Congress {oWen Highway Over "Roof World" i rv $ Rocky Mountain cTTV" By JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN WO hundred and eighty thousand dollars will be appropriated at the next session of congress for the Improvement In 1924 of the world-famous Fall River road over the "Roof of the World" in Rocky Mountain National park. Anyway, that Is what Is asserted by members of congress who crossed the Oolorado Continental Divide on It this summer and at an elevation of 11,797 feet rode through 15-foot snowbanks and enjoyed the panoramic view of 100 miles. Presumably it was the scen ery that Inspired the appropriation program ; certainly some of the con gressmen declared that the vacation season of 1924 would find them there again. Nevertheless, Representative S. E. Winslow of Massachusetts appar ently spoke by the card when he said at a dinner In Denver: "1 am a firm believer in national highways. I also believe In making them so safe that the nervous person can ride over them without a tremor. As to the Fall River road I say this: If the transportation busses should be widened six inches and the road should be left as It is, Td never ride over the Fall River road again!" Apparently the Massachusetts rep resentative considers the Fall River road none too wide. He is right. While the road Is safe to efficient drivers, it Is only a one-way road, with turn-outs for cars that meet. And there are places where the passengers la the outside car can look pretty nearly straight down and see lots of scenery a thousand feet below. The visitors therefore felt that the highway should be made a two-way road. The park people figured that $280,000 would add six feet to its width and make it a two-way road. 8o that Is why the Fall River road may get $280,000 ? with a string tied to It ? at the next session of congress. The Rocky Mountain enthusiasts, however, are mostly from Missouri ? - ^congress will have to show them. The truth Is that Rocky Mountain has had cents from congress while Yellowstone, Yosemlte, Glacier and other national parks have had dollars. The why and wherefore is a mystery. Private enterprise established the hotels and laid out the trails. Lari mer and Grand counties constructed the few roads. A public spirited citi zen built the eastern entrance. The Estcs Park Woman's club gave the ground for an administration building. The state of Colorado built the Fall River road. The official reports of the national park service show these interesting facts: Rocky Mountain's attendance in 1922 was 219,104, with 52;112 private cars. That of the threo other parks was: MAY BLOSSOM The May blossom Is the subject of some curious superstitions. Both the black and white thorn are said to be descended from the thorn of India, which, being sprung from lightning, la not only Immune from danger In a thunderstorm, but possesses many magical gifts, a recent writer tells us. The leaves from it are believed by many people to be a cure for all cases of inflammation, while a bough Yellowstone, 98,223, with 18,253 cars; Yosemite, 100,506, with 19,583 ears; Glacier, 23,935, with 2,416 cars. Rocky Mountain therefore had only 3,500 fewer visitors than the other three parks combined and 11,860 more cars. Rocky Mountain, 1917-22, has had 1,122,042 visitors. Those of the three other parks total as follows: Yellow stone, 378,587; Yosemite, 387,294; Gla cier, 112,549. Rodiy Mountain has therefore had, 19t$22,- no less than 243,612 more visitors than Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier combined. Rocky Mountain's appropriation for the fiscal year of 1924 (calendar year 1923) Is $74,280. That of the three other parks Is: Yellowstone, $368,000; Yosemite, $295,000; Glacier, $225,000. Rocky Mountain, 1917-24, has had appropriations aggregating $293,180. Those of the three other parks for the same period total as follows: Yellow stone, $2,049,506.12; Yosemite, $2,038, 000; Glacier, $1,178,113.21. It Is true that Yellowstone and Yo semite return considerable revenues to the United States treasury. Yellow stone's revenue in 1922 was $165,014.13 and Yosemite' s $131,797.51, while Gla cier's was $6,082.71. Rocky Moun tain's was but $2,695.41. But the gov ernment policy is to make the na tional parks ultimately self-supporting ad to administration, maintenance and protection, with appropriations for permanent Improvements. Rocky Mountain produces no revenue to the government because the government has made practically no improvements. Fancy overlooking such a business op portunity as Rocky Mountain! However, even the Doubting Thom ases are less pessimistic than usual this ' time ? since the congressional committee does not propose to give Rocky Mountain the $280,000 outright, but plans to get the money all back from tourists using the road. The plan, as prepared by Senator Robinson and approved by Senator Warren and the other members, Is that each car owner using the Fall River road be taxed one dollar for a season pass which allows him as many trips as he chooses and pays for all his passen gers. These fees will go into a sink ing fund to repay the government, which Is to advance the money for "immediate use" In the spring of 1924. This fee of one dollar applies only to Fall River road. Entrance to Rocky Mountain National park Is free. There are three entrances for auto mobiles: East, Estes Park; south, Ix>ngs Peak; west, Grand Lake. The Fall River road runs east and west through the park, from Estes Park to Grand Lake. Owing to the typography it is the only east and west roa CJOOD RX* DKJcSTiON ? TfcUU MAVG AN ORANGE ADC iU have a HE LI HAVE AN| ORANGE ADE rt?> ? I II m/ns AH OSATKjb ADE <* Maybe Einstein Could Understand This MEW *t\KA? wvv ee \*K)ftS6x. *wk$ ttf Kn h> VUVK> OP * GUM v??Va / s* eot ue WW VA? Ftftst,v\e] ovo \ MAKES WO D\*F0^UCE*. -(ViO UjRDMGcS W?V?fc C, ww>e a, a\6W\ r /-^ \ v*;-i k-' ?VimN?n>Ua ?h uieu.SopposuV mer WATCH WU"t AU HOUR PAST. Wo Be vurom^ vjoov-ovrt \x^ vt . Atf \f s* puSheo [>W?AO ELEVEU HOUP.S , -