Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-12-05

ing from the south through the beautiful,
well timbered valley which extends some
distance up the river. Its water has red
dish tinge. The Big Horn, 423 miles above
the mouth. is wide, swift stream. about
the size OF our Usage river. At its mouth
it is larger than the Yellowstone itself,
though not so swift or deep. 1t reaches
that river through narrow valley, and is
navigab!c to Fort Custer. fifty miles south.
Among the principal smaller streams are
Cottonwood, Cabin, O'Fallon, Cedar,
Sunday. Rosebud, Ash, Big Porcupine,
and Snyder's Run Greeks.
The Yellowstone Valley is bordered on
each side by the ''Bad Lands.' at the
worst places these present most wild,
unpromisinG picture OF loneliness and des-
olation. Far as the eye can reach, moth
ing but parched clay meets the sight; no
grass, no trees, no water. no liabitation, no
life. In some places. however, we find it
covered with wild, hardy grass, excellent
for hay and grazing. Were it not for the
scarcity of water and timber, this land
could. in time. be utilized. Sometimes be-
tween the river and bluff are found stretch
es of rolling prairie, covered with sage
brush and prickly pear.
Underlying the bluffs which at times
border the river, we found thick veins OF
coal. One mile above Morsan's Rancho.
in the south bank, there is vein from
three to six feet in thickness. seemingly of
good quality. Eight miles above O'Fallon
Creek, in the south bank, there is Gov
ernment claim. six TO eight feet in thick
ness. This coal has been used by steamers.
and tor other purposes, and is said to be
good. No other valuable minerals are
known to be present in the immediate vi
cinity Of the Yellowstone, although many
beautiful specimens of moss agate we.e
found.
On the lower part Of the Yellowstone,
the bluffs which border the riverare not OF
unusual height. Mountain Sheep Bluff,
on the north shore, 200 miles above the
mouth, is high, rough, ridge Of the Bad
Land species. Smoke and steam was seen
issuing from between the rocks on bluff
near Jacobs Rapids. We did not stop to
investigate the phenomenun. and the lore
cannot explain it. St;elidan's Butte Is d
high, barren mound of curious shape. just
below Powder river. Devils Backbone. 2
high ridge of barren, broken hills, borders
the river on the north for several miles.
''This spinal column of his Satanic Males
ty'' is visible many miles away. Above
Tongue river the bluffs are tI:;ckly covered
with pine. growing at times right at the
waters edge. Bessie Butte, two miles
mark, visible for a great distance. Castle
and Lalra's Bnttes are also prominent
landmarks. The Palisades are broken
ridge of rocks Immediately fringing the
river on the north, for three or four miles.
They are from fifty to seventy-iive feet in
height, and present many curious torma-
lions. just below the Big Horn, the bluffs
on the south increase in altitude, present
ing a very mountainous appearance. Above
Big Horn they become still higher, of a
rougher character. and rocks are plentiful
in the river. In the hazy distance on the
north, can be seen lone peak of the Bull
Mountains. From Snyder's Run we can
see. far to the west, the tops of the Crazy
Mountains, so white with the "eternal
snow" that they are hardly distinguishable
from the heecy clouds beyond. .Glistening
in the rays Of the morning sun, they seem
veritable tairy-land.
Scattered along the Yellowstone there
are bits of scenery which would charm the
most uncultured. A walk of 100 yards
will. at any time, secure most beautiful
bouquet. Bright, hardy flowers. seldom
found in the garden or hot house, here
.'waste their sweetness on the desert air. y
There are roses of most beautiful spe-
cies, in prolific abundance. Hundreds OF
floral beauties, dazzling the eye with their
varied tints, show forth all the colors OF
the rainbow, and fill the air with delicious
fragrance. In this wide wilderness.
sccrched by incessant heat. neglected by
the rain drops, visited only by the grazing
antelope, the fleeing deer, the wild elk, the
wandering buffalo, and the pursuing red
man. blossom and flourish flowers of the
sweetest fragrance and unrivaled beauty.
In June the river is bordercd from head to
mouth with these specimens Of the Crea-
tors handwork.
Perhaps the most beautiful views are the
many picturesque islands. Level as the
smoothe& prairie, they are covered with a
luxuriant growth Of grass, and no weeds
or underground whatever are visible.
Over this richly carpeted lawn bend the
heavy limbs of aged .cottOnwoods, rich
with foliage. 70 add to the beauty OF the
scene. cIumps Of most beautiful flowers
are placed here and there. This forest
primeval is arranged with charming irreg-
ularity by Natures own hand. yet one
can look down the rhed avenues and
imagine himself in s,,.-e English forest.
So beauteous are they in their every aspect
that they appear like the dainty, wel[kept
parks of our handsomest cities, rather than
natural islands.
Above the Big Horn the scenery chang
es from the beautiful to the sublime.
Quaint figures are eroded in the sandstone
by the flowing waters; the swift rolling
river rushes onward; bluffs, points and
peaks rise hundreds Of feet above the wa
ter's edge; deep ravines separate the pine
covered hills, and in the distance the snow
capped mountains mingle with the clouds
beyond.
The rapidity with which the Yellow
stone valley has been settled is one OF the
wonders of modern times. But when we
remember the great value of this country,
the unprecedented influx of settlers ceases
to be remarkable. Captain Joe La Barge.
the veteran navigator, speaks of this re-
gion as '.God's own country-the garden
spot of the Northwest" Three years ago
the Yellowstone valley was Sitting Bulls
favorite hunting ground. So long had the