Pilot flashes back to 1910

On May 12, 1910, the Whitefish Pilot reported on the prospect of Montana territory being made into a new national park.

"With the passage of the Glacier National Park Bill by the House of Representatives at Washington, D.C., on April 18th, Montana has been virtually assured that she will have within her borders a big national park, one that will eventually have no rival from the standpoint of scenery. That tourists will soon find this wondrous playground and use it as a place of recreation and rest, there is not the slightest doubt.

"With the Lakes St. Mary on the east side of the Rockies, rivaled only in beauty by the famous Lake McDonald on the west side, the scenic attractiveness of the park will be doubly interesting. The great living glaciers will be an added attraction to those who are believers in the more strenuous way of spending their vacation period."

Great Northern Rail-way offered a reduced round-trip fare for White-fish residents interested in an excursion to Lake McDonald — 95 cents.

President Howard Taft signed the bill into law on May 11.

On June 2, the Pilot reported on Montana Sen. Thomas Carter's introduction of a $15,000 spending bill in Congress to survey roads and trails in the new park.

"In the opinion of many, the creation of Glacier Park will have a far-reaching effect on the development of northwestern Montana. It will bring wealthy tourists to the region, and they will see for themselves the possibilities for investments, and every visitor will become a booster for the marvelous Flathead."