The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-17
THE YELLOWSTONE PARK.


To THE EDITOR OF The SUN--Sir The
Secretary Of the Interior recently made a con-
| tract with C.. Il. Hobart Of Fargo and Henry r.
| Douglas NJ Fort Yates. Dakota. for the delivery
to them OF leases for n term Of ten years. OF
lands within the Yellowstone National Park,
| Tho leases contemplated by that contract have
been drawn. mud are awaiting execution ia
Washington The contract referred to was ex.
ecutcd Sopt. !. 1882. The Secretary oi iiio Into.
| rior IL authorized to make this contract and
leases under tho provisions Of sections 2 ITI and
2475 Of the Revised Statutes being the act by
| which the lands contiguous to the huad waters
OF the Yellowstone river were set apart aud
dedicated forever to public uscs as II National
Park The territory comprises $40 suuaro
miles. and is a workable Wonderland
Within its borders are mountain ranges. with
dozens VI peaks having an elevation ~ 900 to
IL. 700 feet above sea level. and whose submits
are crowned with perpetual SHOWS In the val
leys and gorges that lie between these peaks
and ranges there are probably over one hun.
| dred spouting geysers and springs all OF which
belch torrents Of boiling water. Besides these
nlasuesia lime. and other mineral waters. most
of which have caused beautiful slalasmitic
or crystallized accretiOns. in the shape Of
cones and basins. to form about them. Still
another form Of spr ings are tho boiling wells
2 h msd an'@n rs WI peys
three in number. arc marve's OF rocky gran:
deur and beauty. feature Of one Of them and
Glass Mountain, II lofty elf formed of the rare
and beautiful mineral known as ohsid an.
and tho rivers and streams abound III FISH
and the forests in elk, deer, antelope; big
horned sheep feathered game. grizzly bears.
Park there are natural BRIDGES caves: and
other singular formations, me Whole region
age of the worlds tourists. 1t Is selG-eVident
that at present none bu, well and extensively
supplies can visit tho Park; for the only hab-
i,ntions within Its boundaries are the cabins OF
racks or headquarters OF the Park Supcrintcnd-
The United States cannot with proproty or
dignity go into the business OF building and
running hotels. bath houses and livery stables.
or of furnishing camping and fishing outfits,
F Pa gave f tie sssrsiary Of the is;sror power
Messrs Hobart and Douglas propose with
the aid OF myself and other gentlemen. 70 build
hGss doc and thn Is hn oec
of the leases now in course of execution; At
present there are re- not oyer 50 miles Of nyaiqele
300 miles will be needed to make it, beauties
accessible to tourists. especially II ladies and
families arc ever to enjoy thcm.
There have been extraordinary misunier-
standings and Misrepresentation concerning
the scope aud purpose Of these leases and tho
objects Of the lcsseus. Lieut. Gen. sheridan.
, who made II journey through the Park ~ Sep
TENDER accompanied by Gen. Saclctt. McCul-
Tough the tragedian, ana other friends. aud an
escort Of about 300 caynlrynIen. has made re-
port of his journey 10 tho War department In
it lie ~ tie regrets 10 learn that the Govern
mont has leased the Park to private parties.
and Expresses the somewhat singular belief
from which ella inns and conditions will
nent and the courts to shake off," Ii IL evil
dent that he has never seen the contract or tho
bored such a dread. it. indeed he could mag
inc any form OF mortgage. lien. or other obliga-
SH S by ntnf 81 lands Mh la
hs s wo hid sa to ss the a1F a
BY Govsrn%ent oiiiasr, the Park sunerintcnd.
7 appob5sa by ies Ses1e"r s of m he
to have /. Colonc, as the hotel manager.
a sergeant or two in charge Of the dining room,
and conipany OF private soldiers acting as hall
S9y or hnh ap War els a sw"r tl
1t would not be ruite So incongruous. perhaps.
to put Major or Captain Of cavalry in charge re
proud pro, or ambitious IN his Iifq and training 10
to duty in the Yellowstone Park livery stables:
vice Can't; Blank. transferred TO the command
The sun Of last Sunday printed an editorial
article on the subject OF this gam sh preserve.
Wnlcn, tnOukn DRStu ON titn sheridan 3 re-
port. draws most unwarranted conclusion
therefrom. Referring to his suggestion that
the iesssss Of the Park are in for n%nsy
| II for money making purposes. and on. Of the
chief of these purposes is the killing Of the
the th.S Pa fHo winch ''S'''~"''0n ID '''''S III"
Further on. in connection with Gen shor.
game bv skin hunters The article ASSUMES that
| the lesSsrs Of the Park intend to 60 largely
into tho hunting Of animals for their pcIts asa
/ N n Ia far W. tan
from Chicago On N9y %. This year. t. rhe Sec?
| the newspapers letter being signed 10y
Messrs; Hobart. Douglas. and myself we ex.
words:
The Roy pr. ruu. Of st. raul MINI, senator Thomu
tor ns'a LIEN "m NM, @,nEe ant .n "wG
moitt; Part at worn III. rark ali arr-e ia ,cn-rs
sxtraorInary vandslSn has been '"ma,t,,ei
i iSff a the ss"'Ga n .' s s..a , root 9 y
Acts hnf@ ,n"nhea WE reckless hntns from Gang
ty.er .on ' ,nn odT y M1rnI'%m or %
ion am'I III. wnmt"n s.rgiy Of t I iIfHn
nma other cnoicr game, apparently objects Of MARKS
mansh'p,, heaps OF ~ many ns n>e 'ar,as;ss
!nSfstors nrs- aroh' You Tho necrss',y Of ear;
sr..- nc rassnSe Of avs ptoh,b1. ,Gr ysiraa
an en -,cS A sawy % a1 .as. .'s @
nHn reptiles together wth me ming OF rarar. f6r
" S s,T T fs w pS%e1 a a .a
ister TN" laws AMI execute lir DEGREES
This probably Is A sufficient answer 20 rHR
sun suggestion that we are merely II lot ot
reckless re!t hunters, engaged in the wiliiul
destruction OF game. amt in making money Out
OF the products Of the Park.
The real trouble with tho National Park is
that the policy Of tho Government toward it,
hitherto. has been niggnrdly and mean. 1t is
over ten years since IL MAS set apart by Con-
gruss. bat So little has been dOnc in it, in the
way Of i'm provement that IL il yet compare
! lively tracklcSs wilderness. and there is no
commOdation whatever to be had there Tor
/ any one but .ho Government employees.
Each year t,bcsgAfIy little appropriation has
| been made by Congress. barely sufficient 10
repair the winter damages TO the roads and 10
! pay the salary and maintenance OF tho Super.
int"nden' and his men. In the matter " tha
preservation Of game the course of IN" Goy.
eminent has been equally AT fault. lh"I" Is uut
one sameheepor III the Park Mr.. IuuLt, lie
| has asked yearly that some assistant hC given
! him To enable him TO control tn" tourists as
well as the skin hunters. who have rcrk lrssy
killed game. either for pclts or for Ias,uue;
| But year after year he has had 10 contend
| single handed against these Nimr1d, OF tvth
| the Old ami the New World. Th.l.s-c"a 4 not
ask merely that the Government shat ave
! them lenses for uoncy-mHking purposes,
! hut they also ask tho Government To H"lha
/ ihnm with some sort Of authority ~ o. p"hsi'
! hility 10y which they and their cuIJ} LAY
! aid Tho tuTNlnmcnt o!lir-rS in the pr"srr'H' u
! Of the Park and its icn2ons from spolwunn.