The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-01-23

Although Redwood Falls is located
central to the largest prairie area of
Minnesota, in the edge Of what was
once known rs the Great American
Desert, extending many hundreds of
miles across the territory of the mid
die west, its system of scenic parks
and drive ways is not equalled in var
iety of strikingly picturesque effects
by any tract of it's size.
Interesting Formation.
This. remarkable exhibit is the re-
suit of rock formations fixed during
geological periods, some 5000 to H.
00G years ago. The knslls are. or
have been, mostly covered with tim
ber, and the depressions, whether
large or small, were flied with the
lakes and streams of today to large
extent. The most picturesque scenery
of southwestern Minnesota has its To-
cation at the junction of the valleys
of the Redwood River and Ramsey
creek near to where the Redwood
valley opens out into the deeply de-
pressed bottom lands of the Minnesota
River.
Underlying beds of granite rock
come nearer to the surface level of
the country at this point than else
where so that both streams have a
very tortuous and zigzag course as
they have found or made their way,
over, between and through the i'm
mense rock lodges which they have
uncovered. These streams are a con-
tinuous succession of rapids and wat
erfalls until they descend to about
two hundred feet below the surround
ing prairie level
The shelter of the valleys with their
moisture from the streams and the
frequent springs which form deep
ravines extending farther out into
the higher lands, gave protection in
early times against the ravages of
the prairie fires which swept and
blackened this region at every fall
season, and preserved heavy growth
of timber to protect the abundant
wild animal life which made this To-
cality veritable oasis in desert
prairie waste.
Ramsey State Park.
Tourists taking the Itasca park
highway from points in southern I'm
tied States or coming from Canada
will find that the most interesting
point on that highway is "Minnesota's s
Miniature Yetllow Stone, Alexander
Ramsey State Park, which is located
near this city. The park is on the
direct route of the Itasca Park High
way it is also within twenty miles
along graveled road from the famous
Black and Yellow trail which runs
through the south side of Redwood
County, and within twenty-five miles
of the Yellow Stone Trail. These
wonderful roadways make it practic-
able to reach Ramsey State Park in
all conditions of weather from all
sections. of the country. Minnesota is
noted for her excellent roadways and
Redwood County leads in this reputa-
tion..
During the session of 1911, the
Minnesota legislature, through the
efforts of two of Redwood County,s
strongest men Senator Frank Clague,
and Representative Joseph r. Keefe,
set aside here 128 acres of woodland,
cliff, river, waterfall and beautiful
plant life as . playground for the
lovers of nature from all over the
country. The park was named in
honor of Ex-Governor Alexander
Ramsey who was prominent in maxi
ing treaties in 1861 with the Sioux,
by which the Indians ceded the great
prairie region Of southwestern Min
nesota to the United States Govern