Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-25
CARLSBAD CAvERNS.
/. HAVE VAST AREAS
New National Monument
Draws Visitors in Increasing
Numbers to Wonders.

Carlsbad Caverns, N. Mex, one OF
Uncle Sans official scenic wonders
for the past three years, has gained
such popularity since Its setting aside
as a national monument in October
1923, and its extensive exploration by
the National Geographic Society, that
It now draws more visitors than some
Of the great American caves known
for many decades. Highways leading
to the national monument have been
improved, and during the month of
August this year 3.248 persons visited
the caves. according to information
reaching the National Geographic So
ciety's headquarters here.
A communication to the society from
the late DIR. Willis T. Lee, who con-
Quoted it's explorations, described the
vast underground fairyland.
About half mile from the foot
of the shaft" wrote DR.. Lee, I'VE en-
ter the part of the cave reserved as
national monument and soon pass
beneath the natural opening. This
opening, far above US, which seems so
awesome at the surface. appears from
the floor of the spacious cavern like
q small and very inconspicuous aper-
ture. Here we give It scarcely Sec
ond thought and pass on to the more
impressive features which appear at
each turn.
Few Rooms Explored.
LAS we proceed we gradually make
our way. deeper and deeper into the
earth. For nearly mile. or "a dis
lance almost equivalent to that from
the White house along Pennsylvania
avenue to the Capitol. in Washington,
we traverse passage of astonishing
dimensions. The walls are very ir-
regular, approaching to within 100
feet Of each other in a. few places,
then receding In lateral chambers
many times that width. At the side
of the passageway are many alcoves
opening into rooms, few Of which have
been explored.
I'm most places the walls are rough
and jagged, where masses of rock,
now lying on the floor. have fallen.
But in few places the walls are rela.
lively smooth, having been polished
by waters which flowed through this
passageway ages ago.
There Is relatively little dripstone
in this part of the cave. And yet every
now and again, as beam of light is
directed into the darkness, one is star
tied at the sight of a snow-white fig
ure perched on some rock, like the
proverbial ghost on a tombstone.
These are stalagmites. built up by the
slow dripping of water charged with
carbonate of calcium from the lime
stone of the roof. A few Of these
stalagmites, like Yeitso's Pillar, have
been built up into magnificent fiuted
and ornately decorated columns. as If
supporting the ceiling of a vaulted
cathedral of vast dimensions.
"a little more than a quarter mile
beyond the natural opening we enter
the spectacular part Of Carlsbad Cav
ern. Here we find chambers OF un.
believable dimensions. Our way leads
ever downward, over enormous jagged
blocks of limestone fallen from the
roof.
1.-THE chambers in this part of the
cave are several hundred feet wide,
and the vaulted ceiling so far above
US that in some places we are not able
to see it, much less estimate its height
1t seems like gazing upward on a
cloudy night. Our feeble lights only
magnify the void.
Wonder Of Shinav's Wigwam.
eat the foot Of a great heap of
rocks 700 feet below the surface at
the entrance three large chambers
open OF the main hall. The largest
may be called Shinav's Wigwam in
honor Of the kingly. warrior of Navajo
mythology. Because of its size and
the glory Of its decoration this great