Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1894-05-12
YELLOWSTONE PARK.
THE WORLDS MOST MAcNIFt.
CENT PLEASURE GROUND.

CENT PLEASURE GROUND.
The Paradise 81 the Rockies . Tract
% Over $500 Square MIiss--it Ia
Gsyssss and Game.
What more finely illustrates the
scale OF magnificence on which the
| lines Of life are laid in this country
than the fact that it has a pleasure
ground which contains 1873 square
miles? That is the Yellowstone Park.
set apart as a pleasure ground by
Congress in 1872. Although ONE
| thing was known OF the wonders OF
Che region comprised In this park a.
early as 1905. when the Lewis and
Clark expedition vas out, not until
1869, according to the Pittsburg
| Times, was anything like a careful
survey Of it made. Further surveys
were made in 1870 and 1871. and Con-
| gress, impressed by the descriptions
Of it's mountains and canons, It's
lakes and waterfalls, and geysers and
hot. springs, resolved to close it
against settlement forever and keep
it as a place for pleasure and for sci.
ence
1t lies almost entirely in the north
western corner Of Wyoming. and in
1.-THE centre Of the Rocky Mountain
ksystem, which passes through that
state from northwest to southeast Its
surface has a mean elevation OF about
! 5000 feet above the sea level. In the
eastern portion is the majestic Absa-
roka range, which sends up peaks to
the height Of 1900 feet. This range
separates the waters of the Yellow
stone from those Of the Big Horn,
and in sublimity OF scenery is not
surpassed in the United States.
OF the lakes the largest is the yell
lowstone, having an area OF l3D
square miles, a maximum depth Of
100 feet, and reposing at an elevation
Of 7,78S feet above the sea. Into
this the Yellowstone river pours;
through it, and out again for a dis
the Grand Canon and tulnbles over
the Upper Falls. ia feet. and a half
mile further down pitches over the
Lower Falls, a sheer descent Of 800
feet, at the ordinary stage carrying
1900 cubic foot per second. Here it
enters the Grand Canon, which for
scenic effect is un%equalled in the
world, although it is not so deep as
some Of the canons Of the Colorado.
ranging from 600 feet at its head to
1900 near the middle, where it passes
the Washburne Mountains. Near the
foot Of the canon, Tower creek, drain
ing the c~oncavity Of the horseshoe
formed by these mountains, flows
into the Yellowstone after making q
leap OF 1872 feet into the gore where
it meets the Yellowstone. A few
miles farther On this great river Of
the park is joined on the east by the
Lamar, which drains a large part Of
the Absaroka range, and then enters
the next canon. and emerging is
joined by the Gardiner, which comes
tumbling from the highlands drained
by its three forks. Within the drain
age OF the Yellowstone river are the
geysers, seventy-fve Of them active
and some OF them throwing a column
Of water 200 feet into the air, and the
hot springs - 5000 Of them the
waters of some with silica in solu-
ton, and Of others charged with iron,
sulphur. alum. these latter making
bands OF rich color in the white sill
lea, which, deposited on the ground,
covers it with a hard floor.
The geysers Of the Yellowstone re-
gion are the grandest in the world.
Beside them those Of Iceland and
New Zealand sink into insignificance.
West from the lake on a little tribu-
tary ofthe Fire Hole River are geysers
throwing columns 2l9 feet into the air.
The forests Of the park are Of Douglas
spruce and yellow pine, and cover
about 50 per cent. OF the area. The
trees are large, but stand so thickly
that the visitor who leaves the road
must guide himself by the sun or by
a compass, for landmarks are inyisi-
BILE. The native fauna is abundant,
for the animals having learned that
they are safe from the hunter. in the
park. have taken refuge there in great
numbers-elk, deer, antelope, Noun
tain sheep and bear, besides smaller
animals. are not only numerous but
tame. The only herd of wild buffalo
AeL'0hihS Is " NC iouAu III tue palk,
where also, in some parts, moose are
to be seen. In the winter herds OF
elk, numbering several thousands,
gather there, and many during the
summer also. The park has large
herds OF deer, but as the flies il sum.
mer drive them to the highest eleva-
tions. they are occasionally unseen
BY visitors. who think there are none
there. OF the presence Of the bea,
and mountain lion there can be nc
doubt. since il WAS a question .