The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-04
THE WONDERS OF YELLOW
- STONE.

Tlll,e sacramen.o Bee, u ssptember !

i E@4& Fl EEsaE
4 The Sacramento Bee, or September 18th,
says:
4 we had al interview yesterday with Mr.,
/ Adams, BotanHst, attached to the U. s. Geo
logical Survey, under charge Of DR.. +. ".
Hayden, q. 5. Geologist and Professor OF
Geology and Mineralogy of the University of
Pennsylvania, and are enabled to give some
details in regard to that wonderful section i'm
which the party have passed the summer.
The party, consisting of some twenty-five in
number, with seven teamstcrs, two cooks,
etc, fitted out at Fort Russell, and the
train of five army wagons and two ambulan-
ces proceeded through Idaho and Montana,
making geological and typographical sur
/ vey along the route. Approaching ths scene
/ proper Of their Iabors, viz the Yellowstone
IriYer and lake, they replenished their ex-
hausted outfit at Fort Ellis, where they were
also Joined by their escort, Company +, Sec
ond Cavalry. under command of Capt, Geo.
F. Tyler. At this point the wagons had to
be abandoned and recourse had to pack
mules for trailsportation, and many were the
difficulties that beset their path. 49,. ~
&. There is perhaps no section Of one hum
dred miles in extent in the world that pre-
sent as many and varied physical phenomena
| as that lying contiguous to the Yellowstone
and Madison rivers. The Hot Springs, flow
ing into gypsum basins Of most beautiful
formation, charged with sulphur, copper and
| iron, staining the same, presents a picture
unique in its character, while the great ell
llowstone Falls. rushing over its precipice and
falling $50 feet wide into its canyon 1000 feet
deep, rivals Niagra in beauty if not in vol
ume. The lake, 1880 feet above the Sea
level, is perhaps the largest in the world at
such an elevation, being some thirty-fve
miles long, and varying from ten TO fifteen in
width. The topographers, in canvass boat,
made thorough survey of 1t, fifty fathoms
being the greatest depth obtained: The Gey-
sers, i'll Firehole Basin, on the Madison river,
We're measured by triangnlation while in op.
Grafton. and were found to throw two hun
dred feet in mid-air a stream from five to ten
feet in diameter. They were numerous and
varied in force. Their companions, the Mud
Geysers, were more curions than beautiful,
and owing to their more heavy fluid, threw
but fifty feet. The Country is one of vol
canic formation. and geologically speaking,
of recent formation, as its disturbed condi-
tioh testities. While the party were so en-
gagged Prof Thomas was, inquiring into the
agricultural statistics and resources of the
country, whose report will be Incorporated
with that Of DIR. Haydens which win be sub
mitted to Congress early during the session,
and the entire work will hp a valuable and
instructive one. This is the Doctors crown
ing success. For sixteen years he has been
explaining geologically the Territories, bnt
never before has he had q field so rich in re-
source for scientific Investigation and gem
eral interest. These surveys are dependent
upon annual appropriations by Congressman
it behooyes our newly elected members to
that body to SEQ that measure SO important
to our western country fails not to be con
tinued. Fred j. Hifse. the naturalist, is also
with Mr. Adams. Both GO west this evening.