The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-27
THE NEW NORTHWEST.
From our Regular Correspondent

LIVINGSTON, M. IT,. Oct. 10, 1883.
Ira Yelling little more than hum
bred miles from Billings to this livery
town, one meets with constant sue
cession of genuine surprises, tor mere
we are in the famed Yellowstone
Park, which may be appropriately
termed the "Wonderland," not only
of America, but of the world. AS L
did not count them, | take the word
of the tourist that there are ten thous-
and hot springs within the confines
of this park, which covers an area OF
Just 3,575 square miles. The park lies
principally in Wyoming Territory,
fragments of it being allotted to Mon
tana and Idaho, and here have been
tumbled together indiscriminateIy,
caverns, canons, ravines, lakes, rivers,
creeks, forests, and mountains whose
sides present the most astonishing
geologic specimens of Natures handi-
work. The objects of special interest,
however, both to the tourist and the
naturalist, are centered about the
Mammoth Hot Springs of Gardiner
River and upon its west bank. These
springs are on the side of White
Mountain, extending in terraces that
seem to have been laid out by human
hands thousand feet above the
stream, the side of each terrace pre-
Senting the appearance of a frozen
cascade from the white deposits issu-
ing from the upper series of springs.
A perpetual spring fifty feet in diam
eter, with water so transparent that
objects can be discerned at depth Of
twenty feet, is handy thing to be
had about ones house, but when to
this is added the advantage of obtain
ing the water at any temperature
from the boiling point down, it is a
possession that must be coveted by
all who affect cleanliness, health and
solid comfort, to say nothing of it as
the realization of the dream of those
who have sought a way to escape the
ills of the washing day.
Near these springs Uncle Rufus
Hatch has his new hotel, which prom
iseS to be the resort of the thousands
who will journey here to witness
scenes such as are not presented else
where upon this planet of ours. A
pathway well-worn leads from the
valley to the plateau of dead level
table-land from which is presented a
view of three score of springs, each
throwing out its jets of boiling water
and steam, and below at the top of
each succeeding terrace the same
beautiful scene is repeated. A volume
would he required to describe pic
ture that tires the eye with its beau
ties and heats the imagination with
feverish anxiety lest the WOndrous
spectacle shall suddenly dissolve and
pass away.
But the geysers! What can wedo
but imagine mighty cauldr0n away
down in the bowels of the earth,
whose contents having no other
means of escape have worked their
way between Stratas of earth and
rock until they have reached the sur
face? And here they are vomiting
forth, some ofthem at regular periods
and others when they feel like it,
columns of mud and columns of
Overwhelmingly. A few slight spurts
and bubbles of the blue hot water are
the preliminary skirmish that fore
casts the eruption, and then with 4
suddenness that is horribly startling
there comes a hiss like that Of the
escaping steam from the exhaust of a
locomotive and then a roar, and then
the water or mud-yOu can have your
choice. The Kissing and the roaring
continue for only few minutes, and
what was all cOmmotiOn down below
moment ago has now the silence of
the grave.
Gibbon Canon is one Of the most
delightful portions of the Park and
is already the favOrite haunt of the
tourist. who enters it through a
charming grove that skirts the side
of Gihbon River which has to be
crossed and recrOssed many times, for
which trouble, however, the traveller
is rewarded with superb feasts of pie
turesque beauty the whole distance.
The river is here confined in its pas
sage through narrow gorge which
is walled by huge irregular boulders
of dark-colored stone, covered with
moss. AT the outlet of the gorge the
river is divided, the water upon one
side rushing over "a ledge and going
down in cloud of foam, while the
other is spread translucently over the
fantastically piled up boulders like
threads of lace. This is really one o.
the great wonders of this wonderful