Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-10-24


/ lowstone, from the Big Horn to its
source, the finest trout-fShing stream or
earth.
From the Mud Springs the trail was
! due west, crosses the mountain range
which separates the Yellowstone from
! the Madison, both tributaries of the Mis-.
souri,; descends this tributary to the
west fork Of the Madison, and here i
/ the lower geyser basin. 1t would re.
quire volume to describe these geyser-
in detail. 1t must suffice now for me
to say that the lower geyser basin pre-
/ scented series of hot springs, or basins
of water, coming up from below, hot
enough to scald your hand, boil IL ham
eggs, or anything else-clear as crystal
/ with basins of every conceivable shape
! from the size of quill to actual lakes
! hundred yards across, one feels that
in moment he may break through
/ miles higher up the West Madison is the
! Upper Geyser Basin-the spouting geys-
ers--thc realobje ct and aim Of our visit
/ TO describe these in detail would sur
pass my ability, or the compass Of Il
/ letter. They have been described by
Lieutenant Duane, Hayden, Strong,
| Lord Dunraven, and many others. The
maps by Major Ludlow, of the engineers
locate the several geysers accurately
We reached the Upper Geyser Basin at
| - noon of one day, and remained there
! till I. p. IN. of the next. During that
time we saw the old Faithful perform
at intervals varying from siXty-two min
utes to eighty minutes,
The intervals vary, but the perform
ance only varies with the wind and sun.
1 The cone, or hill, IS of soft, decaying
lime, but Immediately about the hole,
! which is irregular, about six feet across,
the incrustation is handsome, so that
one can look in safely when the geySer
| is at rest. SO regular are its periods OF
activity, that we could foretel its move
mcnts within few minutes Sometimes
we stood near enough to feel the hot
spray, at others we sat at our camp,
about 800 yards away Each
/ eruption was similar, preceded by
about minutes of Spluttering, and
! then would arise column Of hot water
/ steaming and smoking, to the height OF
! 20 or 100 feet the stream going Il hun
! dred or more feet higher, according to
/ the state of the wind. 1t was difficult to
say where the water ended and steam
/ began, and this must be the reason why
/ different observers have represented
different results. The whole perform
ancc lasts about five minutes, when the
column of water gradually sinks, and
! the spring assumes its normal state of
rest This Is but one of some twenty
Of the active gcyscrs of this basin For
| the time we remained, we were lucky,
| for we saw the Beehive in eruption
| the town and grotto were repeatedly in
agitation, though theirjets did not rise
more than twenty feet We did not
see the Giant or the Grand i'll eruption,
but they seemed busy enough in bubbling
and boiling. One Is fairly brilliant 10y
the variety, extent, and activity of these
boiling and bubbling cadrons of hot
water. They do not seem to me to be
volcanic, but rather the result of chcmi-
cal action underneath, which produces
heat and gases which give force and
activity 20 these gcysCrs. Externally,
they are not rs beautiful a. the furma-
ton of some under the water exquisite
in form, but crumhlng in the hand,
and slaky when dry. The specimens
gathered 10y the curious and carried of
amount To nothing. The real thing is
the quantity, variety. and forms OF ac-
ton of these gcyscrs.
On our return trip we again visited
points of most interest and some new
ones, and, ON approaching our wagons
/ ut the mouth OF t,ar,!ncr's River. we
! took III the mammoth spring, called
soda Mountain. This. Also is the re-
suit of hot spring or gcyscr action, but
not comparable with the upper Geyscl
Basin. We got back Yesterday
bringing back every horse and mule IN
good condition. The reason was om
party was small, and we carried nothing
but the smallest possible baggage and
soldiers rationS only; no Injuries, nc
SupeMluitlcS. The whole distance tray
clcd was about 800 miles. and the time
fifteen days. ! would give these data
as about the least time needed to See
these great natural curiosities. The
trip Is Il hard one, and cannot be- soft
cned.
The United States have reserved this
park, but has spent not dollar in its
care, The paths are mere Indian trails.
IN some places rs bad rs bad can be.
There is n little game in the park now
We SAW two bears, two elk, and about Il
dozen deer and antelopeS, but killed
none, \ few sage chickens and album
dance of fish completed all we got to
supply our wants. The whole park is
high and healthy, with abundance OF
good grass and water at this season.
The general elevation above the sea is
from | 900 70 Il 900 feet and in Mintnr