The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-10-12
JuNKETING JOURNALISTS.

A Star Representative Accompanies
The Dakota rress AsBOcSetiOn
On Their YellowstOue Pax
Excursion.
On the morning Of September 4th |
the excursion party left jamestown for
the west. occupying two special sleepers
which had been brought through from
st. Paul for the use Of the party. We
immediately proceeded to make our
selves at home and prepared for
a two weeks residence on board tho
cars Meals were procured on the
dining car and all the luxuries and con-
veniences OF first class hotel were at |
hand. The first business Of the party
was to become acquainted with one
another, after which the first day was
spent IN social chat and scenery vlew-
ing, We are now crossing vast table
land, between the valleys of the James
and Missouri river, about 100 miles
apart, known as the Coteaux de Miss
ouri. It is level and the soil, deep
black loan, is very fertile and capable
Of producing immense crops. It is,
however, sparsely settled and towns are
small and scarce. Little worthy Of
note is seen until Bismarck is reached
where an opportunity is given to view
the capitol building and take hurried
survey of the town. The capital
building, situated on slightly eminehce
in the northern part Of the city, is not
as imposing a structure as one is led to
believe from the newspaper illustfa-
tions Of 1T, but one wing Of it as yet
being completed. The city has some
fine business blocks but is chiefly con-
spicuous for the extensive area. includ-
ed in its city limits. It has, evidently,
been over doomed and is now suffering
from the effects Of it. After crossing
the magnificent railroad bridge Of the
N. P. over the Missouri river Mandan
is reached. Here the train stops
twenty:;minutes and the party improved
the opportunity bv visiting the Indian
Bazaar, which opens onto the depot
platform, and viewing many fine
specimens of the taxydermist's art.
| Here is the finest collection Of game
heads, horns and Indian curiosities in
the west. In the mean time the Brook
| ings Cornet Band treated the natives
to several fine selections after which
the train resumed its westward journey.
After leaving Mandan we passed
through barren and desolate looking
country, fit only for sage hens and
prairie dogs, where evidences Of human
nabitation are the exception, although
an occasional bunch Of cattle is seen.
Glendive is about the only town of inn
portance between Manian and Miles
City. 1t is an important center of the
grazing industry and is the gateway to
the far-famed Yellowstone valley from
the east. Miles City, 78 miles west of
Glendive was reached after dark. 1t is
the cattle metropolis of Montana and
one of the "loudest" towns in the terri
tory. 1t is noted chiefly for its numer-
Gus gambling dens and fat grave yard.
Here the tenderfoot timidlv ventures
out upon the depot platform and
in so doing imagines he takes his life
in his hand. The morning Of the 9th
found us speeding along the picturesque
valley of the Yellowstone and all arose
early to catch first glimpse Of the
renown Rockies. In due time Living
ston, the gateway to the Yellowstone
Park, is reached, and our cars are side.
tracked awaiting the departure Of the
tram which is to take us to Cinnabar.
The time, however, is very pleasantly
employed in viewing this delightful
little city and the surrounding scenery
which exceeds in grandeur anything
! yet seen along the route. Livingston
is the supply point for the rich mines
Of Caster Mountain, forty miles distant
and is a railroad town Of considerable
Importance by reason Of it being the
northern terminus of the Park branch
of railroad. Ate. two hours stroll
about this beautiful little city we again
board our cars and are soon speeding
southwark toward Cinnabar, the near.
est railroad point to the Park. We
enter the lower canyon Of the Yellow.
stone and presently emerge into Para
disc Valley, abont ten by thirty miles
in extent. The scenery along the route
is grand beyond description. An end
less panorama of mountain and canyon
river and waterfall passes before the
eyes Of the spectators. Emigran,
Peak, with an altitude of 1900 fee,
overlooks the valley on the east. while
the rugged and majestic Crazy mount
aims loom up in the north. The Devil
Slide is not the least Of the attraction
along this route. It is a singula
formation caused by the washing ou
of stratum Of comparatively sof
!, material between one Of quartzite an,
! another Of porphyry, which projectin,
perpendicular slide 1000 feet hgll
. Arriving at Cinnibar, located at til
! |. base Of the mountain by that name
the excursion party is transferred t
the comfortable canyas covered coache
!, Of the Park Transportation compan
! which were in waiting at that place t
convey us to the Mammoth Hot Spring
Hotel, six miles distant. The scener
on all sides is grand in the extrem,
We cross the northern boundry of th
Park near the little village Of Gardne
! and enter the world renown yellow
stone National Park, with an area 9
3,675 square miles, containing with
u its boundaries more varied natur,
wonders than any other like area j
k the world. After q dusty but othe,
n wise enjoyable ride Of one hour "
e bring up at the big hotel, within vie