Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-11-29
NAVIGATION OF THE YELLOW.
STONE.

, Col. p. VI. Norris. in his report to the
Honorable Secretary Of the Interior. says
80 important to the development and en-
joyment OF the National Park lis the open
ing OF the Yellowstone river route, that
add a brief statement OF what deem prac-
teal facts. in relation thereto"
Speaking of the successful navigation OF
Missouri and the comparative merit of the
Yellowstone. Col. Norris says: From a
personal knowledge of these streams.
many years ago-explorations. most of
them in 1870 and in 1875, boating the whole
of the Yellowstone one way. part of it the
other. and the balance upon horseback. this
tseason. the views~of old trappeis AID bull
boat yOyaGcrs. and Of recent steamboat
and military officers. basis for accurate
conclusions. certainly cqlnlled by few. il
any. and cxcelleJ by re man living-I thus
view their relative and actual merits for
navigation. As compared with the Mis-
souri, above their junction. deem tile Vel
lows,one less crooked. and muddy, with Il
somewhat narrower channel. and much
| tirncr banks. more uniformly rapid
tcurrcnt, but neither falls or long and heavy
rapids. as las the Missouri below the
mountains. usually carrying nearly us
much wafer. and often, though not al
ways from higher snowy mOuntains);
boating stage. laterin the season. bluff and
bar impedmen!s to navigation, more rocky
and ciiangeless. and. hence. soon better
known. avoided. Or permanently improved.
With moderate appropriations, for re-
mov;l of huge bouldcrs in tie Wolf, But
f,lo and a few other rapids. and with the
convenient rock and timber. obstructing
few side chutes. powerful light draft steam
boats. like the Josephine or Far West. can
with safety and profit run nearly or quite
all of the season to the mouth of the Big
Horn.
Boats like the Rosebud could ascend to
at least Bakers Battle Ground. and with
further improvements of the channel. and.
perhaps smaller, yet serviceable. class of {
boats to the mouth of Saltwater; if not,
indeed. to Benson's Landing. at the very .
gate of the mountains. within sixty miles
Of the Mammoth Hot Springs. in the Park. l
This landing is but p miles by the open /
Bozcman Pass and excellent road from t
Fort Ellis. ut the head of the fertile Gal I
latin valley. extending 10 the Three Forks e
Of the Missouri. and central point of the {
valuable mines and valleys of Montana. c
Hence. even liberal appropriations for i'm +
orovement Of the Yellowstone would be t
annually repaid to the Government in the t
cost OF transportation alone. to an entire n
hair of forts. beside, speedily assuring a C
border of prosperous settlements (save up Il
IN the Crow reservation. and. ere long. a
hat also and permanently solving the In o
liam question. through the very heart of il
heir most beautiful and valuable game re- is
lions. Il
The permanent opening Of this great c.
atnral route from the north and east. and U
he assured extension of the Utah and G.
Northern road into a, least the Snake river ii
alley from the south will develop rivalry l
4 excursion tickets from all the important Il
tiles Of the nation, inviting teeming D
hrongs of tourists to the byacinr air, the II
ealing bathing pools. and matchlcss d
cauties of the "Nonderland.'' la