Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1901-09-19
MUD IS FOREVER BOILING.
Murky sDrina. Of Yellowstone Park
Th.t sDoutsHst Fluid Without
Ceasing.l

Among the wonders Of the elbow
stone national park none excites more
interest than what are known as sthe
paint pcts," or boiling mud springs.
into one of these gcaldrons two wom-
en- tourists recently fell and were seri-
ously scalded. There are. several
groups of these springs in the parks,
one of the largest of which occupies
a space 300 yards in length by rs in
width, in what is known as the valley
of Alum creek, near the Crater hills.
A second group, where it is believed
the tourists were ,scalded, is near the
wall Of the grand canyon of the yell
lowstone, four miles below Yellow
stone lake and six miles from the
Crater hills. This group occupies 2
space three acres in extent, and it is
said. the springs present magnificent
sight when in the course of eruption,
says the Chicago Chronicle. ~
The principal spring is called the
Blue Mud Pot and is IS feet in d.
ameter. It is near the large sulphur
spring, and when in tranquil state
looks like lake of blue mud. The
contents of the spring are more like
muddy water than thick mud, although
1T times the mud has a consistency
Of mortar. In some portions of the
spring various degrees of consistency
are found, ranging from the muddy
water state to ) thickness Of common
mortar. 3 8%EsfI f
There are no particular times Of
eruptions from these springs, and al
though they are in groups OF. are very.
close together, not more than two feet
separating some of them, there seems
to be no connection between them.
and they are of different colors. Vari-
Gus shades of brown, red, pink, blue.
lavender and gray2are to be found,
and when all of them are spouting
together the Kaleidoscope coloring
makes a beautiful picture. The
streams thrown from the craters of
the springs sometimes mount as high
as 40 feet, and in falling form an edge
around the turbid lake that causes the
resemblance to paint pots, from which
the springs take their names. In the
valley of the Alum creek, where the
Blue Mud pot is found, tourists OBJ
serve puffs of mud rising from the
surface for over 800 yards.
The second group of springs pre-
sents every possible variation Of color.
There are, perhaps, hundreds of the
smaller springs, all of them having
the raised edges, which are covered.
with the vari-colored mud. This mud
has temperature of over $50 Degrees
and seems to be boiling at all times.
The springs at this point greatly re-
semble caldrons of paint, and are pink,
blue, lavender and pure white in color.
In these smaller springs there is
generally circular pit about ten feet
deep, completely covered on the out
side with the colored mud. This mud,
when dried and burned, whether with
fire or by the sun, makes the finest.
quality Of plaster. Biologists claim
that after being properly worked up.
it would make better mortar or plas-
ter than anything now used for the
purpose. When the white mud is
burned it takes form very much
like that of finished meerschaum, and
is quite as pliable and lasting. The
mud contains great deal of sulphur
and tastes strongly of alum. The
springs show no signs of diminishing
in. power or size,