The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-19
I'm the Wonderland
OF North America.
Ninth Letter of Northwestern TravelHlncidents
of the Journey from Livingston to Helena.


of the Belt Range Of the Rocky Noun
tains, on the left bank and at the last
crossing of the Yellowstone river, which
here makes an abrupt turn southwark
into Yellowstone park. The town con-
talns about 1900 population and pre-
sents bright and thriving appearance.
1t is naturally and charmingly situated
In an amphitheater of noble mountains,
whose snowy peaks rise over 10000 feet
above the sea level, and So temper the
atmosphere of summer that tourists
never feel the enervating effect of
lower altitude. The valley-here a
wide eNpanse-gradually rises to the
base of these mountains which enctrcie
1t; the long ridges and cones, at whose
feet lie sleeping snow banks. seem
40 look down proudly upon the valley
below with its bustling town.
Livingston is an Important railroad
terminus and junction point of the
park branch with the msin line. Trains
eastward and westward, from Atlantic
and Pacific. center here. as all travel to
the Yellowstone park must stop mere for
Wonderland. The roundhouse and ma
chine shops of the Northern Pacific
the next largest on their entire line
are located here.
Veins of fine bituminous coal are
found in the mountains close by. Here
is also large limestone ledge; said to
be the first deposit of this important
mineral found west of Lake Superior
on this line. The Clarks Fork mines,
rich in silver. lie directly south. and
the surrounding hills are covered with
cattle ranches. This is a famous hunt
Ing ground. Although the buffalo has
disappeared from his accustomed
haunts, the antelope. deer and bear are
still found here. besides all manner or
small game. This is a favorite breed
ing ground for elk. AS the hunting and
killing of all game is prohibited by law
within the boundaries of the Yellow
stone park hunters find here con-
verient place 10 leave the train for the
so-called Crazy Mountains. in close
proximity 10 the park. where game is
abundant. This locality. too, is noted
for its fine trout fishing. Near still
water eighty-seven fine trout are re-
ported by a noted "rodster'' of the pre-
ceeding train to have been caught in
four hours with single rod. Some
that We saw weighed two. three and
even four pounds each.
Resuming the onward Journey.
Reserving our description of Yellow
stone park. the ''Worderland of Amerl-
ca" for a future series. as indicated in
my last letter. We resume our journey
westward from Livingston over the
Belt Range of the Rockies. Early was
the hour. ..50 a. m. when our long train
OF sixteen cars pulled out to climb the
range. The eastern sky was already
crimsoning with beams of the rising
sun and all nature seemed to be awak-
ening from a night OF slumber. Birds
Were singing, fowls were Growing and
flowers were fragrant from the morning
dew. Columns of thin blush smoke as
cended from farm house chimneys on
every hand and the morning air was de-
lightfully and refreshingly cool as we
speed up the range in plain sight or the
white peaks of Crazy Mountains on the
right and the snow range on the left.
We soon found ourselves ascending
the first of the two great mountain bar
riers that had TO be surmounted by the
engineers of the Northern Pacific rail-
road. Three times does the train climb
up and down the vast mountains before
It clears the last of the range. From
the valley of the Yellowstone. at Liv-
ingston. to the approach of the BoZe-
man tunnel, some twelve miles. the
grade Is 1l6 feet TO the mile through a
rolling country. with park-like spots.
The tunnel pierces the mountains at an
elevation of 5,572 feet for a distance of
36lO feet in length, from which 1t
energies into a wild defile on the west
ern slope. called Rock Canyon. II Is weN
named, for in places the rocks are pro-
digious in size and the scenery Is re-
marka bly, grand and impressive. Enor-
nous precipices of gray rock, with cas-
tellated seams. rise high above the
dark forests which clothe the sides OF
the narrow ravine. So regular in form
are they that they seem to have been
built by human hands.
At Continental Divide Summit the
waters run mainly westward. and we
find for the first a coal mine, produc-
ing a good quality OF bltuminous coal.
sad at Timber Line we find busy coal
mining town of 800 inhabitants. These
mines furnish coal for the Northern
Pacific railroad and most OF the Mon
tana towns reached by rail.
A City Gcmmcd by White. Caps.
As we pass out into the broad. fertile
valley of Gallatin is seen the old mill
tary post of Fort Ellis, abandoned In
1887 A few minutes more and the train
runs into Bozeman, a fiourishing little
city Of twenty years growth. with a
population OF 1900. Few places can
boast of more magnificent scenery
majestic snow-capped ranges standing
out against the sky on every side. The
city presents an attractive appearance,
with its handsome brick structures,
made from brick manufactured here.
Bozeman owes much OF her solidlty to
her agricultural resources, being locat-
ed at the head Of the Gallatin valley,
which is twenty by thirty miles In ex-
tent with a soil composed of a rich,
dark vegetable mould. Aside from ex-
tensive coal mines near here, there are
large gold, silver, iron and copper de-
posits. Both placer and quartz mines
are being rapidly developed. The coal
mined here Is of a superior quality: not
a Ignite, but about IS per cent. of fixed
carbon. These coal fields extend come
thirty miles. The borings show three
seams Of five, ten ard sixteen feet each.
"A good coke Is made from this coal and
Is used largely for locomotive purposes
and smelling ores, as well as for domes-
tic fuel.
Thermal Springs, said to contain the
same medicinal properties as those OF
the famous Carlsbad springs Of Ger
many, are within six miles. After leav-
ing Bozeman the railroad traverses the
famous Gallatin valley. which Is
hemmed In by lofty mountains. Its
level plains are so rich and well titled
that II is not uncommon to get Jorty
bushels of hard spring wheat and sixty
bushels of fall wheat to the acre; and
Its barley is Of such superior excellence
as to be In great demand for mailing.
ETC., at Milwaukee and other eastern
cities. Much of the farming in this
valley is carried on by irrigation, the
gentle slope of the valley being favor
able for the construction and manage
ment of irrlgating bitches which were
seen on both sides of the train. The
largest irrigating canal in Montana Is
found here. The Gallatin river also
furnishes immense water power and
abundant supply for irrigation aside
from the mountain streams. / will say
wheat, oats and barley, etc.. on irri-
gated lands Is about double that raised
on eastern farms. The soil, which Is a
black vegetable mould, would prove q
good fertilizer for New England soil.