Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-02
YELLOWsToNE GEYsEas.

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The Wonderful Excelsior Geyser, which
Recently BsIched Forth AFTER a Four
Years Quiescence.
The recent announcement from the
Yellowstone National park that the Excel
EiOr geyser, the most powerful geyser in
the world, which, after being quiet for
more than four years, suddenly burst
forth and continued to spout a vast vol
ume Of water Tor tWenty-four hours, gives
interest to the following concerning the
wonderful geysers Of that region;
Up to 1873 there had been discovered
In the Yellowstone park 2,195 springs
and geysers, including seventy one active
geyEers, and this enormous number was
the result Of only a partial survey of the
territory. The greater number Of the
! active geysers are found in what is
known as the Upper Geyser basin, where
they are found chiefly along the banks
Of the Yellowstone river. Six miles be
low the Upper basin is what is called the
| Midway Geyser basin. 1t is here that
are found the great Excelsior geyser and
the Grand Prismatic spring. They lie
on the west bank Of the river, and may
be approached by a foot bridge. The
Excelsior Is the largest geyser known in
the world, but its eruptiOns heretofore
have been so irregular that few have
been Witnessed Of late years. The name
Of Cliff caHldrOn was given it by the
Hayden survey in 1871, and it was not
until some years later that it was discov-
cred to be a powerful geyser. In 1881
a series Of great eruptiOns took place in
which a great column of water was
elected to the height OF $50 and even
300 feet. AT times stOnss were thrown
out. The crater is an immense pit $50
feet in length and 200 feet in width at
the widest part, the cliff like and treach-
erOus walls being from fifteen to twenty
feet high from the boiling waters to the
surrounding level The water is always
IN violent agitation, and dense clouds of
steam generally obscure the surface.
tHelrs Half Acre is another expressive
name given to this terrible pit. Two
rivulets pour forth into the river from
the spring, and the deposits are very
brilliantly colored, yellow, orange, red
and rose tints being displayed IN profu-
sion.
There is no time when the subterra-
mean forces are inactive, and the geyseF
region at all times presents a strange
and weird scene. Strange sights and
sounds greet the stranger on every side.
Clouds Of steam arise from a dozen diff
ferent localities, some of the springs
being hidden In the timber which covers
the neighbOring mountain sides. In the
vicinity of the geysers there are kissing,
gurgling, and thunderOus thuds as If the
imps Of the internal regions had heavy
contracts Of labor to perform. The erup-
ton of any Of the geysers is heralded
by the escape Of steam from an adjacent
steam-vent, and directly after a fountain
of hot water is thrown into the air with
fearful belchings, to fall again In a giant
cataract. Almost constantly there is a
display Of some kind going on, and the
strange din Is kept up night and day.
There are daily -eruptiOns of some Of the
geysers, while others have longer inter
walls Of quiesence, and some Of them, as in
the case Of the Excelsior, are apparently
extinct for long periods.
Herschell, Bunsen, COmstOek, hIcKen-
zie and other scientists have advanced
theories as to geyser action, and that of
Bunsen Is generally accepted in the
main. The presence of igneOus rocks
which still retain their heat at a consid-
cradle distance below the surface, and
the admission of water to subterra-
mean aPertures, or tubes, seem to be the
requisite conditions to produce a geyger
The word, by the way, is derived from
the Icelandic word geysa,-tO cash.
Steam is formed within caverns or cham
bers partly filed with water, and a col
umn of water, as well as the steam itself,
is driven out through the tube. Inter
mittent geyser action may result from
curvatures In the tube deposits Of water
being left in the depressiOns from pre-
viOus upheavals to await the next dis
charge, the intervals between the erup-
tons being governed by the size of the
chambers wherein the steam is generated,
conditions Of temperature, etc. 1t has
been noticed that geysers occur where
the intensity Of volcanic action is de
ereasing. In the neighborhood Of active
volcanoes, such as Vesuvius, the tenn
perature appears to be too high, and the
vapOr escapes as steam from what are
called sttyGs.
When the rocks are more cooled the
water comes forth In a liquid form. Says
DR.. Peale, in Science, DULY q, 1882
SIT is probable that all geysers are Origi- /
nally due to a violent outbreak Of steam |
and water, and that the first stage is that
Of a huge steam-vent. Under gucl con
ditiOns, irregular cavities and passages
are more likely to be formed than regu-
lar tubes. The lining Of the passages
and tubes takes place afterwards, and is
a slow process. Whether the subterra-
mean passages in which the water is
heated are narrow channels, enlargement |
Of the tubes, or cavernE and tubes, is |
probably Of little consequence, except as /
the periods of intervals Of the geysers /
are influenced. If water in glass tube /
be heated rapidly from the bottom, it /
VIII be violently expelled from the tube, /
or if boiled in a kettle that has a lid OF |
spout, either the lid viii be blown of or /
the water VIII be forced out the spout. /
In the first case We have an explanation i
in part at least Of Bruusen's theory; and |
the second eXemplihes the theories which .
presuppOse the existence Of subterranean
cavities and connecting tubes. The sim
pier the form Of the geyser-tube the less
is tbs impediment to the circulation of /
the superheated water; and In this fact
lies the explanation Of the difference be-
tween constantly boiling springs and /
geyssrs. The variations and mOdidca-
lions of the subteEranean water passages,
however, must be important factors enter
ing into any complete explanation Of
gsyseric action"
Ne-c the pit Of the Excelsior geyser is
the Grand PEismRtic spring, the hand
soonest Of ali the park springs. It meas