The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-18
The Geyser Question.
Editor-al Correspondence

- The opinions OF our correspondent aud
others that the Shonkin Geyser was a hum
hng. and an indignant denial of this, and sew
eral assurances Of their existence by q num-
Der Of credible witnesses, induced as to pay
the upper Shonkin section . visit that we
might view the matter with our own eyes,
and also take IN whatever Of Interest that
might present.
The s~o-called Geyser springs are situated
Il miles from Benton and about two and one
half miles from patterson's ranch, IN the side
Of high bluff which forms the boundary OF
the Shonkin valley. The edge Of the bluffs
are q EeTcipitous wall Of gneiss, dipping
perpendicular and looking much like some
ruined ancient wall in its eyenness and reg
~ularity, an effect which IS heightened by but
tresses Of rock which spring out from it
at almost regular intervals. It is IN this
wall that these curious springs are situated,
away back in the recess Of q deep gorge which
they have evidently in the process Of time
w0rn out q the rock for 8 distance Of per-
maps 81 thousand feet. This gorge has q per-
pendicular wall Of rock from 20 to
$50 feel in height, and in which the strata
are arranged, (from the top downward, first
gncisa, then limestone and lastly slate. In
teElayed with the slate are thin strata Of
composite rock, composed OF dlslntegratGd
EDeleB Or granite And lime, in fact 4 kind OF
ca04e4C all in "a Stale OF EoltGnneBs which
has probably been induced by successive
fr0sts and sunshine. Tine entire head Of the
nv~~Cr1 0nH fRY snYu 4n4t pr oTa nfyn3Ss TO
the gDeiBs, is q mass Of tIlckllng springs,
cold as ice, which are believed in some way
TO be affected whit he mysterious geyser
phen0menOna.
There is no Indication Of geyser formation,
and 40 basin o. fountain apparent whence
such phenoGAena could emanate, and there is
nothing 70 indicate that there ever had been
such agitation ID the scene or surroundings.
Nevertheless, there are o number Of people,
whose veracity is unquestionable, who say
they have seen the close, compact, body of
water and steam shoot upward d hundred feet,
and this as late as the 18th of April.
The gorge is luxurlant with vegetation, OF
au descriptions indigenous to this Territory,
and the general effect, with the over-hangiDg
walls OF dark aud bright hued rocks, sand
wiched together in thin layers, is romantic In
the extreme, but there is nothing of the WON
~der-exciting natGre in it; and nothing that
would indicate 3 geysez or other phenOnle-
nom
The country is In great need of rain, and
the grass, though springing thick is short
and stunted, and will soon be burnt beyond
Il good growth this year il water is not added.
LnGabing season has been very successful,
only q very few lambs being lost The sheep
generally appear IN q healthy, thrifty condi-
zion, and If there is a reasonable stand OF
grass the season will prove eminently a pre-
ftable one for the sheep Industry.
The Indian question is the one chiefly agi-
tating the stockmen and the danger is
by no means an idle prattle Or IN
duced bva fear Of something to come. ON
Friday, aboat IA miles up the Shonkin, we
met one man who had just lost two draught
s'afoot" He left for @ camp of Piegans
which was reported over by the square butte,
but considered bis chance O. finding them
slim In the extreme.
About at the first point where the road
turns to go down into the valley near Patter-
sons ranch, q camp Of Indians had passed
the night Of Thursday, and on leaving Ii the
morning, either Intentionally set fire to the
grass, or else carelessly left their camp fire
so that itspreai, for at noon. as we came up,
a large tract Of territory had been burned
over, and the fire was raging furiOusly, and
spreading as fast IS a A0-mile air current
sould carry ii. Fortunately its progress was
stopped by the road and the bluffs, and by
5 %. III. 1t had died utsvoluntarily.
- Mwn =. 1wmw----