Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14

on the south, thereby not only
embracing the summer haunts of the
few remaining species of American
game that inhabit the Park in winter,
but protecting the forests at the head
waters of the largest rivers in the
United States, the Snake River, a
branch of the Columbia, and the
Yellowstone, which flows into the
Missouri. No other portion of the
globe has so great variety of natural
wonders at oifce so concentrated and
accessible. The railway brings you to
the Park boundry, and throughout the
reserve the Government has construct
ed substantial wagon roads, leading to
all objects of interest Hotels are
located in various parts of the Park
convenient for travellers.
The wonders in this region are the
geysers, which throw columns of hot
water 80 to 800 feet in the air, playing at
intervals of one minute to every
fourteen days. The most remarkable is
Old Faithful, having an eruption every
hour, throwing three-foot column of
hot water 15O feet high, and located
within a few hundred feet of the hotel
in the Upper Geyser Basin. Excelsior
Geyser, the largest in the world, throws
column of hot water so feet in
diameter $50 to 800 feet high several
times a day. Fifty other large and
interesting geysers, paint pots, pools
and boiling springs are found in the
geyser basins. Beautiful terrace
building hot springs, colored beyond
description, occupying over 10 acres of
ground, form the attractions at the
entrance to the Park Yellowstone
Lake, 12X20 miles in size, is the largest
body of water in America at this
attitudes, 600 feet. The Grand Canyon
and Upper and Lower Falls surpass
anything Of the kind on the contip 4nt
10 miles Of Canyon averaging 1,500
feet III depth, pronounced by travellers
to be the most brilliantly colored land
scape in existence. Mountains of
volcanic glass, forests of petrifactions,
valleys, cataracts and canyons without
number, make this the wonderland of
the world"
On leaving the cars at Cinnabar we
entered stages and rode about two miles
when we reached the Yellowstone Park
at a small Fort called Gardiner
Here we were obliged to present our
tickets and pass within the limits of the
beautiful, From this point we travelled
a distance of six miles on gradual rise
through a ravine or canyon with a
pretty little stream of water called
Gardner river flowing down the valley
nearly the whole six miles, and finally
reached tie Mammoth Hot Spring
Hotel, a hostelry that can easily house
about $50 guests, if necessary, at one
time. Here we spent the night
Saturday morning at eight O'Clock B.
j. Price, President of the Association
arranged the party suitable to each
other as best he could It required lC
stages to carry the party. Each stage
was hauled by four horses and they
made quite a procession. We were
fortunate in being assigned seat in
the first stage i'll the company Of Mr.
and Mrs. B. j. Price, Mr.. and Mrs. Geo
c. Ginty and daughter Fannie, Mrs
Rossiter and Mr.. and Mrs. Shannon; a
happy party we were indeed, and
nothing passed our sight un-notIced
We made the best of our trip and took
every opportunity for sight seeing.
At the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
is stationed a company of United States
cavalry, the commanding officer being
superintendent of the Park. During
the summer months environments are
scattered throughout the Park, consist
ing of a nUn-commissioned officer and
two to four cavalrymen; their duties
being to protect the various objects OF
interest from vandalisn, see that ne
specimens are removed, that no hunters
enter the Park, and to prevent the
spreading of forest fires, generally
originating from camping parties. The
Park is entirely free from questionable
characters, owing to the rigid enforce
ment of the orders of the commanding
officer, his policy being to allow no one
in the Park unless there for business OF
pleasure. Several scouts are employed
by the Government, who roam over the
entire area; they look after the game
chiefly, their occupation being similar
to that of detective; they do not
travel on the regular roads, and are
liable to come upon the violator of The
| regulations at any moment. Much
credit is due the military and scouts fo,
their efficient efforts in protecting the
Park.
In the neighborhood of this hotel the
hot springs are most remarkable
developments of thermal action, it is
said, in the world, occupying about III
acres; with Is distinct terraces and
nearly 80 active springs. These varied
formations can be enjoyed only bY
being seen. a good impression car
only be given by photographs. One
can look down into these springs and
see with perfect distinctness the
minutest ornament on the river side.
Of the basins, and the exquisite beauty
Of coloring can be compared only witt
the artists brush Among the sights
seen about this point are the McCartDey
Cave, Liberty Cap, The Devils Thumb
| Minerva Terrace, Jupiter Terrace