Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-10-08
SOME ORLEANS co. PEOPLE IN THE
YELLOWSTONE 4 a TTONAL
PARK.
PARK.
Mr.. Editor:


a great deal of scientific attention
and many theories have been advanc-
ed to explain them. Passing over for
the present the various less import
ant views, attention, will first be Civ
en- to Bunsen's theory, because it is
upon the whole, the most satisfactory
explanation yet advanced.
This theory was direct deduction
from observations upon the Great
Geyser of Iceland, and has been eX-
perimentally illustrated by artificial
examples.
The fundamental principle upon
which it is based is the we'll known
fact that the temperature of the boil
ing point of water varies with the
pressure to which the water is subject
ed. At sea level, under the pressure
of one atmosphere Fifteen pounds to
the sduare inch), the boiling point is
about PIP degrees Fahrenheit. Under
pressure of two atmospheres it is
$50 degrees; of three, 275 degrees; of
altitude like that of the Park plateau,
where the atmospheric pressure is
much less than at sea level, the nor
NAL boiling point is about 1913 degrees,
but the law of variation due to the
pressure conditions applies exactly as
in lower attitudes.
If water, subjected to great pressure,
be heated to temperature consider
ably above that of it's normal boiling
point, and if then the pressure be sud-
denly relieved, it will almost instan
taneously be converted into steam; a
fact which always operates to enhance
the danger from the explosion of
steam boilers. Applying this princi-
pie to the case of an ordinary geyser,
it will readily be seen that in the long
irregular tube descending to great
depths there are present the neces-
sary conditions for subjecting the wa
ter to great pressure. At the surface
the pressure is that of the weight of
the atmosphere corresponding to the
feet at the sea level, but less at high
er altitudes) it is twice as great; at
double this depth three times as great,
and so on.
Suppose now, that there is an iDte-
rior heat at some point along the gey-
ser tube we'll below the surface. The
boiling point of water in the vicinity
of the heat supply will be higher than
at the surface in definite relation to
its distance down. If the tube be of
large diameter and the circulation
quite free, the water will never reach
this point, for it will rise nearer the
and will pass off in steam. The spring
will thus be simply boiling or qules-
cent spring. But if the tube be com
paratively small and if the circulation
be in any way impeded, the tempera
ture at the source of heat will rise un-
til it reaches boiling point CORE
spending to it's depth. Steam will
result, and will rise through the water,
gradually increasing the temperature
in the upper portions of the tube.
After time the water throughout
the entire tube becomes heated nearly
to the boiling point and can no long
er condense the steam rising from
below; which then rapidly accumu-
lates until it's expansive power is
great enough to lift the column above
and project some of the water from
the basin or cone. This lessons the
weight of the column and relieves the
pressure at every point. In places
where the water had been just below
the boiling point, it is now above, and
more steam is rapidly produced. This
throws out more water, still further
lightens the column, and causes the
generation of more steam, until final
ly the whole contents of the tube are
elected with terrific violence" There
are other theories, but this seems the
best.
The second night out our camp was
made at Gibbon Meadows near Gibbon
Paint Pots. These are like the kettle
of mush mentioned at the Frying Pan,
only larger; are quite numerous and
the boiling springs give rise to a con-
siderable stream of hot water, near
which, about half mile from the
springs, bath house has been built,
in which, one can take, as we did, a
delightful hot mineral bath.
At the south end of Gibbon Mead
ows the river enters Gibbon Canyon,
at the northwest entrance to which
Mt. Schurz rises 10000 feet. Hot