Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-11-09

the whole forming ono OF the most
perfect pictures Of lava upheaval and
overflow that Che world affords. In
this chain there arc hundred peaks
that are over IL 900 feet above the
sea, and 5000 above the river, and
eight or ten that will easily reach the
altitude of 10000 or $4,000 feet.
Near the mouth of tho lower can.
on, where the river comes out from
abrupt mountain gorges, a small
stream flows in from the west, and
bears tic name, on Doane's map, of
"Garliner's river" We asccnded it
three miles, and came to the base Of
A MOST WONDERFUL HOT SPRING.
Up hero on the rolling. semi-wood-
cd slopes of high mountain, one
sees at first what appears to be huge
bank OF snow, covering very largo
area, with the strange phenomenon
of steamy clouds Of vapor rising from
it; approaching nearer, 1t is found to
be, in reality, a little mountain made
mp by the precipitation and dcposi-
ton of soda and carbonate of limo,
which are held in solution by the hot
water of the springs, which come up
through baltic assures from some
great depth, as the water is always
at the boiling point. The deposition
of the material held in solution Is
made in delicate lay ers overlapping.
and in beaded rows, the whole be-
ing in appearance not unlike the cor.
al reef. The spring in this way is
constantly shutting itself up and
breaking out afresh in some other
place not far distant. By this clos
ing mp and breaking OFT again of the
springs large area Of the country Is
covered with their deposit, and the
spot am describing cannot be less
than five hundred acres in extent,
over which, here and there, are
THRIFT on FORTY BOILING SPRINGS,
tho depth OF the precipitation in
many places being over two hundred
feet.
The water itself is beautiful blue,
and transparent to great depth-at
least to depths that seem fathomless
and in many places, in flowing ov-
or its deposits OF soda and lime, it |
shows tints of the most exquisite deli
cacy, such as rose. creamy yellow,
and faint purple. We gave two days |
to the survey OF this system OF
springs and the adjacent country;
thence proceeded to the
MOUTH or TIE GREAT CANON,
three miles above the head of the
Lower and campcd at the beautiful
falls of Tower creek. At the juno
ton of this stream with tho Yellow
stone, above and below for mile or
so, arc a number OF sulphur and sui
phureted hydrogen springs; while |
high mp on the basaltic walls of the |
canon Opposite the yellew stain OF
dead" or "cold" sulphur springs is
very marked. The structure Of the
basaltic column just above the stain
ing is very perfect. and beautifully
regular. Rows of pillars from twen-
ty to thirty feet stand without nav
or crack, in regular tiers, one above
the other.
TIE GREAT CANON
may be said to end at Tower creek,
and rise at the foot of the Lower
falls, giving it a length OF twenty five
or thirty miles. 1t has great basaltic
tissure, or rather rent, in the earth,
varying in depth from ono to two
thousand feet, along down which the
river seemed delighted 10 fairly
whirl, foam and fly, now blue and
then snowy ribbon. The work OF
erosion had left towers, points and
pinnacles barely standing out from
its almost vertical walls at and for
several miles below the falls. The
walls are gaily painted
by the water OF the numbcrless warm
md hot springs which flow, sweep,
Ind oozc out from the fissurcs into a
variety of tints and tones, dazzling
white, intense red, purple, saffron.
yellow, etc, and fairly bewildering
he eye at first sight with their singu
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