New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-25
THE YELLOWSTONE PARK,
A PLEA FOR ITS PRESERVATION
THE DANGER OF A RAILROAD rnRoUcH TIA

through il. This park IS not only wonderful and
beautiful but it has economic value to this country
which far outweghs any mere sentimental cOnsldera
ton which may seem to give II importance. Willie II
Is full Of natural cur0stes the like Of which TO
lie found nowhere I'm the world. while its mountains
arc high and rugged and its scenery majestic, while
It abound5 in game and is in all respects charming
resort either for the tourist the scientific the
Yellowstone National Park has an actual and an APP
prcciable value 10 this country, value which can be
estimated In dollars and cents 1t Is the great
voir Of the Northern Rocky Mountains, region
where is stored up and held in reserve the water
which fertilizes and renders productive very large
portion Of our Northwest territory. From the Eastern
slope OF the Continental Divide, the Yellowstone Lake
sends It's current down through tho mountain gorges
and out over the arid plains which lie between thu
Rocky Mountains and the Missouri River. From tho
western slope Of this divide shoshone, Lewis and
Heart Lakes pour their waters into snake River which
through Idaho, Oregon and Washington, I'LL the irrt-
eating bitches Of the farmer.
The mountains Of the Yellowstone Park forest
clad and it is the existence OF these forests which
renders this region economically important Upon
their preservation and careful protection the value Of
the Yellowstone National Park depends. The noun.
tain sides which this timber grows are deeply
covered with the accumulation OF centuries Of forest
growth. The hImus which covers the ground is com.
posed Of pine needles. cones. dead branches and
rOtng tree trunks, often many feet in thickness. This
forest hoor acts as sponge which catches and holds
the water as IL falls, and, giving il out little by little
through the dry season. keeps the springs the brooks,
the creeks and the river, ever flowing with an
equabe current. The little valleys along the noun
tain streams hold at frequent points along their
course, Hat. marshy places, and either side Of
these. at the foot Of the hills OF little
springs where the soft black mire formed by decay
ing vegetation brought down from the slopes above
Is often many feet in depth.
~ might be imagined in a region elevated. the
snowfall in the National Park Is very heavy and dur.
aS the il is only pos ,ibe get SHOW
shoes, The evergreen forests protect this great body
Of from the direct rays Of the returning aud
cause u to melt gradually. that much Of the water
sinks into the soil to feed springs and underground
reservoirs. and only small portion Of it of the
surface TO swell the volume OF the streams in spring.
1t observed fact that the principal streams flowing
from these mountains vary but slightly in volume with
tho The function Of this forest IS to regulate
and cquallzc the flow OF these streams and to keep
them full at all To clear these timber hills
J. to render a territory unnhabitable.
The most serious danger to these forests. and 50 TO
the springs which they protect, lies In tie fires which
are 80 easily started in region Of this character and
which, when started. il j, almost impossible % check.
The forest floor. this great sponge which is made
OF The debris which has fallen from the trees for
hundred year.. is in dry seasons infammable. A
spark from a neglected camp fire. the lighted match OF
careless smoker. coal from pipe or cigarette NAV
,ct il on fire and cause the burning over oil many
squar, miles OF territory. The readiness with wmch
fire VIII spread in the humus Of this forest in time 81
drouth can be fully comprehcnded only by one VINO
has witnessed the process. often camp nre may
seem TO he wholly extn.rlshed. but somewhere down
under the ground a dry root is burning, when may
shoulder for days. until at last 1t reaches some H.
