National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-05
THE CINNIBAR AND CLARK'S
FORK RAILWAY.
What Il Asked OF Congress BY the Citizens o
Southern Montana and Northeastern WyO

What Il Asked OF Congress by the Citizens OF
Southern Montana and Northeastern Wye
Inipg.
By act Of congress approved Marchn, 1872 II
tract of land In thsterntories ofNYyonlihg and
Montana Lying near the watcrs,of the Yellow
stone river, and containing about $500 square
miles, OF In superficial exteutsixty by fifty-ve'
miles, being much larger than the state OF
Delaware, and almost three times as great as
Rhode Island. was dedicated and set apart us
apubliG park or pleasure ground for the benefit
and enjoyment Of the people.
This wls wise movement on tho part OF the
national legislature and hilly approved by all
m 10 ~ date az tbis act bn, vsrv litic wa:
known Of the extent of the wonderful geysers,
canyons, and other curiosiies, aud therefore
II was deemed wise on the part of congress
that tho extent of tho park sbouid cover suiii-
Client territory TO embrace all that would be
found worthy OF protection by the govern
mcnt.
Later investigations have shown that all the
important points of interest lay many miles to
tho southwest of the Yellowstone river and
west of the groat Yellowstone lake.
Without doubt, II congress had ut the time
this tract WINS set apart Nllly understood the
country, they would have 30 defined the limits
Of The park that very large section of vnlu-
able mining, farming. and grazing lands in
southeastern Montana and northeastern Wy
have been shut In nom tho outside world IA
It is at present, with no othor outlotexoept the
one proposed by this railway company, and
with no communication except pack trains
which TO get out or in, this vast, rich section
must necessarily pass from iifty.tive 20 sixty
miles In a roundabout, struggling. way up
through the Yellowstone park to the Clark .
Fork mining district, In Montana.
No person, that has ever had any experience
upon the western frontier in passing over tote
roads with trains of freight aud cmigrants that
usually follow In the trail, need TO be informed
wagoners and their many followers In tho way
OF destroying timber by camp.tires, and do
facing the country through which they pass
BY picking their way over new routes when
mud. A line of railway from Cinnnbar TO Clark
Fork mining district on the most direct and
only feasible route will obviate the damage
aud change the entire system.
now average rom sixty to seventy IL day. cut
ting up aud dcfacing tho grounds In many
pla,2s nom one-halfto mile In width. dodg.
Ing about for good travelling and camping
ground, and camping out always Loeans game
FOR each meal II any Is In existence within the
circuit Of a few miles, unless the party have
been fortunate enough TO have SECURED plenty
on their march between meals. The parties
that are now for days roaming about on the
trail between the two points win by rail be
taken through In q few hours and thus do
away with rambling parties that now have no
other means OF getting from one point 70
Senator Vests bill to correct the present
boundaries of the National Yellowstone park
IL step IN the right direction, but upon u
SSrssm Investigation VIII Be- foSpa TINT t9e
| viii do more toward protecting the game II It's
| boundary should BIO q natural instead OF un
imaginary one II the line OF park ehould
commence at the point named In the Vest bill,
fnlllw1nn until -
| bank of the YelloWstOuG river 4 reached,
| thence along said west bank Of the river 10 the
junction Of the EAST fork OF the Yellow.
fork to It's junction with Soda Butte creek, and
| thence by the south bankuf the east fork OF
tho Yellowstone 10 The present east boundary
Of the park, the said natural boundary win
In tho park 10 the south and weAt of the Vel
lowstone river more than the aid of liily
mounted men could do, from Che very fact
that with ~ present imaginary line u is au
easy matter for parties 70 wander over the line
without knowing its bounds and Ia many
cases not tcsring to know the came
Gen. Sherman saysin his last annual report
That the park ressrvAtion is evidently too
great. beyond the preservation ofthe natural
curlosties there can be no good reason for any
| reservation whatever. These cufiosities cover
comparatively but little ofthe reservation and
20 this the area should he raced, throwing al
outside open to settlement IKE other public
70 construct roads, make bridges and do al
other things necessary for the convenience aud
| accommodation Of CURIOUS public. The land'
OF tho park, outside Of what would DO neces
saly for the preservation Of the curinhties, 1;
good for grazing aud other purposes, and would
! be vt once taken up, aud soon good roads and
other accommodations would follow, thus
| bringing these great wonders Of nature within
| the reach Of people of ordiuuY Ineehs. The
government has not and probably mover vii
| appropriate sums Sufficient % provide Tor the
| wants OF The public over ~ vast an area an
SO long as II Is O rsssrtdtL0n private enterprise
cannot enter II. The original idsa in having
| II SO large was " make OF II preserve 10
| game This has proved an ontiTe taklure
| There Is no game there now, and never VIII b,
! no long as multitudes resort thOre for the pur
pose o. sight seeing. Wld game aud multi
tudes are incompatible elements, and canno
exist together.
IL Geh. sherman intended this 10 apply I,
all portions OF the pNk shah claim To diiie
nom his Views on This subject, but It can Yer,
truthnlly apply 10 all that portion Of the parl
lying upon The north OF tho Yellowstone rive
and bounded upon the south of Montana, 70
II Is not u dlflcnlt matter for bands Of hunter
20 wander into that section Of the park api
stampede tie game, run II over the lima int
! Montana aud there kill iAoulside tho limit
| OF the park, aud such advantage has beei
| taken Of this opportunity until That sectioi
Mould bear out fully the statements OF osn
! sherman
1 !. Make tho Yellowstone river ana East tor
Iafh0 hNandaflaS and all ihiH Will he rclnDdieu