The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-04-07
(From the New York Tim e,.)


The day will come when the remarkable
tract which has received the name of Yellow.
stone Park will take rank before the Nam
moth Cave or the Yosemite Valley among
the natural wonders of this country. II is
the diversity of anomalous phenomena and
their concentration within limited area
which make this domain veritable museum
of Curlostles GeySers equal IN magnitude
to those for whose sake men are willing to
visit Iceland, hot springs in some respects
more striking than those Of Arkansas, a wa.
terfall whose altitude is nearly double that of
the Niagara, mountains but little lower than
those of Switzerland, and lake framed like
that of Conancr--all these the future tourist
In Montana will sec in the course of an hours
ride. Dr. Hayden, some years ago, may be
said TO have revealed to US the scientific and
artistic value of region which at that time
was well nigh inaccessible Since this part
of the Yellowstone basin was reserved to pub
llc uses some further exploration has been
done, and we would cali attention to the re-
counoissance directed in that quarter by Col
Ludlow, of the United States Engineers.
The report has been quite lately published,
but the expedition which it describes took
place in the summer Of 1875. Col. Ludlow
was accompanied by Messrs. G.. b. Grinnell
and f. s. Dana of Yale College, who, although
the time allowed for researches was very brief,
succeeded in making substantial additions to
the geological aud geological knowledge of
the reservation. From Bismark, the western
terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad,
the party followed the upper Missouri, which
seems to be navgable until October by the
fatbottomed stern.whecl boats that ply on it.,
as far as Carroll, a distance of Gi0 miles.
Thence iortnights ride in q southwest di.
rection across a rough country, for the most
part unreclaimed and infested by hostile
Sioux, brought them to the Yellowstone Park.
1t appears that wagons can be taken as far as
the Mammoth Hot Springs, the road having
been made entirely practicable, though
this point, however, wheels must be abandon
ed and everything carried on pack animals
The first object of interest in the park Is
presented by these springs, which occupy Il
small valley, partly filled by their saline de.
pOsits. From the floor of this basin rises a
series of terraces, reaching height Of 200
| feet, dazzling white in the sun, and exhibit.
| ing great variety of form, embellIshcd by the
uuivering, sheeny effect of the thin, descend
ing sheets of water. The material is a carbon
ate OF lime deposited by the saline jet; it Is OF
nearly pure white, and while moist of a
moderate hardness. The main springs gush
| forth from the upper shelf of the terraced
mound and spread out into large, limpid
pools OF blue tint, boiling violently in places
and emitting clouds of steam. Overlooking
| the pools, the waters escape down the natural
stairway and gradually part with the carbon
ate held in solution, making constant adGi
lions TO the ornamentation of the surfaces
aud constructing scalloped cups and bath
tubs" of all shapes and temperatures. The
trail followed by tho party from the Ho
Springs 10 the Falls Of the Yellowstone
reaches a high point on Mount Nashburne
] and they availed themselves of the emporium
ity 10 ascend to the summit. Here, Col Lud
low tells us, the whole panorama OF the res
: ervation sprang into view. The lake, witt
deeply sinuous shores and silver surface. IN
!; terspersed with islands, and with the Yellow
| stone river crooking away from ii towards
2 the spectator, was set in a vast expanse q
| green, rolled and followed IN huge pillows
7 above which here and there jets of steam
rose like spray. The cncircling peaks, anon,
|, which were noted Mount Humphreys thirt,
, or forty miles southeast; Sheridan and Han
cock the same distance TO the SOUTH and be-
n yond and above them, ninty miles away, H.
!. Tetous, "fa pale purple hue, relieved hy III
c CLEAN of their snowy crests, completely wal
c ed IN the landscape with the exception of
: gap to the southeast looking toward the u es
Idaho Desert.
From mount WaShburne the trail soon le
them to the famous falls, of which the repur
gives az interesting account The river make
Is a sharp bend to the eastward, just above til
g spper fall, which accordingly fronts nearl
), at right angles TO the general direction of ia
waiercourse. This Cataract is a slanunc on,
= having base ofperhaps one.half lis alurud,
e which. as measured by Col. Ludlow, is 1
ri H..