Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-04-11
The National Park.

/ oh 4 uoilS A]AhNS, w shS
House of Representatives, describ
ing the wonderful region known as
the Yellowstone Country 1t was
on the strength oi the facts herein
stated that Congress passed the bill,
setting apart this region for Ma
tional Park:
The bill now before Congress has
for its object the withdrawal from
settlement, occupancy, or sale, under
the laws of the United States, tract
OF land fitty-fve by sixty-five miles,
about the source Of the Yellowstone
and Missouri Rivers; and dedicates
and sets it apart as q great national
park or pleasure ground for the ben
eft and enjoyment of the people.
The entire area comprised within the
limits of the reservation contemplat
ed in this bill is not susceptible OF
cultivation with any degree Of GER
tainty, and tho winters would be too
severe for stock raising. Whenever
the altitude of the mountain districts
exceeds 5000 feet above tide-water,
their settlement becomes problemat-
ical unless there are valuable mines
to attract people. The entire area
within the limits of the proposed
reservation is over COCO feet IN alti-
tude. and the Yellowstone lake
which occupies an area Is by %
miles, or $50 square miles, is ], 7,427
| feet. The ranges OF mountains that
hem the valleys in on every side
rise to the height of 10000 and r.
900 feet, and are covered with snow
all the year. These mountains are
all of volcanic origin, and it is not
probable that any mines or minerals
Of value will ever be found there.
During the months OF June, July and
August, the climate is pure and most
invigorating, with scarcely any rain or
storms Of any kind; but the thcr-
mometer frequently sinks as low as
% degrees. There is frost every
month of the year This whole re-
gion was in comparatively modern
geological times the scene Of the
most wonderful volcanic activity of
any portion of our country. The
hot springs and the geysers repre-
sents the last stages-the vents or
escape pipes-ot these remarkable
volcanic manifestations of the inter-
nal forces. All these springs are
adorned with decorations more beau.
tiful than human art ever conceived,
and which have required thousands
of years for the canning hand OF ma
ture to form. Persons are now wait
ing tor the spriug to open to enter
in and take possession OF these re.
markable curiositics, to make mcr-
chandise of these beautiful speci-
mems, to fence in these rare wonders
so as to charge visitors fee, as is
now done at Niagara Falls, for the
sight of that which ought to be as
free as the air or water.
In few years this region will be
place of resort for all classes of
people from all portions Of the world.
The geysers of Iceland, which have
been objects of interest for the scien-
tific men and travellers of the entire
world, sink into insigniicance in
comparison with the hot springs of
the Yellowstone and Fire Hole Ba-
sins. As place Of resort for inva'
lids it will not be exccl!ed by any
portion Of the world. If this bill
fails to become a law this session,
the vandals who are now waiting to
enter into this wonderland will, in q
single season, despo!l, beyond rccovc-
ry, these remarkable suriosities
which have required all the cunning
skill of nature thousands of years to
prepare.
We have already shown that, no
portion Of this tract can ever be
made available for agricultural or
mining purposes. Even if the alti-
tuie and tho climate would permit
the country to be made available, not
over fifty square miles of the entire
area could be settled. The valleys
are all narrow, hemmed in by high
volcanic mountains like gigantic
walls.
The withdrawal of this tract, there
fore. from sale or sttlement takes
nothing from the value Of tho public
domain, and is no pecunlary loss to
the Governms mt, but will be regard
ed by the entire civilized world as q
step of progress and an honor to Con
cress and the nation.
| Charles FrNcis Adams said one
day to his son, John Quincy Adams
| John was boy them )-so, the story
goes-"My son, do you think 70,
know enough to be Governor Of Mas
sachusetts ?" To which the young