The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-02-01
The Hot Springs Of the Yellowstone.


From the river our path led up the
steep sides Of the hill for about one
mile, when we came suddenly and
unexpectedly in full view Of the
springs. This wonder alone, our
whole company agreed, surpassed all
the descriptions which had been given
by former travellers. Indeed, the
Langford party saw nothing Of this.
Before Us arose white mountain,
looking precisely like n frozen cas-
cade. 1t is formed by the calcareous
sediment of the hot springs, precipi-
tatcd from the water as it flows down
the steep dcclivities Of the mountain
side. The upper portion is about one
thousand feet above the waters of
Gardeners River. The surface cover
ed with the deposit comprises from
three to four square miles. The
springs now in active operation cover
an area of about one square mile,
while the rest Of the territory is occu-
pied by the remains Of springs which
have long since ceased to flow. We
pitched our camp upon a grassy ter
race at the base Of the principal
group of active springs. Just in the
rear of us were series of reser-
voirs or bathing-pools, rising one
above the other, semi-crcu,ar in form,
with most elegantly rcalloped mar
gins composed Of calcareOus matter,
the sediment precipitated from the
water Of The spring. The hill, which
is about two hundred feet high, pre-
sents the appearance Of water con-
gealed by frost as il quickly flows
down q rocky declivity. The deposit
is as white as snow except when
tingcd here and there with iron or
sulphur small streams flow down
the sides of the snowy mountain, in
channels lined with oxide Of iron
colored with the most delicate tints
of red. Others present tho most ex-
quisite shades OF yellow, from deep
bright sulphur to dainty cream
color. In the springs and in the lit
tic channels is material like the
finest Cashmere wool, with its slen-
der fibers floating in th9 water, vibrat-
ing with tho movement of the cur
rent, and tingcd with various shades
of red and yellow rs bright as those
of our anilne dyes. These delicate
Wool-llkc masses are undoubtedly
plants, which ccGm to be abundant
in all tho hot springs OF the West,
and are familiar to tho microscopic
as diatOms. Upon ~ kind Of terrace
covering an area Of two hundred
yards in lcngth and fifteen in width
are several largo springs ma constant
state OF agitation, but with some
what lower temperature than the
boiling point. The hottest spring is
1872 others arc az, and 1867, re-
spectlveIy. Some OF them give oil
tho odor Oh 1uiphufettca hydrogcn
quite peTCeptlbly. a qualitative an
alysls shows the water TO contain
nulphuretted Hydrogen, lime, soda,
aluminn, and small amount OF mag
nesia. III IS beautifully CleaF, ana
slightly alkaline to inc TASTE.
The water after rising. ir0m the
spring basins flows down the sides OF
the decllvity, step by step, rom one
reservoir to the other, at each one OF
them losing portion oil It's heat, un-
I'll 1t becomes as cool az sprlng-Water.
Nllhlh llVe hundred leet OF lts source
our large party campGd .'or TWO days
by the slde OF the NIUE stream iOrm-
ed by tilo aggregated waters OF t!leso
not springs, ana we loullu tle water
most eNcelieht ior uIlhKlhS as wen
as cooking purposes IL IS perfectly
clear ana ta3teiess, and harmless IN
its effects. During our stay here all
the members or our party, rs well as
the soldiers comprising our escort,
enjoyed the luxury OF bathing IN
these most elegantly carved natural
bathing-pools, ana 1t is easy to select,
from the hundreds Of reservoirs,
water Of every variety Of temperature.
These natural basins vary some
what in size. but many of them are
about four by si6 feet in diameter,
and one to four feet in depth. With
q foresight worthy OF commentator,
two men have already pre-cmpted
$50 acres Of land covering most OF the
surface occupied by the active springs,
with thc expectation that upon the
completion Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad this will become u famous
place Of resort for inyalids and plea
sure-seeker5. Indeed, 10 future tour
ist in travelling over the Fer West
will think of negleCtlng this most
wonderful Of the physical phenomena
of that most interesting region.
The level or terrace upon which
the principal active springs are loca-
ted Is about midway up the sides of
the mountain covered with the sedi-
ment. Still farther up are the old
ruins of what must have been at
some period of the past oven more
active springs than any ut present
known. The sides OF the mountain
for two or three hundred feet in
height are covered with a thick crust
of the calcnreous deposit, which was
originally ornamented with the most
elegant sculpturing all over the sur
face. like the bathing-pool8 below.
But atmospheric agencies, which act
readily on the lime, have obliterated
Mi their delicate beauty. Chimneys
partially broken down are scattered
about here and there with apertures
vorvinr in size from two inches to
two feet in diameter. Long. rounded
ridras ore also nIitc numcrous, with
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