The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-05-30


carved and colored, is one Of the natural wonders
Of the world.
Curiously enough Mrs. Rinehart omitted mention
OF the one feature that, in the opinion of many.
does entitle Glacier to a place among the unique
national parks--its Lewis Overthrust" and the
gorgeous coloration Of its mountains. Zion Ma
tional Park in Utah. Bryce Canyon in Utah. likely
TO be made the Utah National Park, and Grand
Canyon probably surpass Glacier in coloraton, but
their colors are down in the Depths while Gla-
cier's 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 1t. The next oldest strata are the Algon
khan, which were laid as an ocean bottom sedi-
ment something like 100000 years ago. 1t is
this Algonkian group that are exposed in Glacier;
nowhere in the world are they displayed in such
area. profusion and variety and in such magnih-
cence of coloring.
These Algonkian rocks lie in four differently-col-
ored strata. all of which the Glacier visitor may
see for himself The lowest is the Allyn limestone.
about 1000 feet thick. 1t weathers pale buff.
There are whole yellow mountains of this on the
eastern edge Of Glacier Next above lies
stratum of Appekunny argillite or green shale,
about 3400 feet thick. 1t weathers every possible
shade Of dull green. Next above that lie about
2,200 feet of Grinnel argillite or red shale. 1t
WeutHeTS every pOSSDle SLdue VI uttp anu pui-
pie On top is about 1900 feet of Siyeh limestone,
gray and running in places to yellow. Horizontally
through the middle of this limestone is 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 a gigantic
squeeze. The strata yielded in long irregular.
wave-like folds Finally they crackeu and then
broke. One broken edge. the western was thrust
upward and 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 1t Is this
overthrust that accounts for the inconceivably
tumbed character Of the vast rocky masses. There
Is a sag where the park lies. horizontal line
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 park
through the top of the Syeh limestone. 1t would
cut diagonally through the green and red shales
on both sides of the Continental Divide.
The uniformed tourist doubtless says to him.
SELF as he heads the iivver west. Three fine ma
tional parks in a row-Rocky Mountain, Yellow
stone and Glacier All three in the Rockies and
on the Continental Divide. Probably all much
alike. See one and I've seen them ALL"
That shows the necessity of the campaign OF ed
ucation that the federal government and the Ma
tional Parks association and many out-of-door or
CARNATIONS are waging to get the American peo-
pie to see their national parks with understand
ing, as we'll as emotionally.
For Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Glacier
are essentially different Rocky Mountain is solid
granite, most astonishing aggregation of lofty
peaks and beautiful valleys perched on the top
of the Continental Divide. Yellowstone is volcanic,
with volcanic activities everywhere in evidence.
Glacier lis sedlmentary rock. twisted and jumbled
and gorgeously colored.
Congress has just passed an act authorizing the
making of a budget for road building purposes In
the national parks, carrying a total of $7.5OOOO0
over three years If funds appropriated Gla-
cier's tentative allotment Is $1,OO0OOO. This would
doubtless hurry the Transmountain RRad to COM
phtion. Speed the dayl