The avant courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-28

| The following IL the report Of the commit
to on Public Lands, in reference 10 setting
aside the wonderful region Of the Yellow
stone for National Park. We are indebted
TO Secrstary DeIano for copy of the same,
accompanied with an excellent map OF the
Park, etc:
VA The bill now before Congress has for its
object the withdrawal from settlement. Occur
pancy, or sale, unEer the laws OF the United
States, tract Of lard fif.y-five BY sixty-ive
miles, aboat the sources of the Yellowstone
and Missoaririrsrs and dedicatcs5 it and sets
i. apart AS great national park or pleasure
ground for the benefit and enjoyment Of the
people. The entire afSa co.rpfisrd within the
limits OF the reservation, contemplated in this
is not susceptible of cultivation with any des
gree of certainty, and the, winters would BE
too severe for stock aising. Whenever Tho
altitude Of the morl, tain districts exceeds
6,oO0 feet above tide-water, their settlement
becomes problems teal unless there are yalu-
able mines to attract people, The entire area
within the limits OF the reservation is over
5000 feet in altitude, and the Yellowstone
Lake, which juccnpirs ain area, 10 by ~ miles,
or 33Jsquare miles. rs Z AZ feet he ranges
OF mountains that -heal ahe 1alley Il iii OH ey-
cry side rise to the height OF 1000 and 12,-
600 fess and are covered with snow all the
year. .,rHss np5,th tains are 1 ! of volcanic
origin, and ills not pfobabls that any mines
O. valuable minerals of value will ever be
found there. During the montsls or June,
July, aud August, the, climate is pure and
ulost inyigorating, with scarcely any rain or
storms Of any kind; but the thermometer
frequently slnks as low. as 26deg. There is
frost every month OF the year. This whole
region WIS in comparatively geological times
tAesseeneso OF the most wonderful volcanic ac-
dvity Of any portion of our, country. The
hots springs mi hs geysers represent the Inst
skfaRses5tals Hits Or escape-pipes -of these
sicanic manifestations OF the in
torets. vsNAll these springsare adorned
r. DECORATIONS more beautiful than human
.s4rtAssf conceived, and which have required
thousands OF years for the cunning hand OF
nature to form. Persons are now waiting
for the spring to open to enter in and take
possession of these remarkable curiosities. to
make merchandise of these beautiful spcci-
mems. to fence in these rare wonders SO as to
charge visitors tee. as is now done at Mag
arr Falls. for the sight of that which ought
to be as free as the air OF. water.
In q few years this region will be a place
of resort for all classesof people from all
portions Of the world The gcysers Of Ice
Ind ,.,,;., ,a.,. of i,tarast for
the scientidcmen and selers OF the entire
world, sinktpta ind shce in comparison
with theh ellowstent. and
Fire place of resort for
invalids III eelled by a por-,
ton of MN lis bill tails to become
law this1 HE vandals VIII are now
waiting 70 eilser into this wonderland will,
in single season, despoil, beyond recovery,
these remarkable curiosities which have re-
quired all the cunning skill of nature thou
sands of years to prepare.
We have already shown that no portion of
this tract can ever be made available for agri-
cultural or mining purposes. EVENT the al
titude and the climate would permit the
country to be made available, not over fifty
square miles of the entire area could ever be
settled. The valleys are all narrow. hemmed'
in by high volcanic mountains ike gigantic
walls. ss~...-, 15.-~y sas:ssi. Is
The withdrawal OF this tract. therefore,
from sale or settle ment takes nothing from
the'valae Of the public domain, and is no Pc
cuniary loss to the Government, but win be
regarded by the entire civilized world as 9
step of spf ogress' and an honor to Congress
aud tho nation.