Chapter 17 of 25 · 3668 words · ~18 min read

Part 17

A dim trail led our wandering primeval ancestors out from the twilight. It was a trail ever winding, shadowy, and broken, but ever under the open sky and ever from "yesterday's seven thousand years." It had its beginning in the walks of beasts that prowled the solemn primeval forests. Over it our half-lost ancestors painfully advanced. A fallen tree was their first bridge and a floating log their first boat. They wondered at the strange alternating day and night at which we still wonder. With joy they watched the shining dawn, and with fear and dread they saw the dusk of dying day. They learned the endless procession of seasons. The mysterious movements of wind and water aroused their curiosity, and with childlike interest they followed the soft and silent movements of the clouds. The wide and starry sky appealed strangely, strongly, to their imagination, and in this luminous field of space their fancy found a local habitation and a name for the thousand earthly fears and factors of their lives. They dared the prairie, climbed the hills, but long kept close to the forest.

After hard and fearful ages--after "a million years and a day"--the camp-fire came at last. This fragment of the Immortal Sun conquered the cold and the night, and misery and dread gave way to comfort and hope. No more the aspen trembled. It became a dancing youth, while the strange, invisible echo was a merry hiding child. The fireflies changed to fairies, and Pan commenced to pipe the elemental melody of the wild.

Nature ever showed her pictures and interested her children in fairylands. Winter, cold and leafless; spring, full of song and promise; the generous wealth of summer; and autumn with its harvest and color, came and disappeared, and came again through all the mysterious years. Lightning, the echo, with roar and whisper of the viewless air, the white and lonely moon, the strange eclipse, the brilliant and fleeting rainbow,--Nature's irised silken banner,--the mystery of death, these seeds of thought bloomed into the fanciful, beautiful myths and legends that we know.

Once, like a web of joy, trails overspread all the wild gardens of the earth. The long trail is gone, and most others are cut to pieces and ruined. The few broken remnants are but little used.

The traveler who forgets or loses the trail will lose his way, or miss the best of life. The trail is the directest approach to the fountain of life, and this immortal way delays age and commands youth to linger. While you delay along the trail, Father Time pauses to lean upon his scythe. The trail wanders away from the fever and the fret, and leads to where the Red Gods call. This wonderful way must not be buried and forgotten.

APPENDIX

ACT OF DEDICATION OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

AN ACT TO SET APART A CERTAIN TRACT OF LAND LYING NEAR THE HEADWATERS OF THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER AS A PUBLIC PARK.

_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_,--That the tract of land in the Territories of Montana and Wyoming lying near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River and described as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the junction of Gardiner's River with the Yellowstone River and running east to the meridian, passing ten miles to the eastward of the most eastern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence south along the said meridian to the parallel of latitude, passing ten miles south of the most southern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence west along said parallel to the meridian, passing fifteen miles west of the most western point of Madison Lake; thence north along said meridian to the latitude of the junction of the Yellowstone and Gardiner's Rivers; thence east to the place of beginning, is hereby reserved and drawn from settlement, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people; and all persons who shall locate, or settle upon, or occupy the same or any part thereof, except as hereinafter provided, shall be considered trespassers and removed therefrom.

SEC. 2. That said public park shall be under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it shall be, as soon as practicable, to make and publish such rules and regulations as he may deem necessary or proper for the care and management of the same. Such regulations shall provide for the preservation from injury or spoliation of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities or wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural condition.

The Secretary may, in his discretion, grant leases for building purposes, for terms not exceeding ten years, of small parcels of ground, at such places in said park as shall require the erection of buildings for the accommodation of visitors; all of the proceeds of said leases, and all other revenue that may be derived from any source connected with said park, to be expended under his direction in the management of the same and the construction of roads and bridle-paths, and shall provide against the wanton destruction of fish and game found within said park and against their capture or destruction for the purpose of merchandise or profit. He shall also cause all persons trespassing upon the same after the passage of this act to be removed therefrom, and generally shall be authorized to take all such measures as shall be necessary or proper to fully carry out the objects and purposes of this act.

_Approved March 1, 1872._

Signed by:

JAMES G. BLAINE, _Speaker of the House_. SCHUYLER COLFAX, _Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate_. ULYSSES S. GRANT, _President of the United States_.

THE NATIONAL PARKS AT A GLANCE

ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY IN THE ORDER OF THEIR CREATION

(Number, 17; total area, 9776 square miles)

Other National Parks are:--

Sully's Hill (1904) North Dakota Wooded hilly tract on Devil's Lake. Wind Cave (1903) South Dakota Large natural cavern. Casa Grande Ruin (1892) Arizona Prehistoric Indian ruin.

