The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-27
afestern asjonders.
The Hot Springs Of the Yellowstone.


expectedly 10 full view Of the springs.
This wonder alone, our whole c6mpany
agreed. surprising all the descriptions
which had been given by former travel.
lers. Indeed, the Langford party saw
nothing of this. Before us arose High
white mountain, looking precisely like
a frozen cascade. 1t is formed by the
sediment of the hot springs,
precipitated from the water ut il huws
do6n the steep decliyities Of the noun.
tain side. The upper portion is about
one thousand feet above the waters of
GARDENERS river The surface covered
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 occupied by the remains
Of springs which have long since ceased
TO flow. We pitched our camp upon
grassy terrace at the base Of the prin.
eipal group Of active springs. just in
the fear OF US were a series Of reservoirs
or bathing pools, rising one above the
other, semicircular in form, with most
elegantly ,scalloped margins composed Of
calcarlous matter, the sediment precipi.
tated from the water of the spring, The
hill, which is about two hundred feet
high, presents the appearance Of water
congealed by frost as il quickly flows
down 4 rocky declivity. The deposit is
as white as snow, except when tinged
here and there with iren and 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 pre-.
sent the most exquisite shades Of yellow,
from deep bright sulphur to dainty
cream color. In the springs and in the
little channels is a material like the
finest Cashmere WOOL with its slender
6bre floating in the water, vibrating
with the movement Of the current, aud
tiugcd with various shades Of red and
yellow, as bright as those OF our aniline
dyes. These delicate wooilike masses
are undoubtedly plants which seem to
be abundant in all the hot springs of
the West, aud are familiar to microsco.
pists as diaioms. Upon kind Of ter.
race covering an area of two hundred
yards in length and fifteen in width
are several large springs in constant
state Of agitation, but with somewhat
lower temperature than the boiling
point. The highest spring is l62 de-
grees others are liz, 1855, aud l56
degrees respectively. Some of them
give off the odor OF sulphuretted hydro.
gen quite perceptibly A qualitative
analysis shows the water TO contain
sulphuretted hydrogen, lime, soda, al
umina, and small amount of magaesia.
IL is beautifully clear, aud slightly AHA.
line 10 the taste.
The water after rising from the spring
basins flows down the sides of the de.
cliyity, step BY step, from one reservoir
10 the other, ut each Que Of them lesiog
portion Of its heat, uutilit becomes as
cool rs spring. wa.er. Within FIVE hun.
dred feet Of its source, our la7ge party
camped for tive days by the side Of the
little stream formed by the aggregated
waters Of these hot springs, aud We
found the water most excellent for
drinking 10 well as cooking purposes
Ii was perfectly clear aud tasteless, and
pleasant, and harmless in its effects,
During our stay here all the members
OF our party, us well as the soldiers
comprising our escort, enjoyed the luz,
ury Of bathing 10 these most elegantly.
carved natural bathing pools, and il was
easy 10 select, from the hundreds of re
servoirs, water Of every variety of ten
perature. These natural basins vary
somewhat in sine, but many Of them are
about six feet in diameter aud one "a
four feet in depth. With foresight
worthy Of oommsudatiou, two men have
already preempted 800 acres Of laud
covering most Of the surface occupied
BY the active springs, with the expecta
tion that upon the completion OF the
Northern Pacific railroad this will be
come famous place OF resort for iuva
lids aud pleasure. seekers. Indeed, nc
future tourist in travelling over the far
West will think OF neglec,iug this mosl
wonderful Of the physical phenomena oI
that most interesting region.
The level or terrace upon which tn,
principal active springs are located i
about midway up the sides ofthe noun
tain covered with the sediment. Still
further up are the old ruins of wha
must have been at some period Of IN,
past even more active springs than an,
at present known. The sides of III,
mountain for two or three hundred fee
ia height are covered with q thick crus
of the calcareous deposie, which wa
originally oruamented with the mos
elegant sculptufiug all over the surface
like the bathing pools below. But at
mospheric agencies which act reaiil'
on the lime, have oblitcrated an thei
delicate beauty. Chianeys PARTIAL,
broken down are scattered about hev,
and there with apertures varying in sic
from two INCHES 10 two feet in diamsssr
Long, roulded ridges are also quit
numerous, with assures extending On
anftra lt.n..sh f.,.. ..k.~l "A. A.ts