The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-09-12
Our National Park.


The reservation which Congress has
wisely made on the Yellowstone river
for the purpose of national park, is
likely to be ranked as one of the Won
ders of the world. Between the Vel
lowstone and the Gallatin, the divide is
formed by volcanic conglomerate,
which has been worn by the action of
weather into "A dense mass of columns
and pinnacles beyond number. Little
streams wind their way through these
conglomerates, and here and there deep
gorgcs, cut down to the Inetamorphic
rocks, intervene. Everywhere opalized
or silicified wood abounds, and one in
stance is recorded where the stump of
tree, thirteen or fourteen feet in di-
ameter, may be seen entirely inclosed
in breccia. The question has been sug
gested by the Government geologist,
from whence these breccia came, and
under what conditions they were depos-
tied, since they are sometimes from four
to five thousand feet thick, and lying in
perfectly horizontal strata. He con-
cludes that they were thrown out by
volcanoes into water thus assuming
that at a comparatively recent date the
mountain ranges of the Northwest were
submerged. This latter supposition is
shown by other evidence to be sound,
and we may suggest to Mr.. Hayden that
the explanation he furnishes of the de-
position of the breccia may be seen
illustrated from time to time in Hawaii.
During the great eruption from Kilauea,
in 1859, vast quantities of breccia
thrown into the sea fell upon bottom
of similar material that had probably
been many years accommodating and in
one instance flood of molten lava fol-
lowed, completely filling up a small bay,
and Mt the same time engulfing native
village. Any subsequent elevation of
the land around this great volcano of the
Sandwich group, would probably pre-
sent at future day much the appear
ance which we now see preserved to us
in the region of our national park, and
in more marked degree than could be
had in any other volcanic region, thus
fully corroborating Mr.. Hayden's the
Dry.
One of the most curious features of
this region is to be had in the hot
springs. On the border of the Yellow
stone Lake are often to be seen elevated
mounds, which jut out from the shore
into the water. These contain pools
filed with heated water, SO that it is
possible for person standing on the
mound to catch trout in the lake with
the help of a fishing-rod, and to cook
them in the boiling spring without tax
ing them off the hook. The water III
these springs varies much in tempera-
ture, from 104 to about 1872 degrees,
their elevation above the sea level rang
ing from 5, 80 to 6,779 feet, at least
those which have been more closely ex-
amined. The springs of highest eleva-
ton are usually those in which the wa
ter is of the highest temperature. The
gas given off from them is most fire.
quently sulphuretted hydrogen, though
from some half dozen of them carbon
ic acid only is detected. 1t would seem
that they are constantly undergoing
changes, old springs drying up, and
new ones coming into existence.
There is evidence that these springs
were once much more numerous than
they now are, and probability that
they will one day become extinct. Phere
is another variety found in the neigh
borhood, which, although less pictur.
esque, are otherwise as interesting
These are mud springs or salses. The
temperature of the water in these is Of
ten below that of the surrounding at
mosphere, and sometimes as high as 100
degrees Fahrenheit. In one instance
they cover the entire hillside, bubblne
and steaming from top to bottom. The
mud is of various colors-black and rec
from the deposit of iron and yellow from
the presence of native sulphur, while IL
consistency it varies from Il thick pasty
mass to inky black water. 1t bubbles
and boils necessarily from the escape o.
steam and sulphuretted hydrogen, which
fill the air, and this, together with tn,
splashing of the water, the heavier bub
bling of the thick mud, and the throb
bling and trembling of the whole hill
side, combine to form a scene not read
lily to be forgotten.
Some of the most beautiful features
in the scenery, apart from these geology
cal curiosities, are the falls of the Vel
lowstone river. The lower of these, a
the head of Grand Canon, is found t.
be 397 feet in height, and the depth o
the canon at its foot 675 feet, increasing
rapidly to 1000 feet. Before the fal
the river suddenly narrows, become
very deep, and assumes a remarkable
green color. Large boulders are some
times carried over the precipice a
though they were mere pebbles yet s.
great is the height that before the wa
ter reaches the bottom it has resolves
itself into dense cloud of spray, which
gathering itself together again, 500
after rushes between its mountain walls
battling against the intervening rocks
as bright emerald green stream, dash
ed only at intervals with wreath Q
snow-white foam. The upper fall
distant from this not more than half
mile, and is 40 feet high, but chief
remarkable for the peculiar form whic
the water in its descent assumes /
meeting with number of great pre-
jecting rocks. More picturesque agai
than this are some beautiful falls o