Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-12-20
lie MnfinnnI PnPk

The greatest collection of natural curl.
osities in the world is not that of any
man, school or association, but of nature
herself in the National Yellowstone
Park Of Montana and Wyoming Terri
tories. Marvellous were the tales related
/ to white men by Indians before the eI-
ploration of this region by white men,
/ but these stories have been surpassed in
the written descriptions from the pens
of white travellers to the charmed garden
/ Of wonders.
In the tract set aside by the govern
ment for national park, exist almost
every form of fossil, petrifaction, crystal
lzatiOn and volcanic formation known to
scientific observers, and preserved in the
choicest manner by the hand of nature.
These deposits give a wierd appearance
to the region quite beyond the compre-
| henson Of any person who has not Wis
tied the spot or studied its sights by the
| aid of graphic descriptions and the pho
| tOgraphie art. Among the acres of gray
| tinted cones and cellular structures of
metallic substances are living geysers of
| hot and cold water, constituting the
/ most beautiful formations, and filling
/ the atmosphere at times with steam and
misty clouds. Natural stairways, grot-
toes, bridges, caYeTns, terraces, basins,
streams, and cataracts are seen in all
| directions, the whole presenting a scene
of spectacular beauty most inspiring to
contemplate. The reports Of army Off
GERS assert that amid the surroundings
may be found droves of elks numbering
thousands, and very tame, antelope,
mountain sheep, bears Of several species,
and hocks of birds.
Ordinarily the idea of preserving for
the good Of posterity national park so
far removed from habitation as this curl
Gus area, lying across the line Of the ter
ritories mentioned, could not be enter
tanned with reason by people. But the
circumstances of the present instance
are Of an extraordinary nature, demand
Ing attention and the ultimate protection
from destruction of such a gift of Mother
Earth to country.
At present hunters and tourists are
carrying on an unrestrained work of
vandalism in this natural park, destroy
ing the animals for sport, and carrying
away masses of mineral specimens bro
ken from the fairy like structures Of the
district. Army officers are moving to
secure these treasures from this Wanton
uCGgI uCblOll, anu DdCkcu ny 0CucIdA6
Sheridan and Terry, have forwarded
documents to the Adjutant General of
the army al Washington, which will
probably lead to the needed protection.
The Yellowstone Park has but two
available entrances, or gates, from the
Montana side, whence all the present
travel comes, and these can be easily
guarded, it is thought, by not more than
q half dozen soldiers, whose duty it will
be to see that hunters are debarred in
gress, and visiting parties furnished with
guide and guard at the same time, who
will see that no depredations are COM
mitted. Fort Ellis is but four miles
from the main gate, and the soldiers
could be detailed from this garrison.
The laws of Montana and Wyoming Ter
ritories are framed to protect the park,
and, with the aid of the guards as wit
nesses, could be enforced.
1t will not be many years before the
wonderland of the universe" as the.
Yellowstone Park may be called with all
propriety, will be reached by railroads
and thrown open to visiting thousands
from every portion of the globe. Its
curious nature and wondrous beauties
are too marked to be kept long from the
eye of inquisitive man, and when once
made accessible, will prove q lasting
attraction, which will outrival the re-
sorts of Italy, Greece, Switzerland and
any others at present familiar to the
sightseeing public.