The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-24
THE YELLOWSTONE PARK.
Return of DR. A. w. Brayton, the
Journals Representative.
The Indianians Who Have Been There, and
Those Now There-Projected I'm
prOvements in the Park.

DR.. A. W. Brayton, representing the Journal
on the Western Associated Press excursion to
the Yellowstone National Park, returned yes
terday morning, with health and siren 9Th great
| ly improved. He has travelled nearly 1000
miles and spent week in the National Park,
riding $50 miles on an Indian "caynse," from
one point of scenic interest to another, and re-
| turns sunburnt and full of enthusiasm as to the
wonders of the park ana the great Northwest.
MIR. Oscar c. McCulloch, who represented the
Sentinel on the same excursion, will return this
week.
OF the Indianapolis press representatives
Morton j. RUSSELL Of the Chicago Times, in mis-
letter of Saturday, 18th inst. says:
The younger, tougher and lighter members
OF the party form the cavalcade. COwen, of
Coum aus, formerly chief of the Interior De-
Partment, who visited this country officially ten
years ago, is one. He might have been Govern
or or ONO II Hayes. who wee supporting him,
ulunt, with characteristic comniacency, take
the nomination himself. Cowen is quiet and
shrewd and agreeable Brayton, of Indiana DO
us, IS astraddle the pony he has ridden from the
starr, and beside him is the gray haired theOlo-
gan, McCulloch Brayton is bofanst, geologist,
cEemlst, physician, journalist, lively a orick-
Ell, hardy as mule, hearty buck, happy as
sunnower, nlmDle as mountain goat. The
party owes him much for good fellowship, not
70 mention good physic. Campbell of West Vir-
glnla, deserts the cavalry, but all the young fell
Iows-Nixon, Smith, Reeves, Cowles, Halder-
man, Wilson-are booted and spurred, a COM
pany of rakish-lOoking land pirates, from whom
lhe tame, conventional rOad-agent of this region
would fly in alright.
Among the travellers is the Rev. o. c. McCul-
loeD, OF Indianapolis. When l learned that
parson was aboard 1 felt that the salvation of
the excursionlsts depended upon feeding the
reverend gentleman TO the first convenient
MnaIs. But learned my mistake when the ex
peditlon moved. Mr.. McCuoch took to the
sadie He wore trout flies for a hat
band. Never once did he oDtrude his calling
upon InlS miscellaneous Of haliafa
ana of no beliefs at all. but while he
was manly and self-respecting, he also
leader In sport and adventure. Quietly solicit
GUS for the comfort of everyone, jovlal, hearty,
eVen-tempered, wholesome in speech and dis
wnole company. This, too, in the face of the
TACT tnat he glOried in pouring maple syrup on
the lemon pie of the wilderness"
Professor John Coulter, of Wabash College,
was the first Indiana man to visit the National
Park, spending three months, in 1871, with
Hayden's expedition, recording the times of
eruption of the more important of the over six
hundred geysers and boiling springs of the vari-
GUS geyser basins and collecting and classifying
the flora of the Yellowstone region. Mr.. George
c. Hit, of the Journal, spent two months in the
park in the summer of 1873, before it was aces
sible by railroad
Dr. Henry Jameson, of this city, the Hon.
Graham N. Fitcn, of Logansport and Mr.. Charles
beauties of the park-that is, the scenic beauties
as but few ladies have yet had the courage
to brave the difficulties of the steep
ana often dangerous mountain roads which lead
10 the various points OF interest. The Yellow
stone National Park Improvement Company Will
petition the next Congress to allow them to
build 100 miles of railroad ill the park, of a
gauge unlike that of any other American rail
way, and also to nut several steamers on the
Yellowstone lake, so that ladies and children, as
well as invalids may take in the pleasures of the
naR lr rlauaa a.
Northern Pacific or the Union Pacific. The
former road has just completed It's branch line
from Livingston NJ. T., south sixty miles to
Cinnabar mountain and Gardner City-a three
months-old collection of groceries, saloons and
bnarding-houses, made of tents and 'pne shakes"
within IA couple of miles OF the park limits, and
Hot Springs Hotel. The latter is one
OF ten to he built by the Park I'm
provement Company, OF which Rufus Hatch
Is one of the main owners and hackers. He is
now IN the park with party of eighty invited
guests.
But when the railroad ia opened, the steam
boats running, and the mountain paths and gey-
ser basins Uttered with paper collars and CITY
loafers we opine that much of the scenic inter
est and beauty Of the place will be lost to the
hardy and earnest class who visit the park now.
But $4,000 is now appropriated annually by
the government for repairing and opening
roads, building bridges and protecting the park
from specimen-smashing and hunting vandas.
This paltry sum scarcely sufices to make the
roads passaDe, and the storms OF winter destroy
the work done In summer. With good mountain
roads, having easy grades, and a fewmore bride
paths, railroad would scarcely be necessary.
A week in the park now costs about S75. This
includes fare to and from Livingston.
and return, pony or blackboard, as you choose
the pony is by far cheaper and more comfortable
tent, guide and board.
One go entirely independent of the I'm
provemenJ Company, who have all rights to
build and run hotels in the park for ten years.
The company have, however, by their moderate
rates of board pony, guides and hack hire, re-
duced, by competition, the expenses of the "trip
TO the possible minimum The season" lasts
but four months-July TO October last. August
is the best month in the park. BY contract, the
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is open the year
ROUND, with board at from S.. so to So n day.
This is the most important point for invalids,
the varied waters of these springs have an al
most magical power, by their heat and cOmpo-
stioD, to break up chronic rheumatic affections
particularly nflammatory rheumatism.
Probably in the warm seasons of the next ten
years the park Will prove greater santarium
| than Arkansas Hot Springs, to say nothing
OF the eXhlleratlng air ana cool climate of the
mountains at this high altitude ana latitude. IL
is to be hoped the class which haunts Hot
Springs, broken down with loathsome diseases,
due to their own lndiscretion and natural vi
eiOusness, will steer clear of this land Of won
ders. and if the park railroad invites that class
it s to be hoped 1t will never be built, and that
this locality may be allowed TO retain something
of its natural w1ldness and purity, and its GaZ-
zling geyser formations and gorgeOusly coOred
canon never be disfigured with mammoth adj
vertisements of Lydia Pinkham's Compound or
Swifts 8. s.
General James A. Ekin.