The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-02-08
The Hot Springs of the Yellowstone.

'"o IeioWStOue, In the
February number of ScriJner's. This
article is the second in series on "The
Wonders of the Vest"
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, surpass.
ed all the descriptions which had been
given by former travellers. Indeed, the
Langford party saw nothing of this. Be-
fore US arose high white mountain, look
ing precisely like frozen cascade. 1t is
formed by the calcareous sediment of the
hot springs, precipitated from the water
as 1t flows down the steep decliyities of
the mountain 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 a
grassy terrace at the base of the principal
group of active springs. Just in the rear
of US were a series of reservoirs or bath
ing pools, rising one above the other,
semlcircular in form, with most elegantly
scal'oped margins composed of calcareous
matter, the sediment precipitated 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 rocky
decliyity. The deposit is as white as snow,
except when tinged here and there with
iron or sulphur. Small streams flow down
the side of the snowy mountain, in
channels lined with oxide Of iron colored
with the most delicate tints of red. Others
present the most exquisite shades Of yell
low, from deep bright sulphur to a
dainty cream color. In the springs and
in the little channels is a material like
the finest Cashmere wool, with its slender
6bers floating in the water, vibrating with
the movement of the current, and tinged
with various shades Of red and yollow, as
bright as those of our auiline dyes. These
delicate wool like masses are undoubtedly
plants, which seem to be abundant in all the
hot springs of the West, and are familiar
to the microscopic as diatoms. Upon
kind of terrace coveridg an area of two
hundred yards in length aud fifteen in
width are several large springs in a con-
slant state of agitation, but with a some
what lower temperature than the boiling
point. The hottest spring is 1862 others
are 1929, 1859, and 1862, respectively.
Some of them give off the odor of
sulphuretted hydrogen quite perceptibly.
A qualitative analysis shows the water to
contain sulphuretted hydrogen, lime, soda,
alumiua, and small amount of magnesia.
1t is beautifully clear, and slightly
alkaline to the taste.
The water after rising from the spring
basins flows down the sides OF the
declivity, step by step, from one reservoir
to the other, at each one of them losing
portion of its heat, until it become as cool
as spring water. Within FIVE hundred
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, and we found the
water most excellent for drinking as well
as cooking purposes. 1t was perfectly
clear and tasteless, and harmless IN Its
effects. During our stay here all the
members of our party, as well as the
soldiers comprising our escort, enjoyed the
luxury of bathing in these most elegantly
carved natural bathing pools, and it was
easy to select, from the hundreds OF re
serv voirs, water of every variety Of
temperature. These natural basins vary
somewhat in size, but many of them are
about four by six feet in diameter, and
one to four feet in depth. With a
foresight worthy of commentator, two
men have already pre- empted 800 acres
of land covering most of the surface oc
cupied by the active springs, with the
expectation that upon the completion Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad this will
become a famous place OF resort for
invalids and pleasure-seekers. Indeed,
no future tourist travelling over the Far
West will think of neglecting this most
wonderful Of the physical phenomena OF
that most interesting region.
The level or terrace upon which the
principal active springs are located is
about midway up the side of the mountain
covered with the sediment. Still further
up are the old ruins Of what must have
been at some period Of the past even more
active springs than any at present known.
The sides Of the mountain for two or
three hundred feet in height are covered
with a thick crust of the calcareous de-
posit, which was originally ornamented
with the most elegant sculpturing all over
the surface, like the bathing pools below.
But atmospheric agencies, which act
readily on the lime, have obliterated all
their delicate beauty. Chimneys partially
broken down are scattered about here and
there, with apertures varying is size from
two inches to two feet In diameter. Long.
al ria.xas also q, ,iita n ereaus