The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-25
I,,cser>c tho Yellowstone Park.

The Senate. ut the last session OF Con-
Crcse, passed til to rectify the bound
aries OF tho Yellowstone National Park
by adding broad belts on the east and south.
while subtructing much narrower strips on
the west. In Idaho. and on the north. In
Montana, so as to hring the Park wholly
within Wyoming. The bill also cut of an
Irregular area at tho northern end. north
OF Soda Butte Creek the East Fork. and the
Yellowstone, so as to allow railroad on tho
further side of those streams, whichis out
side the proposed new boundary VI the Park.
This road is designed to carry ores and
other freight OF Cooke City. just northeast
Of the Park. through that reservation to
Cinnnbar, on n branch OF tho Northern
Pacific Railroad system.
In giving reluctant consent to this bill,
Mr.. VEST said he had for years been fight
ins the project Of the Montana Military
Railway Company to build that road
through the Park. But the interests
lcagued to get it there were so strong that
session after session they had been able
to defeat measures needed for Park i'm
provement and enlargement. by invariably
-tening upon them rs rider this right
Of way for railroad. He therefore had ac-
copied as compromise the cutting OH OF
the area to be traversed by the railroad. so
that no precedent would thereby be created
for a road within Park limits.
II We understand the matter. this bill Is
now pending in the House for concurrence.
i and also bill 1878. originating in the House,
OF substan TALLY the same character Then
there Is still another measure. House bill
4.5i5, which does not cut off tho northern
tract. but leaves it as part OF the Park. CIV
ing Il simple railroad right OF way across 1t.
The friends Of tho former bills say that it Is
ai!-important not to allow IL railroad within
the Park. because there will he rush for
such roads. The advocates OF the latter
bill hold that it is better to grant II right OF
crossing. with military guard to enforce
Park rules strictly, than to cut OFF most
picturesque part Of the Park. and also lose
all supervision and control of the railroad.
In any case it would be a choice OF evils.
But VIZ don't want n ai'road there at all.
1t would be against the public interests any
way. and could not be defended us n local
necessity. Tho minerals OF the Cooke City
region might DO hauled by wagon along
the proposed railroad route; and to that
there would be no objection. and in fact
tho Government. could build the road
Or the railroad. il it was insisted on
could follow either OF two other prac.
ticablo routes both leading directly away
from the Park. They might be costller tc
make. tu. il tho mineral wealth OF the
Cooks City region is what it is represented
to Le. such ~ railroad. far outside the Park
limits. might pay for itself.
Onr est 81 contemporary Forest dnt
iyfrcar' s!l 90 .hs v,ts; through which the
proposed railroad is to run to be "incom
psIabIy the finest in nn 'ural scenery in the
entire reservation. II IL dcsti 4 d to be the
great scenic route OF the Park. Here and
here alone Ii a coaching tour which cannot bt
excelIed elsewhere in this country. A rail
road will SO monopolize this route as Il
ruin n for tourist travel" In narrow gorgcs
there may be hardly room to build both 1
road and u railway. and in any case there
would he constant danger OF accident from
fright to teams. Besides. the proposed
railroad would pass directly through the
finest winter pusturage for game in thu
Park. where the grass Is thick and lux
uriaut. and The SHOWS moderate:
at In all respects an ideal game preserve and 1
magniacsntiy now answering this purpose. Thousand
OF elk antelope. and deer winter there. together will
an abundance OF other species. Even bunAloes hav
hssn recently seen. and with proper protection vii
soon become abundant. II the Segregation bill become
ahw this game pasturagn must inevitably be ruined
"Tho sparks from locomotives will surely burn th
district to . crisp. Soda Butte Creek would be
curity whatever against the spread OF prairie nre
the East Fork would be but partial security. and thu
Yellowstone itself would DO far from perfect barrier
II the railroad IL allowed to cross to the left bank
Of course even this partial security will disappear
6aia the Superintendent Of the Park Capt. GEORGE s
ADHESION. Sixth United States Cavalry In his evidence
before the investigating committee. speaking upoi
this very point: i think 1t the Parkl would be burne'
% - black - your hat In six montha do not belsv
nwi bs possible to protect It At ali In such case
The proper course for Congress to take II
the matter Is very plain. 1t need not b,
put In dilemma. When asked to choose
between two evils. 1t should choose neither
II an increase Of area is valuable for pic
turesqueness and for guarding the sources
of rivers. as is said to be the case on thu
east. or for breeding ground Of elk ant
deer. as on the south. let 1t be acquired
But there'is no need of giving up any desir
able area on the north In exchange for it
II the railroad now projected is likely t.
devastate that area. no right Of way for i
should be granted.