aammable material which will blaze up forest nfe'
which starts in dry time when the wlnd Is olo"ihs'
s AT once beyond human control but If the air be sun
or the forest damp, prompt action may often Soa'e ~
- that IL will burn Itself out without dong uluo'
damage. .,,
These forest fires frequently rage IN the Na'ionS'
Park but for the last year or two, owing manly 10 'h
efforts of the troops stationed there, few OF them nave
been Of sufficient magnitude to DO any great aiAoun'
y, damage II IS evident. however, that al any time
fires NAV be started which will be OF serious
character and the forests on these monStahs sho"'
hs swept awav the whole character OF the region
,,ould he changed. The SHOWS which accumulate III
winter would be melted suddenly IN the spring aho
be thrown all at once into the streams tNe rush "
waters down the hilsdes would wash away INC o'i'h
forest foor which now acts ~ checA 70 iee4"'c ms
outflow OF the springs, the streams receiving mora
than their beds can carry would overno" and cause
disastrous floods and a little later, when tAe .LMca
,, The plains below ready ID turn tlt ~ ~,
n xaInr in the river TO nil his ditcnes. Eleh year
this state OF things would gro" "viSs' "a" ,;yd IN
uaf would BE- uci lith U.s. dAN - 60
short time agriculture Oh the plains "ouu ue III "s
possible 80, - , Ia, the senate
defining the boundaries of the N1.ont ,,,an and
.stafI shin, laws for its government piotc'Uvh a"r
care This bill. which was dI1Tn p py ' suS Su aeeps
number OF men familiar Wiz. .'c hin a." ,,, ia-t
Interested ia it, VA, framed solely To D'Acat w -,
and the people 70 %' , II II Vent To- the lIoue and
Ma. Inferred 10 the Public LANDS NpMni'','' Is" rns
about TO report T., ,h %I a 1i rt Of way q
tho Montana Mineral Railroad 70 lay rs Trains 800,
the National Park senator N''. wo are Interested
~ '.' r.,ervstion had provided way for iahr.n
70 De built from Cooke city minus '1 spPnsS.r.
,n, northeast corner Of the la9A' ~ .',rth"r'i
Witch Is on branch 4" ,' ."V coci, NV
could only b. had by building down tne &
river and in order avoid the danger 10 'lv a' -
Of the National Park by han.hs t' ~ SS cmi og he
,orhca.t corner 81 the park 20 that thiS ramN IT." r
wear, a small body Of men interested III o i Nv,
f,r bis. for railway through the National FarA ,1.
worked so successfully that they have now snc'e;
il, irlucpr the Public Lands committee, ny a ma,W.'
Of ony one vote. 10 rec omincAG - ,le n I'm, In a.
.o,iafivos an amendment 70 senator vests Dr. d"
70 permit railways run through the S9i,' n
,,t yi.nld bc 10 doom IT. forests. ANY one Wh" ~,
n over the Northern Pacific Railroad IN a,s
MINER through Washington and oregon: Knows now now
Instant during these months are the hFrs J. ans
'..yiIy timbercd region. The same thing would t'ns
rco along any railway IN the park ana me o"ui,
s ,u tSat &c the Whole park ald be burned and
practically denuded OF It's forests; V'n s i,ha
IAN of the people Of the country have ever N.lu" ~.
national PARK and the general interest IN II Is NO.
nearly what II would be II this reservation " in,orucd
known but the press OF the country WINCH u 20 a.
on Ills subject and can take an intesent view INV
an ht TO protest vigorously against the pass"e va "a,
,rf which grants a franchise TO a railway ~ '
through the National Park .-. ,,-o,lsrs n,
For the dry West. OF the creates, p,,,a All
to dav is .s water supply Colorado; New. 80 ,hs
Nevada are all beginning To- feel the cnotth ones
Wholesale destruction Of the forests "h.,h e on,
clothed their mountains. Great rivers IKE uir IN
Platte, the Arkansas and the RIO "r9nuv' n, whole
time OF drouth to mere rlvulets. Along teir "no
length from where they leave the molntain nd tbcr
streams are tapped by fumes and dltcheS Nlu ~.
r drawn al 10 be used by the farmers Tor lrrieat
ing purposes Every day more and more interest," interest," y
heinz felt in the question as to how the ara We. -
to he supplied with water. and IL Is now propoSeo a.
snond hnndrris OF thousands OF dollars To pioN..e
,.rvors I'm which these waters shall he storen unt,
needed for purposes Of irrigation. In the NsuohI
park we have "A natural reservoir ready made 70 on
hand II will be an act OF tho utmost iois IL ~"'
reservoir should he destroyed, - .,,, .o,,h
IL is earnestly To be hoped that men iaar eno"S ~
with the subject TO handle II intelllgentiy may W
fonnd in the House Of Representative ana ihat sn Nc,