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Show i PARK OPENED B1U1WER1R Friday. May 15, witnessed the greatest event in the history of the settlement of this section, for on that day Zion National park, said by visitors visit-ors to be the greatest of our national parks, was officially opened. There was somewhere between 1200 and 2000 people present to witness the ceremony, many of them from St. George. A large gateway had been constructed con-structed of green boughs at the entrance en-trance to the park the center of which was formed by a large state seal of paper nine feet in diameter. On top of this gateway were' seated several beautiful girls in cowboy hats. From the top two chains of flowers were joined together at their lower extremity by a large golden padlock, a working model made of wood. Governor Dern took the large golden key from little Lucy Dennett, five-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dennett and opened the lock, President Grant and Walter Rueseh, the acting superintendent o the park and some others being near. The governor then broke the seal by driving through it followed by the other cars. The drive was then made from the park entrance to the U. P. lodge, the newly constructed hotel, which is a beautiful building conforming to its surroundings, passing on the way the many guest lodges which are comfortably com-fortably furnished for the care of visitors. After luncheon a short program was given from the balcony of the lodge, Henry Lunt, state road commissioner com-missioner acting as chairman. On the balcony among the visitors were Senator Hirschi, Mayor H. T. Atkin of this city, and Arthur F. Miles, president of St. George Commercial club. Addresses were made by President Pres-ident Grant, E. O. Howard o Salt Lake, George H. Smith, general solicitor sol-icitor of the Oregon Short Line, Colonel Tom C. Peck of the U. P., Senator David Hirschi and Governor Dern. Chairman ' Lunt paid high tribute to the early pioneers and the men who had been instrumental in making the park accessible to the public. Occupying a back seat in one of the large new 11-passenger busses were three Piute Indians in full regalia and paint, the first Indians so far as known to enter the park, regarded by them with awe and reverence as the abiding place oi spirits. After the program visitors wandered wander-ed about the park over the fine new roads and trails viewing the sublime scenery, than which there is none grander on earth. The great improvement in roads to the park makes travel a pleasure. A splendid piece of new road nearly three miles long, between Andersons and Toquerville was thrown open for this travel. It is a credit to the contractors, con-tractors, the Higbee Construction Co., and cuts out one of the worst Pieces of road on the Zion Park highway. A bridge connecting it with Toquerville is under construction construc-tion and will be completed early next month; it is being constructed hy Chester A. Kemp of this city and appears to be a remarkably fine Piece of work so far as carried out. Toquerville was improving its streets thoueh the contor nf town and this be a continuation of the good roacl. Washington county is proud of having Zion National park within its borders and is also proud that this beauty spot was visited and highly Praised by the late President Warren G- Harding two years ago. An immense im-mense amount of money has been sPent in exploiting it. the Union Pac-ifie Pac-ifie System having spent nearly two minions of dollars, and about half a . million dollars has been spent in fed-era:. fed-era:. state and-county funds for the ''Hiding of highways. Travel to this wonderous region is hl Hs infancy. It will in time reach tremendous proportions and we must b? Prepared for it. |