File:The top of the continent; the story of a cheerful journey through our national parks (1917) (14804781873).jpg

Identifier: topofcontinentst00yard (find matches)
Title: The top of the continent; the story of a cheerful journey through our national parks
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Yard, Robert Sterling, 1861-1945
Subjects: National parks and reserves
Publisher: New York, Chicago (etc.) C. Scribner's sons
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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y of stiff conglom-erate rock, rising almost to the original level. Thetributary was not strong or constant enough to wearit away, and so it worked around it, digging its channelout of the softer earth and sand. In this way, during many, many years of succeed-ing flood times, this stream and its tributaries havesucceeded in scooping out an astonishingly big ditchfrom the bottom of which rise many cliffs and spiresand plateaus which the current was not strong enoughto wash away. Gee, said Jack. That is interesting. It is thefirst interesting ditch I ever saw. No, said Doctor McKinley, that is not quitetrue. You mean that it is the first ditch of any kindyou ever really looked at. It is interesting only be-cause you understand it. All ditches are interestingwhen you understand them. And all ditches are alike,even the Grand Canyon. Is the Grand Canyon a ditch? asked Margaret,big-eyed in surprise. Yes, said Doctor McKinley, the Grand Canyonis nothine but a ditch. The State of Arizona is a
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^18 THE TOP OF THE CONTINENT great plain—like this. It slopes seaward from greatmountains—like this. Its waters drain into a stream—like this. The stream has worn a ditch through theplain—like this. That is why, before you went there,I wanted to show you this miniature Grand Canyon,which I ran across one day a few years ago while ona walking tour. But the real Grand Canyon is a lot bigger than thisditch, isnt it? asked Margaret anxiously. Well, rather, laughed Doctor McKinley. Thisditch may be ten feet deep; the Grand Canyon is sixthousand feet deep. This ditch may be a hundredfeet wide; the Grand Canyon is twenty miles wide.This ditch is carved out of brown, sandy loam; theGrand Canyon is carved out of marvellously coloredsandstone rock. The mimic mud and sandy cliffs anddomes you see here are gigantic carved and minaretedstone towers there. But, though so different, really they are preciselythe same. Both are identical works of erosion. Thistiny stream drains perhaps six or

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