New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS.
FEATURES OF LIFE IN THE NATIONAL PARK.
,,ns,o,, p.pry AT THE HoTFI-A


TRICK, you KNOW.
fyRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE'l
MAMMOTH Hot SPRINGS, Yellowstone National
PARK Aug. 3O.-The choice which the Yellow
stone Park Improvement Company has made OF
s;.e for its hotel at this point does not seem
banpv one. at least so far as the scenery it COM
,nands is concerned. but it is the best. probably,
that could have been made under the circum-
stances Its chief merit consists in the close prox
unity to one of the most curious among the many
curious formations found within the limits OF the
Park. the so-called Mammoth Hot Springs. They
rise in broken aud irregular terraces to the right OF
the hotel, at distance of about 500 yards Inc
material deposited by them covers the GROUND In
every direction aud destroys all vegetation. LII Is
mainly calcareous therefore white, but in its con-
tsct with the subsoi and other matter II mas as
sumed dirty tinge which gives it the appearance
when seen from affair." of mud and slush in winter
time. Directly in front of the hotel bleak aud
MISUNDERSTANDING hill obstructs the view to the
left bare and desolate range towers above the val
lev of the Gardiner River; and between these COM
paratiyely narrow opening only permits the eye 10
catch glimpse of the distant mountains and the
surrounding country. AS an offset to these disau-
yantages the building is placed upon perfectly
level plateau, about twenty acres In extent WHICH
under judicious management could probably %
attractive pleasure ground.
THE HOTEL BUILDING.
Considering the shortness of the time which has
elapsed since the Improvement Company was
formed and the difficulties that had to overcome
q great deal Of work has been accomplished since
the foundation stone Of the structure was iald on
NAV % last three days after the arrival Oh the
ground of Mr. Hobart the vice-presdent and gen.
eral manager of the company At that time rev
miles only of the branch line OF the Northern
Pacific Railway from Livingston to the edge OF the
Park had been laid. All kinds of supplies ana
building materials, with the exception Oh lumber
had TO be carried In wagons distance OIL NIFTY
seven miles over roads rough at almost any time OF
the wear but nearly impossible during spring.
The lease under which the company IS erect
ing the hotels and furnishing the necessary con-
voniences for travellers permits the cutting OF t-
her In the Park TO the extent necessary Ior tne
construction of buildings, and therefore saw mill
had been established already in the fall of last year
TO prepare lumber enough to start building opera
tlons as soon as the season opened.
The main building rests upon foundation OF
stone and is of weed. Its numerous gables turrets
bav.wndows many -colored shingles ETC.. the fancy
of a Minneapolis architect would INDICATE tnat IL
belonged to the order of " Queen Anne structures,
fhe lower floors are ready for the reception OF
gnests When completed by the addition OF TWO
wings the building will accommodate about ooo per e,
sons and to Judge from present appearances us
capacity will be taxed to the utmost next year.
Indeed il Is astonishing to note the ex tent 10 winch
the number of visitors to the Park has increased
since il was first opened Where ten years ago they
cOuld be counted by the hundreds, they now Lnuss
be reckoned by the thousands Is s tSe nm y"
course to arrive at any correct estimate Oh the NUN
her of visitors who yearly camp IN the mouu'alns
with their own outfits. Guides teansters anu anu
hostlers agree in putting their number az o,ooo;
Add TO this the number of those who made use oil
the hotel camps and outfit furnished by the In
provement Company, and you have tetal THIS
season of 10000 visitors.
THE HOT SPRINGS.
The members of the Hatch excursion party. soon
inter their arrival here on August 20 started IN
different directions to explore the surrounding
country. Everybody went where his fancy leu
him. Naturally enough the majority assembled the
terraces of the Hot Springs, and perhaps for the
first time in their life boiling water bnbbllng
out ofthe ground. The scene presenting ltseh 10
: the visitor is indeed almost bewilderng. Here IL
NAV truly be said that not distance but proximity
lands epchaptment to the view. Approach one OF
the many pools varying from 40 feet in length and
Ok feet i'm width to about One-tenth that size, ana
Won will discover tints so rich and varied that
nothing save perhaps the coors of the rainbow can
be likened to them. The water is mostly OF a tur-
uuose blue, and so perfectly translucent that the
most microscopic fretting deep down upon the sides
and bottoms of the pools is plainly visible; It's
clearness cannot be described 1t must De seen 10 De
Over some of the springs clouds of steam and ill
smelling vapors hang for the greater part OF the
dav Where the hot water overruns the basins II
forms innumerable rllls which show rch Drown
color on the face of the rock. The 1antastc Shapes
which the seethng streamlets have formed, besides
the terraces which of course are their work also,
and the wonderful forms they have produced III
every direction, are without number The more
prominent have received names, ana the tourIst
with guide-book to aid HIM should have no dill
Guilty in finding them.
THAT TROUT STORY INDICATED
Some members of the party, before reaching the
Springs. had been told that there was somewhere in
the nsighborhood place where they could catch
trout and without removing the fish from the hook
or stepping aside cook 1t in an adjoining pool, ready
to be served. Nobody, of course would believe
such o tale Accustomed they had become II
their travels through the West to see statements
they had considered les plain and SIMPLE, verned
this story contained little too much OF Mum
chausen flavor for them to believe Boston
banker. more enterprIsing and adventurous perhaps
than the rest stole OF In the of the afternoon
without saying an thing to anybody lest he should
become the victim of miserable hoax. couple o.
hours later he was 10 approach the hotel pant
ing and out of breath excitement depicted in every
line of his face
"Helo NJ, what's the matterf"
"Fve got himl I've done it! Here he isl"
At the same time the ordinarily sedate and com
posed looking old gentleman swings a tomato car
triumphantly above his head and displays to thu
group quickly gathered about him boiled trout
about four inches in length, reposing peacefully al
the bottom of the can 1t is tasted by those present
everybody declaring that little salt Is all that II
necessary to render the fish palatable,
As soon as the fact had been demonstrated every
body with any pretence TO being fisherman
FASTENED down to the Gardiner River 10 eaten an
cook front In the course OF the next few days tns
stream was lined with anglers more or less am
bilious to emulate the achievement OF the BostoL
hero and If the river not completely despoileo
4s,i inlv norn Twin " %