76 OUR FEDERAL LANDS 



Canyon de Chelly, Rainbow Bridge, and Painted 

 Desert, all legitimately parts of the same great drain- 

 age basin, we shall have a picture of creation to tax 

 human imagination. 



There are National Forests perched here and 

 there on these titanic brilliant steps. There are Na- 

 tional Monuments and large Indian Reservations, 

 also. The variety and richness of carving through- 

 out this magical country is unequalled. Here, dur- 

 ing future years, will develop a study in World Ar- 

 chitecture which may safely challenge competition, 

 for there is no other country of its general nature 

 which is nearly its equal in size, ruggedness, diver- 

 sity, richness and sheer beauty of form and color. 

 For minute detail and heroic example, it challenges 

 the world of erosional spectacles. 



These are largely unreserved Public Lands. 

 Their condition is arid, often stark desert. The ex- 

 cessively rough surface makes travel over large parts 

 of it extremely difficult. Inhabitants are few, 

 grouped in widely separated spots where water may 

 be found. The country is full of surprises. Though 

 Zion Canyon in Zion National Park was known to 

 Mormon neighbors since 1858 and to exploring ge- 

 ologists in 1870, and was made the Mukuntuweap 

 National Monument within the seventies, it was not 

 "discovered" in any public sense till 1916, when 

 Gerrit Fort, general passenger manager of the 

 Union Pacific Railroad, led an exploring party there 

 on hearing a report of its wonders. 



