CREATION OF MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 



that no part of the forest reserve should be sacrificed, 

 even though the eastern half is not included in the 

 national park. 



The boundaries of the proposed national park have 

 been so drawn as to exclude from its area all lands upon 

 which coal, gold, or other valuable minerals are sup- 

 posed to occur, and they conform to the purpose that the 

 park shall include all features of peculiar scenic beauty 

 without encroaching on the interests of miners or 

 settlers. 



None save those who can march and camp in the 

 primeval forest an now visit Mount Rainier ; but it 

 is the wilderness, not the distance, that makes it diffi- 

 cult of approach. On the west the distance up the 

 Nisqually River from the railroad at Yelm Prairie to 

 the reserve is but 40 miles. Though heavily timbered, 

 the valley of the Nisqually affords an easy route for a 

 railroad. The Cowlitz Valley also offers a line of 

 approach without difficulty by rail, it being about 50 

 miles from the railroad to the reserve. 



On the northwest the railroad at Wilkeson is but 23 

 miles from the summit of Mount Rainier, and the 

 glaciers can be reached by riding 25 miles through the 

 great forest. 



On the north the Cascade branch of the Northern 

 Pacific Railroad crosses the range, only 13 miles in a 

 direct line and 19 miles along the summit from the 

 northern limit of the reserve. 



On the east the city of North Yakima is but 62 miles 

 from the summit of Mount Rainier. 



The proposed park covers a mountain region which 

 lies across the line of travel from east to west. The 

 railroad winds northward ; the travel down the Colum- 

 bia River turns southward to avoid it. The great 

 current of tourists which flows north and south through 

 Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver, and Alaska 

 passes to the west within sight of Mount Rainier, 

 and when the grand old mountain is obscured by clouds 



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