Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-01
IN THE FOOTHILLS
THE GLOBE CORRESPONDENT II
TIE FOOT OF THE ROCKIES.
How the Esnantic Scenery of the Section
Affects an Old st. Paulite-A Country OF
Great Possibilities and Prospects

Yellowstone valley, through tho park
The party consisted of one young maj
and pack horse, which latter animal con
veyed our provisions, cooking utensils an,
blankets, and on bright Sunday morning
the 9th of September, at 8 o'clock a. N
we passed through the ''Gate to Wonder
land" three miles out. Our mode Of trave
was little out of the usual way, i. O., foot
Ing it, but we wanted to stop often, ge
acquainted, see the country leisureIy, and
see how people lived in their homes.
The scenery through the valley sur.
passed for grandeur anything hereto
fore net with. The fertile valley, all irri-
gated, broad in expanss and bounded on
either side by immense mountain ranges.
from which flowed thousand
mountain rills, the waters of which were as
cold as melted snow could be, formed a
continuous panoramic splendor, grateful
to the senses, and delightful to the eye.
This, however, we were assured would be
increased as we approached the National
park. We neared higher altitude daily,
which was perceptible by the snow in the
mountains and the increasing cold in tenn
perature, having encountered several snow
storms which were raging way above us,
Gaping the SUBMITS white, while only an
occasional shower would touch US. Nothing
of interest occurred until We arrived at
Sam. Days ranch, at Point of Rocks,
thirty-eight miles from Livingston, which
we reached at evening of the second day.
Here we slept on the floor with five cow
i'm nolx hro
sweet sleep of the just, but not until Sam
and one of his brothers entertained US
with the music of two violins, played in
unison, while two others danced the mod
ern and Montana dances until even they,
ragged and hardy boys, succumbed phys
ically, and sought their couches. These
boys all men are called boys out here,
are as generous and frank as any
we have met with; open hearted, and I'm
glad to know, well fixed in worldly goods.
They have about 1000 head of cattle that
were then ranging in the mountains. They
had just finished building their corals
strong and 10 feet high. to drive their
cattle into preparatory to branding, which
will be done this month, and OF exciting
interest, SO they assured Us, which we were
invited to witness on our return as they
expected to have them al in by the 25th
inst.
We next met J. yankee Jim," a charac-
ter we'll known in the mountains by every
one He lived here about 10 years and
built what is known as yankee Jim's" toll
road, over which no man or beast passes
without paying toll. The toll is high, but
considering the many miles Of stone en-
bankments etc., and the immense labor to
construct it, is we'll worth the price asked.
And no one escapes for Jim has gate and
fence across the roadway secured by lock,
and woe to the man who attempts to svade
the tax. Jim won't hurt but he'll talk
you to death, which is terrible fate,
for he is known as the greatest
talker in these parts, and many a man has
had to miss an engagement while detained
by Jim, or leave pack and saddle by some
subterfuge to escape. But even his day
is coming fast. Since the advent of that
civilizer, the railroad, freight travel as
we'll as tourists, rush by him to the end of
the track at Chicory, ten miles beyond and
three from Cinnabar mountains. At the
above named mountains we rested for the
third night in one of Mr.. II. R. Norris
log cabins. Here we found an educated
gentleman formerly of Dubuque, Ia, but
a resident of this place for twenty-five
years and original proprietor OF these
mammoth hot springs, at the foot OF
which I indite this. His nearest neighbor
in those days lived seventy miles away,
which he accounted as nothing then to ride
and visit. With all the vioissitudes of a
frontiersman's life he is seemingly not be-
You'd middle age and has at last struck it
rich. His home is at the foot of Cinnabar
mountain, near the devils slide, costly
nestled among a dense growth of
fir and cedar, which any traveller
would pass By without noticing
and our party, too, would have missed but
for the clcse description received before
reaching the mountain. Mr.. How is the
possessor of coal mountain. one mile in
extent, and has now two openings, one
Pittsburg, and perfectly free from shaie.
1t is bituminous, and makes the best of
coke. Mr.. A. G. Potts, of Pottsville, Penn,
discovered a magnificent vein, 10 feet
thick, on the 18th inst. The locomotives
of Yellowstone branch road have tested it
thoroughly, and admit it to be superior to
anything they have had. Considering the
extent of the bed some idea may be had
Of its immense value, particularly in this
country, and we understand negotiations
are now in progress between the Northern
Pacific railroad aud Mr.. How to furnish
them all they want. The mine is but half
mile from track, and as the grade from
it to road is descending tramwsy will be
erected to convey the coal. We wish him
all success. We reluctantly bid his inter
esting family goodbye on the afterno
of the 18th, ana reached this point JUS
p. m after walk of twelve miles,
of which was an incessant climb
over mountain tops, but
did not mind the fatigue, when we reached
the last crest, for suddenly grand view OF
the hot springs met our gaze. about one
half mile to our front, its chalky white
ridges glistening in the sun, dazzling in
spots where the hot waters coursed their
way over the ridges and clouds of vapor
ascending skyward, relieved by the tower
ing walls of blue, brown and green noun
tains in the background. We find in these.
natures wonders, nothing beautiful on
close ms 'iection but we we Go find much
to wonde at. For here, on the summit of
mountai as, near 10000 feet high, to find
vast basins from ten to fifty feet in di-
ameter, deep and clear, filled with the hot
test of hot water, boiling and raging, is a
great wonder. We stood on the brink or