For National Park booklets and other Park information address The Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

PROPOSED NATIONAL PARKS

-----------------+---------------+------------------------------------ _Region_ | _Location_ | _Characteristics_ -----------------+---------------+------------------------------------ | | Grand Cañon | Arizona | The Grand Cañon. | | Mount Evans | Near Denver, | Magnificent peak, primeval | Colorado | forests, lakes, and alpine flora. | | Mount Baker (the | Northwestern | Extinct or sleeping volcano; Indian Kulshan) | Washington | thirty square miles of glaciers, | | forests, and wild flowers. | | Sawtooth | Central Idaho | Precipitous mountains, alpine Mountains | | lakes, heavy forests, flowery | | meadows, clear streams. | | Ozark Mountains | Northern | Rare river and mountain | Arkansas | landscapes. | | Mount McGregor | Northeastern | Rare combination of river, hill, | Iowa | forest, bluff, and plains. | | Pajarito Cliff | Pajarito | Many vast prehistoric ruins of Cities | Plateau, near | wonderful Indian civilization. | Santa Fé, New | | Mexico. | | | Mount Mitchell | Western North | Highest peak east of the Rockies, | Carolina | 6711 feet high; quiet scenery of | | the South Appalachians. | | Pike's Peak | Central | The most frequently climbed | Colorado | 14,000-foot peak in the world; | | excellent view-point, rising | | abruptly from the plains. | | Dunes | Northern | Lake Shore; extraordinary | Indiana | aggregation of plants from warm, | | cold, wet and dry zones. | | San Juan | Southwestern | Magnificent mountains, individual | Colorado | in form and color, with large | | scene-commanding plateaus. | | Grand Mesa | Western | Lake-dotted plateau that towers | Colorado | near splendid horizons. | | Bighorn | Northern | A towering, rocky, scenic Mountains | Wyoming | alpine-island area in the sea | | of plains. | | Niagara Falls | International | Stupendous waterfall; might well | Park between | become an international park. | Canada, and | | New York near | | Buffalo | | | Mount Shasta | Northern | Highest peak in northern | California | California; alpine flowers; | | lava deposits; scenery. | | Mount Hood | Northern | Volcanic peak; icefields and | Oregon, near | forests. | Columbia River| | | Roosevelt | Arizona | Enormous dam; vast reservoirs; Project | | desert areas; cactus park; | | historic ground. | | Cañon de Chelly | Arizona | Towering monolithic rocks; high | | vertical colored cañons; cliff | | dwellings. | | Sierra Madre | Near Los | Sierra Madre mountains; rare plant | Angeles, | life; commands unusual scenes. | California | -----------------+---------------+------------------------------------

NATIONAL MONUMENTS

ADMINISTERED BY THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT

----------+----------+---------+--------+-------------------------------- _Name_ |_Location_| _When |_Area | _Description_ | |created_ |(acres)_| ----------+----------+---------+--------+-------------------------------- | | | | Devil's | Wyoming |Sept. 24,| 1152 |Remarkable natural rock tower, Tower | | 1906 | | of volcanic origin, 1200 feet | | | | in height. | | | | Montezuma | Arizona | Dec. 8, | 160 |Prehistoric cliff dwelling ruin Castle | | 1906 | | of unusual size, situated in a | | | | niche in face of a vertical | | | | cliff; of scenic and | | | | ethnological interest. | | | | El Morro | New | Dec. 8, | 160 |Enormous sandstone rock eroded | Mexico | 1906 | | in form of a castle, upon | | | | which inscriptions have been | | | | placed by early Spanish | | | | explorers; contains cliff | | | | dweller ruins; of great | | | | historic, scenic, and | | | | ethnological interest. | | | | Chaco | New | Mar. 11,| 20,629 |Contains numerous cliff dweller Cañon | Mexico | 1907 | | ruins, including communal | | | | houses in good condition | | | | and but little excavated. | | | | Muir Woods|California| Jan. 9, | 295 |Contains one of the most noted | | 1908 | | redwood groves in California; | | | | was donated by Hon. William | | | | Kent, Member of Congress; | | | | located seven miles from San | | | | Francisco. | | | | Pinnacles |California| Jan. 16,| 2080 |Contains many spirelike rock | | 1908 | | formations, 600 to 1000 feet | | | | high, which are visible for | | | | many miles; also numerous | | | | caves and other formations. | | | | Tumacacori| Arizona |Sept. 15,| 10 |Contains ruins of Franciscan | | 1908 | | mission dating from sixteenth | | | | century, until recent years | | | | in fair preservation, but now | | | | rapidly disintegrating. | | | | Mukuntuweap| Utah | July 31 | 15,840 |Contains magnificent gorge, | | 1909 | | depth from 800 to 2000 feet, | | | | with precipitouswalls and many | | | | waterfalls. Of great beauty | | | | and scenic interest. | | | | Shoshone | Wyoming |Sept. 21,| 210 |Cavern of considerable extent, Cavern | | 1909 | | located near Cody. | | | | Natural | Utah |Sept. 25,| 2740 |Contains three natural bridges, Bridges | | 1909 | | among largest examples of | | | | their kind. Largest bridge is | | | | 222 feet high, 65 feet thick | | | | at top of arch; arch is 28 | | | | feet wide; span 261 feet; | | | | height of span 157 feet. Other | | | | two are only slightly smaller. | | | | Gran | New | Nov. 1, | 160 |One of the most important of Quivira | Mexico | 1909 | | earliest Spanish mission ruins | | | | in the Southwest. Monument | | | | also contains Pueblo ruins. | | | | Sitka | Alaska | Mar. 23,| 57 |Park of great natural beauty | | 1910 | | and historic interest as scene | | | | of massacre of Russians by | | | | Indians. Contains 16 totem | | | | poles of best native | | | | workmanship. | | | | Rainbow | Utah | May 30, | 160 |Unique natural bridge of great Bridge | | 1910 | | scientific interest and | | | | symmetry. Height 309 feet | | | | above water; span is 278 feet, | | | | in shape of rainbow. | | | | Lewis | Montana | May 16, | 160 |Immense limestone cavern of and | | 1911 | | great scientific interest, Clark | | | | magnificently decorated with Cavern | | | | stalactite formations. Cavern | | | | now closed to public because | | | | of depredations by vandals. | | | | Colorado | Colorado | May 24, | 13,883 |Contains many lofty monoliths | | 1911 | | and is wonderful example of | | | | erosion; of great scenic | | | | beauty and interest. | | | | Petrified | Arizona | July 31,| 25,625 |Contains abundance of petrified Forest | | 1911 | | coniferous trees, one of which | | | | forms a small natural bridge. | | | | Is of great scientific | | | | interest. | | | | Navajo | Arizona | Mar. 14,| 360 |Contains numerous pueblo or | | 1912 | | cliff dweller ruins, in good | | | | preservation. | | | | Papago | Arizona | Jan. 31,| 2050 |Contains splendid collection Saguaro | | 1914 | | of characteristic desert flora | | | | and numerous pictographs. | | | | Interesting rock formations. | | | | Dinosaur | Utah | Oct. 4, | 80 |Contains deposits of fossil | | 1915 | | remains of prehistoric animal | | | | life of great scientific | | | | interest. | | | | Sieur de | Mount | July 8, | About |Beautiful island scenery, Monts | Desert | 1916 | 5000 | mountains, lakes, meadows, | Island, | | | numerous varieties of birds | Maine | | | and plants. Historical | | | | Associations. | | | | Capulin | Northeast| 1916 | 681 |Magnificent specimen of a | Corner | | | volcanic cinder cone, 8000 | New | | | feet high; crater 1500 feet | Mexico | | | in diameter, cone-shaped; | | | | numerous "blister cones." ----------+----------+---------+--------+--------------------------------

ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

----------+----------+---------+--------+----------------------------- _Name_ |_Location_| _When | _Area | _Description_ | |created_ |(acres)_| ----------+----------+---------+--------+----------------------------- | | | | Gila Cliff| New | Nov. 16,| 160 |Contains numerous cliff Dwellings| Mexico | 1907 | | dweller ruins of much | | | | interest and in good | | | | preservation. | | | | Tonto | Arizona | Dec. 19,| 640 |Contains numerous cliff | | 1907 | | dweller ruins of much | | | | interest and in good | | | | preservation. | | | | Grand | Arizona | Jan. 11,|806,400 |Contains the most wonderful Cañon | | 1908 | | portion of the Grand Cañon | | | | of the Colorado. | | | | Jewel Cave| South | Feb. 7, | 1280 |Contains a limestone cavern | Dakota | 1908 | | of much beauty and | | | | considerable extent, limits | | | | of which are as yet unknown. | | | | Wheeler | Colorado | Dec. 7, | 300 |Of much interest from | | 1908 | | geological standpoint as | | | | example of eccentric erosion | | | | and extinct volcanic action. | | | | Of much scenic beauty. | | | | Oregon | Oregon | July 12,| 480 |Extensive caves in limestone Caves | | 1909 | | formation of much beauty. | | | | Magnitude not entirely | | | | ascertained. | | | | Devil |California| July 6, | 800 |Spectacular mass of hexagonal Postpile | | 1911 | | basaltic columns, like an | | | | immense pile of posts. Said | | | | to rank with famous Giant's | | | | Causeway, in Ireland. | | | | Mount |Washington| Apr. 17,|299,370 |Contains many objects of Olympus | | 1912 | | great and unusual scientific | | | | interest, including many | | | | glaciers. Is summer range | | | | and breeding-ground of | | | | Olympic elk. | | | | Walnut | Arizona | Nov. 30,| 960 |Contains cliff dwellings of Cañon | | 1915 | | much scientific and popular | | | |interest. | | | | Bandelier | New | Feb. 11,| 18,000 |Contains vast numbers of | Mexico | 1916 | | cliff dweller ruins, with | | | | artificial caves, stone | | | | sculpture and other relics | | | | of prehistoric life. ----------+----------+---------+--------+-----------------------------

ADMINISTERED BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT[1]

-------------+-----------+-----+--------+----------------------------- Big Hole | | | | Battle-Field | Montana | | | | | | | Cabrillo | California| | | -------------+-----------+-----+--------+-----------------------------

[1] "Lincoln National Park or Reservation" in Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, was established in 1916 and is administered by the War Department. It might well become a regular National Park.

DOMINION NATIONAL PARKS OF CANADA

(Number, 11; total area, 7945 square miles)