Century-old magazine

I was looking for an old jacket pattern and found a July 1915 National Geographic in the box. Covers are torn off, and masking tape holds the pages together, but black-and-white photos and texts are good.

I doubt if some of the sites pictured have changed very much in the past 89 years. These included Glacier National Park pictures, courtesy of the Great Northern Railroad, and one with a photo credit for C. J. Blanchard. Photos of Old Faithful in Yellowstone and the Devil's Teapot near Spokane were included.

Hidden Lake, Reynolds Peak and Old Man Reynolds were shown. Glacier National Park was described as follows: "With its 81 glaciers and 132 lakes, with peaks whose sides have never been scaled by human ambition, and lakes whose shores have never been trod by human foot, Glacier National Park abounds in wild beauty and untouched nature." The photo was courtesy Great Northern Railroad.

Next photo was of Ptarmigan Lake, Mt. Wilbur and Hikeina, also courtesy Great Northern Railroad. Its caption noted, "More people are 'seeing America' this year than ever before. The only advantage that Swiss scenery has over American is that it has been better advertised. Some day the tourist world will be coming to America as heretofore it journeyed to the Alps."

C.J. Blanchard is credited for the Lake McDonald photo. Cutline explains, "There are two lakes of this name in Montana, one in Glacier Park and this one, which is located in Flathead County, Montana, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. It cannot be reached direct by railroad as yet."

Interesting view of Mt. Wilbur and Ptarmigan Lake has four Blackfeet Indians in the foreground. This photo from the Great Northern Railroad has explanation, "This region has been called the roof of North America. In its mountains are 80 living glaciers. From their heights, the waters divide and flow into the Gulf of Mexico, Hudson Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Within the park are 250 glacier-fed blue mountain lakes and scores of silvery streams."

Frank Palmer took a picture of the Devil's Teapot, Spokane River, Wash. It's described as "a basaltic rock formation at the Bowl and Pitcher Falls in the Spokane River, four miles from the heart of the business section of Spokane. Spokane has the unique distinction of having two waterfalls within the city limits, their combined height being 150 feet. They have been harnessed to Spokane's industries and afford cheap light and power for the bustling capital of the Inland Empire."

Giant geyser in Yellowstone National Park is caption for a photo by Haynes. Mel Ruder worked as a photographer for Haynes in the 1930s.

View of Old Faithful looks the same as I recall seeing it years later. Description in the 1915 National Geographic states, "Of the 84 geysers in Yellowstone National Park, no two are alike in their characteristics. The Constant Geyser sends forth graceful jets of water to a height of 20 feet once a minute. Giant Geyser discharges only once in from five to seven days. Old Faithful, however, is so regular that it might be called the clock of the subterranean world. In the 40-odd years that it has been known to the white man, it has never 'missed fire,' once, the interval being 65 minutes."

Advertisements included Campbell's Soups, 21 kinds, for 10 cents a can. Ivory Soap, "it floats," is another full page ad, which says "next to fresh air and bread in the essentials of life comes cleanliness. And to many people this means the use of Ivory Soap."

Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. advertises their "net prices to car-owners." Price lists show the following: "Case Ro'nd tread, case non-skid, grey tube and red tube." Prices range from $9.40 per case, for the 30x3 tires up to $46 per case for the 38x5 1/2 inch size."

First page has an ad for a Chandler Six at $1,295. A seven-passenger touring car is featured, although roadsters are available. Caption above the photo boasts "646 percent increase tells the story of nationwide Chandler demand."

National Geographic Society's recommendation for membership is listed, with annual membership of $2 in the U.S., abroad at $3, or a life membership at $50.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.