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Show Statistics Prove Hu ndreds of Visitors Are Finding Scenic Southeast Utah The wonderful world of Southeastern Utah is one of the great discoveries of 'the century. When The Times first 'began recording progress of the area in 1896, only 'those people with enough pressing business to warrant war-rant fording the Colorado river entered the Moab Valley. The wild beauty of what is now Canyonlands National Park was seen only by Indian Creek cowboys cow-boys searching for cattle 'that had strayed into the ' rugged maze of canyons; the potential of Arches National Monument was recognized, but again the sights were seen only by those few people with enough en-ough explorer spirit to horseback or hike through the scenic mecca of red rock. By the summer of 1947, however, things were looking look-ing up. Over 500 people had visited Arches National Nation-al Monument that year. They came in 171 cars, from 27 states and the District of Columbia. A landslide of progress swept the country in the next 20 year span. By the mid '60's, Arches National Monument sported paved highways to scenic points of interest; Dead Horse Point had been taken into the State Park system. Modern visitor facilities had been added, and a paved pav-ed access road led to the park. The rugged lands the cowboys knew had become Canyonlands National park and modem park plans went on the drawing boards. Then came the discoverers. discov-erers. Tourists from all over the nation heard of the great frontierland and beat a path to its door. Last year 54,924 visitors registered at Arches National Nat-ional Monument. To date this year, 49,244 have registered, re-gistered, and it looks like the total may top the record re-cord year in 1963 when over 100,000 visitors entered en-tered the gates. In June this year 24,085 visitors registered; last June 22,189. Canyonlands National Park is gaining in visitations, visita-tions, too, and may well reach the estimated 1 million mil-lion visitors a year within the next ten. In June this year 2,803 visitors registered; June, 1966, 2,241. Total visitation visita-tion of 1966 was 7,202; fhis year to date 8,103 persons have registered at the northern Canyonlands park entrance. The Needles, or southern south-ern entrance of the Park, had 905 visitors last year in June. This June 1.45S visitors have registered. Total visitors at the southern south-ern portion of the park last year hit 2,618. The first 6 months of 1907 shows a count of 3,460. The Natural Bridges National Na-tional Monument is gaining gain-ing in popularity, too. Last June there were 5.-773 5.-773 visitors; June of 1967 recorded 6,060. Total visitors vis-itors at the bridges last year were 11,813. To date in 1967, there have been 14,441. |