The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-27
agesteri. asjondsrs.
The Hot Springs of the Yellowstone.

expectedly 10 fuli view OF the springs.
This wonder alone, our whole cBtnpauy
agreed, surprising all the descriptions
which had been given by former travel.
lers. Indeed the Langford party saw
nothing Of this. Before US arose nigh
white mountain, looking precisely Hike
a frozen cascade. 1t is formed by the
calcarlons sediment Of the hot springs,
precipitated from the water at it flows
dosn the steep declivities Of the moun.
tain side. The upper portion is about
one thousand feet sbovc 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 siuee ceased
TO flow. We pitched our camp upon u
grassy terrace at the base Of the prin.
cipal group Of active springs. Just 10
the FEAR Of US were series Of reservoirs
or bathing pools, rising one above the
other, semicircular in form, with most
slegautly. 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
CONCEALED by frost as it quickly flows
down a rocky declivity. The deposit is
as white as snow, except when linged
here and there with iron and sulphur.
Small streams flow down the sides Of
the snowy mountain, in channels lined
with oxide Of iron colered with the
most delicate tints Of red. Others pre-.
sent the most exquisite shAdes Of yellow,
from a deep bright sulphur TO u dainty
cream color. la the springs and in the
little channels is a material like the
finest Cashmere WOOL with its slender
fibre floating iu tho water, vibrating
with the movement Of the current, aud
tingcd with various shades Of red aud
yellow, as bright as those Of our aniine
dyes. These delicate wool.like masses
are undoubtedly plants; which seem to
DO abundant in all the hot springs Of
the West, aud are familiar to microsco.
pisls rs diaIoms. Upon kind of ter
race covering M area Of two hundred
yards in length aud fifteen in width
are several large springs in 4 constant
state Of agitation, but with somewhat
lower temperature than the boiling
point. The highest spring is l62 de.
grees others are l42, 155, aud l56
degrees respectively. Some of shem
give of 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 magsesia.
IL is beautifully clear, aud slightly alba.
line To the taste.
Thewater after rising from the spring
basins flows down the sides Of the de.
cliyity, step by step, from Que reservoir
10 the other, ut each one Of them losing
portion Of its heat, uutilit becomes az
cool as springwa.er. Within Eve hun.
dred feet OF its source our large party
camped for two days BY the side of the
little stream formed by the aggregated
waters of these hot springs, aud ",
found the water most excellent fol
drinking MS well MS cooking purposes
ID was perfectly clear aud tasteiess, ane
pleasant, aud harmless 10 its effects
During our stay here all the member,
Of our party, as we'll ne the soldier
comprising our escort; enjoyed the lux
ury Of bathing In these most elegantly
carved natural bathing pools, aud IL wal
easy to select, from the hundreds Of 70
seryoirs, water Of every variety Of ten
perature. These natural basins var,
somewhat in sire but many Of them ar,
about six feeG in diameter aud one 3,
four feet in depth. With foresight
worthy Of commendation, 1--WE men hav.
already preempted 320 acres Of lapc
covering most of the surface occupied
BY tho active springs, with the cxpecia
tion that upon the completion Of tn,
Northern Pacific railroad this will be
come famous place OF resort for iuya
lids and pleasures seekers. Indeed, o,
future tourist in travelling over the fal
West will think Of neglecting this mos
wonderful Of the physical pheuomeua O
that most interesting region.
The level or terrace upon which IN,
principal active springs are located i
about midway up the sides ofthc noun
tain covered with the sediment. Still
further up are The old ruins Of wha
must have been at some period Of tn
past even more activu springs than an
at present known. The sides Of III,
mountain for two or three hundred fee
10 height are covered with u thick crus
Of the calcareous deposie. which wa
originally ordameuted with the mos
elegant sculpturiug all over the surface
like the bathing pools below. But at
mospheric agencies, which act readiI
on the lime, have obliterated all thei
delicate beauty. Chimneys PARTIAL
broken down are scattered about her,
and there vita apertures varying in 81.
from two inches 10 two feet in diameter
Long, ronaded ridges are also quit
numerous, with assures extending IN
entire bngth, from which the boilin
water issued forth aud flowed over th
sides, Thus the sediment was sontiu
ually precipitated in thin oval layers, s
that a section of these oblong chimney
Presents the appearance oflayers Of ha
IN stack, or the shatched cabin Of
peasant Some of these ebimneys wer
undoubtedly formed bv aevaers no,