The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-29
THE PEOPLES FAIRGROUNDS.


The annual report of the secretary Of
the interior recently submitted, pre-
sents some interesting data regarding
those portions of the public domain
which have been set apart from time to
time as parks or public Fairgrounds.
Beginning with the Yellowstone Ma
tional park the report says:
1t is g. miles in length from north to
south, "a miles in width from east to
west, and contains about 3,34S square
miles. or 2.142720 acres. It's area is
greater than that of the states of Del
aware and Rhode Island combined. The
average altitude is about 5000 feet.
ON June 1 the main route of travel
from the north boundary, commencing
at Gardiner, going via Mammoth Hot
Springs through Golden Gate to Norris
Geyser Basin. thence via the Fountain.
Upper Geyser Basin, the Thumb, Lake,
and Canyon back to Norris Geyser Ba-
sin was open for tourists; also the road
from west boundary. The road from
the south boundary up Snake river was
not open until the latter part of June
for wagon transportation.
Seven new bridges have been built.
as follows: over Trout creek; over
FirehOIe river. at Riverside Geyser;
over ravine near west Thumb of Lake;
over CdbbOn riverin Virginia Meadows;
over Green creek; foot bridge over
FirehOle river near Biscuit Basin and
over East Gardiner above the Unidine
Falls, for new road from Mammoth Hot
Springs to Cooke City. A new bridge is
being built over Middle Gardiner on the
same road. Nine bridges have been re
paired, so new culVerts have been built
(sOme to replace old Ones), and 10 have
been repaired. The estimates for next
year Will embrace the cost of cOmplet-
ing the road down the canyons of Lewis
and Snake rivers from Thumb Station
to the southern boundary of the forest
reserve near JacksOn's Lake; the road
from Mammoth hot Springs to Cooke
City, including combination bridges
over Yellowstone and Lamar rivers;
projected road from near Grand Can
yon hotel te Yancey's; Riverside Sta
ton to west boundary for substantial
stone or wooden guards on all compile
ted roads at dangerous places Drinks
of precipices. etc.); saddle trails to var
iOus points of interest, etc
The aggregate number of tourists
visiting the park from the opening of
the season (June y to August 20 was
S.72O. The aggregate number carried
through the park over the regular route
by the Yellowstone National Park
Transportation company, was 3,S42;
those carried by c. J. Bassett, via
Beaver Canyon, SO: and by David A.
Curry, over the same route. 40; aggre-
gate number carried through by licenS-
ed transportation of personally con-
Quoted camping parties. 1, 255: the ag-
gregate number carried through in pri-
vate ranSpOrtatiOn, 1927; bicycles, foot
travellers. etc. 1874 The number of per-
sons taking the steamboat trip on Vel
lOwstOne Lake who came into the park
by the regular transportation company
was 1867; the number of persons taking
this trip who went through the park
with camping parties was 922.'
Then follow similar reports on Yos-
ernite National park, whichis situated in
TuoIumne, Mariposa and Mono coun-
ties. Cal. and covers an area of about
1872 square miles, being SO miles wide
and "A miles long; SequOia park, located
in Tulare county, Cal, with an area of
$50 square miles; General Grant park
in Mariposa county, Cal, containing
four square miles. These latter are the
parks containing the largest of the IA
nous big trees"
Concerning the Hot Springs reserva-
ton the report says:
THE permanent reservation at Hot
SPRINGS consists of four mountain res
ervations-Eot Springs Mountain, North
Mountain Sugar Loaf Mountain. West
MISUNDERSTANDING an aggregate area OF
911 90 acres.
THE hot water issues from the base
and side of the Hot Springs Mountain
and the actual quantity thereof is not
known. That which is under control
and being used to supply the BATH
houses amounts to about 507. 900 gal
Ions a day. and the amount collected
and passed through the impending res
ervoir. about $4,000, making a tota
quantity of hot water under control Of
about S57, 900 gallons day
1.-The total unmber of tubs now in use
is SIS, with a daily bathing capacity Of
IT'S people"
The total receipts from bath house
leases and hot water rents for the fisCa
year ended June 30, 1897, are SIS, $50
The newest of the park reservations
is the Casa Grande Ruin, located neal
Florence. in the territory of Arizona
one of the most noteworthy relics of g
prehistoric age and people remaining
within the limits of the United States
The land on which it is located is par
of $50 acres reserved from settlement
by executive order dated Jane p. 1892