St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-14
Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park.
Especial Correspondence of the Globe.
ST. PAUL, Oct. 13.-Having summered
two seasons now in the Yellowstone National
park, think L can say something new about
this only recently discovered wonderland.
Coming from the north with the Northern
Pacific railroad from Livingston, on the
branch line, we pass through the Paradise
valley, so called for its fertility. We climb
up with the train along the lower Yellow
stone canyon. The river here makes q
descent Of some 1000 feet in some seventy
miles, river carrying more water than the
Mississippi. We come to CHINA bar, So
called from a slide of fiery red quartz run
ming down hill some 600 feet. We stage it
from here six miles and come to the Mann
moth hot springs, which formed three ter
races of calcareous deposits of over 1000
feet each, which 1 may call geyserite for
convenience sake. The middle one only
is overrun with water now and shows in
thousands of forms how nature SURPRISES in
models all designs of our best artists The
waters of Mammoth hot springs run off
mostly under ground below the lower terrace
which is honeycombed with large caves.
Some very large ones open yet on top, which
made it also necessary to build the hotel on
long poles driven through this geyserite |
leave the description of all the pulpits,
punch bowls, liberty cap cupids caves to the
guide books. In this section of the globe,
where we can see nature in its nascent state,
where the crust of the earth seems
to be forming yet under our eyes,
are so many things not mentioned
by the guiu :, and new discoveries every
like tine Nam nth
cred in May of this year, that l will talk
only about objects not much known yet.
Ascending we find terraces over terraces,
generally thirty to fifty feet high, where the
waters from above collect in pools, and run
ming over the edges they form these beauti-
full and perfect bowls, looking like petrified
waterfalls, mostly snow-white. but partly red
where the water now overruns them. With
a very small outlay all the old formations,
now crumbling away, could, during one
winter season, be given a new coating
new dress, by running some pipes from the
pools on top of the terrace over the old form
atoms. Most of the basins are full of stalat-
ties of the greatest variety in shape and
color; some look like palm leaves or berries
of any size and shape, and each basin seems
to contain only one form and one specific
color. The water is as clear as crystal, of a
blush silver white hue, and the temperature
is 1874 degrees in the stalactites caves, and
there are some of them quite wonderful, es-
pecially the Arsenic caves where a strongly
impregnated arsenic water gives all the
formations a greenish, purple, brownish or
red color, with white pearls projecting, all
these colors so brilliant that they could be-
com pared only with the plumage of tropical
birds.
had the best chances TO see them in full
glory in the latter part of the season, when
the small supply of snow water from the
SUBMITS above makes the caves accessible
no rain as a rule falling since May. In
one cave | stopped over an hour when 7 was
nearly overcome with the arsenic vapors,
and was charmed by the ravishing forms
| saw until a heap of dead birds reminded
me of being in an arsenic cave and l went
out pretty quick, but had to suffer for some
days from the effects. The arsenic springs
are very kealthful to take baths in
as it whitens the skin and com
plexion wonderfully and drinking this water
for while caused one man TO gain forty
eight pounds. 1t is also used in one garden
for hot irrigation at night because night
frosts in June and July would not allow in
an attitude of 7,700 feet such a luxurious
crop Of vegetables.
They have bountful supply Of different
waters lhere are soda springs all through
the park as also lemonade spring where
nature did even the sweetenng, another
springis so strong that the glazing of por-
celain pitcher came off after using it awhile.
Here is also bath lake which / ought To
! describe, It is about one half acre size and
! has throughout the year a temperature Of
80 degrees and strongly charged with car
bonic acid gas swimming ON some boards
in the middle of the lake such immense
quantities Of gas raise from the bottom fifty
feet below, one experiences such queer SEN
sations as we have sailing in balloon, and
the stimulating effects so great that when
accustomed to it people may remain in there
for hours and hours. Dr.. DEDoLPH.