
.he national parks, carrying total of 81 5o0 oon
over three years. If funds are appropr,ated CIo
sier tentative allotment is 81 600 900. This woula
nnaouess hurry the Transmountnin Road to com.
pletion. Speed the. dayl ''A1'