The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1946-05-09
CONTINUED from last week.
National Park Movements

WOutuueO 1TOm last week.
National Park Movements
In Montana another outdoor en-
thusiast Of national reputation,
George Bird Grannel, had been
coming west each summer since
the completion Of the Northern
Pacific railroad to explore the sky
land scenery Of the Rockies. The
spectacular mountain walls and
limestone peaks associated with
the Lewis Overthrust elected his
special enthusiasm, and he launch
ed a vigorous campaign to have
this area given national park sta
tus. Eventually he was able to
enlist the support Of Louis w. Hill,
son Of the Empire Builder" who
succeeded his father as controlling
head Of the Great Northern. Re-
inforced by Mr.. Hills influence,
the bill was passed by congress
and signed by President Taft on
May II, 1910, creating Glacier Ma
tional park.
Cars and Good Road Movement
A potent factor in promoting
greater enjoyment Of the outdoors
was the coming Of the automobile
and consequently a program for
better roads, which occurred dur
ing this decade. Electric cars and
Stanley steamers began to make
their appearance in the Pacific
Northwest in 1900 and increased
rapidly in number and popularity.
Before long the cry went up:
We've got to build better roads
because the autos are digging
them up"
A dynamic pioneer of the good
roads movement was Samuel Hill,
son-in-law of James ]. Hill, who
in 1899 had organized the Wash
mgton Good Roads association and
served as its first president. In
1908 Washington established a
state highway department and the
University Of Washington prepar-
ed to train road engineers by ere
ating chair in highway engineer
ing under Samuel C.. Lancaster,
one Of Americas foremost road
experts.
Expeditions In the Northwest
OF considerable moment in slim
ulating travel and emigration to
the Pacific Northwest were two
expositions of national import
ance. The first was the Lewis and
Clark Centennial Exposition held
at Portland in 1905. Prominent
among exhibits was that Of the
federal government which the year
before had been part Of the Louis
lana Purchase Exposition in st.
Louis. Three million visitors came
to Portland at this time, and many
Of these remained as permanent
residents. Four years later Seattle
played host to visitors from all
parts Of the world, by staging the
Alaska Yukon-Pacific exposition.
This was located on the 582-acre
campus Of the University Of Wash
ington and after It was over the
exposition buildings were given
10 the university.
Railroad Expands. Population in.
The greatest population increase
n the history Of the Pacific North
vest occurred during the first de-
:ade Of the 1900's with Wash
on and Idaho in the lead. The |
census Of 1910 showed Washing
on, Oklahoma and Idaho at the |
OPP Of the list Of states Boosting |
gains since the census |
II 1900. The returns showed |
Washington to have 1,141, 800 peo-
lie a. compared with 518, 103 in
900, representing an increase Of
20 per cent. Idaho had 325, 004
s compared with 161, 772 IN 1900,
n increase Of about 100 per cent
)regon reported 672, 765 as COM
jared with SIS, 103 In 1900, an In
rease Of nearly 63 per cent. Mon
ana listed 76,053 people In COM
'arison with 243, $50 in 1900, q
ain. Of nearly IS per cent. Mon
ana's greatest percentage growth
ad been between 1880 and 1890
vhen the number of people in
reaSed 365 per cent.
In the early part Of the decade
he railroads, both through their
Inflated land companies which
romoted reclamation projects and
heir powerful emigration bureaus
rganized in the East and Middle |
Vest to bring settlers to the newt