Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-02-18

around. IT'S then she seems like a spirit
of the flood, and tits then we fully realize
what she is-the guardian spirit of the
| falls.
A WALL OF WATER.
But look at the falls! Where is the
gradual slope we saw from above?
Gone! Yes, as we leave our seat and
advance nearer the height of the falls
becomes more imposing, and upon reach
ing their base we find ourselves con-
fronted by a wall of water 81 feet high.
and about 600 yards in width. We feel
the very ground tremble as we approach,
owing to the awful volume of water
momentarially precipitated over the solid
rocks. And in watching the fantastic
waves at the bottom which chase each
other in wanton merriment, or capri
ciously rise into vapory columns we are
compelled, if never before, to believe in
the poetry of motion. We watch, too.
the big logs which are borne from time
to time on the laundering, descending
wave, and when two of these fallen giants
OF h forest chance to come together,
what a splash and scattering of spray
there is. But the logs are gone-yet not
1uAeSy III t1iC1 SpiIutcicA iluSilGutS
strew the surface of the food, seething a
few minutes, then are swept away, no
mar knows whittier. We leave this en-
chanted spot reluctantly, feeling fully
prepared after seeing this, for any won
der to come.
THE HAN SPRING.
But when we see the next we find our
selves still capable of being astonished-
in fact We are quite taken aback. This
new wonder is in the form of a spring-a
spring OF the clearest water, forcing It's
way out of the rocks, at the edge of the
river. Some will object that there is
nothing remarkable in this, but just wait
till l tell what sort of spring we see. 1t
is no trickling, oozing spring whose hum |
BILE course could be diverted by a wheat |
straw, but rather what might be called a |
river. Icame across an old Tribune the
other day containing a poem on the Giant |
and quote two verses:
CLOSE beside the great Missouri,
Ere it takes it's second leap,
lisa spring of sparkling water,
Like a river broad and deep.
Emerald green it's unknown depths are,
Vexed as by some spirits spell,
See how far beneath the surface
That the rising waters swell"
Probably there is no known spring on
c%ontinentto compare with this. Lewis
and Clarke refer to it as "a large fountain
up from underneath the rocks,
near the edge of the river into which it
aows, forming a cascade of eight feet
It has a river frontage of over 400 feet.
Its water is perfectly clear, of a blush
lint, which is distinctly preserved for
nearly half a mile after it joins the Mis-
souri,. About 100 rods above the point
where the main bodyof this subterranean
liver is dischargedis a similar spring, the
power of which may be understood from
he fact that it stays the rapid current of
he river and maintains its individuality
throughout its whole extent. The tenn
of the Giant Spring is about SO
Fahrenheit and is maintained the
'ear round, not being affected by atmes-
,heric changes. In winter this interest
ne fact is well illustrated by the column
# vapor rising from it, distinguishable
or miles. The cause of this cloud. for
UGH it really is, is that the natural evap-
ration from the water, coming in contact
nth air colder than itself, is at once con-
ensed and formed into vapor. Prof.
montgomery, of the University of North
some time ago, analysed the
'ater Of the spring and reported as fol-
Organic matter, O.; chloride of
0; sulphate of magnesium, O.:
lay, (~silicate of alumnia, etc. O.; sulphate
lime, a very small quantity carbonate
lime, a trace. The professor adds C
It may be seen from the foregoing that o
he water is very pure indeed, much more 4
than the water of city supplies usual '
!. Its entire freedom from organic mat q
r whether Of plant or mineral origin, I
of the greatest Importance. By carrying ii