324 Presidential Addresses 



AT LAYING OF CORNERSTONE OF GATEWAY 

 TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, GAR 

 DINER, MONTANA, APRIL 24, 1903 



Mr. Mayor, Mr. Superintendent, and my Fellow- 

 Citizens: 



I wish to thank the people of Montana generally, 

 those of Gardiner and Cinnabar especially, and more 

 especially still all those employed in the Park, 

 whether in civil or military capacity, for my very 

 enjoyable two weeks' holiday. 



It is a pleasure now to say a few words to you at 

 the laying of the cornerstone of the beautiful road 

 which is to mark the entrance to this Park. The Yel 

 lowstone Park is something absolutely unique in the 

 world, so far as I know. Nowhere else in any civil 

 ized country is there to be found such a tract of 

 veritable wonderland made accessible to all visitors, 

 where at the same time not only the scenery of the 

 wilderness, but the wild creatures of the Park are 

 scrupulously preserved; the only change being that 

 these same wild creatures have been so carefully pro 

 tected as to show a literally astounding tameness. 

 The creation and preservation of such a great natural 

 playground in the interest of our people as a whole 

 is a credit to the nation; but above all a credit to 

 Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. It has been pre 

 served with wise foresight. The scheme of its pres 

 ervation is noteworthy in its essential democracy. 

 Private game preserves, though they may be handled 

 in such a way as to be not only good things for 



