The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-11-24
YELL oWsToNE FIELD NOTES.
ENGINEERING OBSERVATIONS OF THE
a' 7o Fot7o7Ts VALLEY aioa a. os1syg
-#.4 IIp Ig alaS}m----lllF .y9Fssr rf
nrnraa - Az -r.at NO. u 49, ~

4 he Yalley Soou DeglnS 10 1ucTeaSe IL
width until it is about six miles wide, the
soil in places being slightly alkaline. The
bluffs, on the opposite side Of the river pre-:
sent a Ignite appearance, and a march Of
4 90 miles brings the traveller to the juno.
ton with the Yellowstone of . ''1ssoa
Cldrk's Fork, which runs from the gran.
ite mountains to the southwest. At the
time the command passed, its volume was
about one-half that Of the Yellowstone:
The head of the Fork is in d remarkably
cold spring region, and it is dotted with
lakes Of various sizes. Cottonwood abounds
and at the confluence Of the two streams
there is quite forest. For more than a
mile above their Junction the two run al
most parallel-the bearing up the Fork be-
ing south, $50 west, and up the Yellow
stone southwest. %. g.. ''-5''
Canyon Greek, 24 miles farther on, has
it's source in the lake. region mentioned.
Many of these lakes are supposed to be re-
mains of what were once large bodies OF
water, and are mostly situated near the
summit of the Divide between the point
mentioned and the Muscleshell. Soon the
first sage7brush appears. Ten and one-half
miles beyond break in the vertical bluffs
affords an opportunity to view w.sthe -
Red Bstttes, or Bull Mountain. Ascend
ing to the plateau above and marching
along the table land a distance Of six miles,
a small valley is reached and convenient
camp is made just below ''.'- - 9..',-. :. :.
Bakers Battle Ground. -Four miles be-
low the river is crossed to a large prairie
upon its south side, Here the sandstone
bluffs recede, giving place to the prairie
which enlarges to an extensive valley. On
the north side Of the river is the commence
ment OF. a long range of barren hills, and
IL o7 miles below
: Prgor's Greek joins the river. This val
lev is described as very beautiful and one
of the finest upon the Yellowstone. +" Va
rying in width from one to six miles, and
averaging about Fl, it. extends for miles
along the river, and contains, perhaps, TO-
600 acres Of arable land. all Of which is sns-
ceptible of irrigation from both streams.
The scenery is varied-to the south west
can be seen the lofty Yellowstone, snow
covered range to the north and north T
the bluff country toward the Musclesilell
stretches away as a vast plateau, and and to
the south and east the gently rolling hills
are lost in the far distance in the granite
ranges Of the Big Horn and Pryor's noun Z
tain In all this section great cetton-
woods grow far back from the river. Nc
Clernapd reports regarding this valley as
follows: s.,eg f..s ytrAaa cnaa sgesEv =
aTo convince one that this valley, has ~
bright future, it is but necessary TO ,san remark
that the river flowing along its entire front
is navigable two months in the y year fof
Upper Missouri River steamboats," %
!, each, ,Wood, or Arrow Greek, is S. crossed rn
after march Of 8, ,15 miles, Vi, and AZ Ia n niles
farther brings " US to I.,,a ssoais.s .a :. =
!, Pompsy's. Pillar, ags s"This This rock rock says
McC Clernand, 20 o"anamed in 1905 by Capt.
Clark, stands upon the south bank Of the
river, a few yards from the bank -sol " 10
easily assembled along its northeast 7 st., siie'
and one of our scouts reached the .s'e summit
upon a mule IT Is Joy feet feet Jhfgh
and 2OO, feet in. diameter. The sell op top
varies from one to four feet in depth. the
rock is gritty. sandstone, and great blocks
which have detached themselves lie scatter
ed about its base On the east side p npge
rock, nearly as high.as the Pillar, and nve We
or six yards in.diameter, appears ready 70
fall. On all sides, except the east, the rock y
has vertical faces and is. cylindrical ~
shape.,' Again ! y e Having reached the
the view is grand in the extreme, ie,
to the east, south and .Westw ionq e
the northbank of the. river the view is some @
what limited by bold, rugged sandstone
bluffs Of about;the same height az pne fll- u
lar, and to, which It'll has undoubtedly been
formerly attached. A few miles back these
bluffs break into rolling country, studded
with scrub, pine, and presenting q barren sfl
appearance These hills, extending to the
Muscleshells 5RiYenland running - males
along the Yellowstone, constitute one oi y M
poorest sectionssovia sa afea 1g easis' il,
Tie Red Battas lie north, (55o wesD, ana ne
the ii asEf Id a0s89a eea asl Fl,
Stsl7soaser Peoks south. 164P ewest)g ano
ten miles down the riyer,s on each side, lies
~ h;,y,,, ronoll hills running alnlosi