Macon beacon., 1905-09-23
Yellow Stone Park.
DEAR BEACON

Park. A few days ago copy of the
Ashland (Ohio) Press was sent to me
containing letter from Judge Camp
bell, one of onr party, which is so inter
estlng, and graphic in description that
| take the privilege of handing You his
letter in lien of the one had in con-
temptation Very yours truly,
J. S. FEATHERsToN
Macon, Miss, Sept 5, '05.
"The Park must be.seen to realize it's
sublime beauty and indescrlbaHe glory
No tongue or pen has ever yet nnfoded
to listening or reading world its mys
terious, awful grandeur. As we look
upon its steaming hill, its towering
mountain peaks, its craegy heights,
its deep gorges. its crystal streams.
its ever active geysers, roaring and
steaming and sending th6ir boiling wa
ters high in the air, aud feel the earth
beneath MS quiver and quake we are net
surprised that, with rare exception, the
Indian of the northwest in early time
Stunned 1t as the abode Of evil spirits,
And again, we stand in amazement
from a geological standpoint as we re-
call the period, long, long ages ago,
when these mountain peaks arose from
the sea or shed their glacial coats to be-
come the habitation or admiration of
man.
Prior to 1904, when Lewis and Clark
penetrated the wilderness and crossed
the mountains to the Pacific shore, lit
tie jif anything, was known OF tins
Yellowstone country, except the valley
of the Yellowstone AMI Big Horn rivers
far from this reservation, occupied by
Indian tribes. At first the name OF this
river in English was yellow Stone' or
"Yellow Rock, on account of the
bright yellow of the rocks at Grand
Canyon, which will be noticed further
along. This is the principal tributary
of the Missouri. and the valley through
which it runs, after leaving the Park,
has become veritable garden and
blossoms as the rose . srhe first
white man to act foot within this reser
walton was John Golfer. who was with
Lewis and Clark. but left them on their
return trip at Fort Msudan by permis-
sion in August, 1906
About 1860 the gov-ri NJ 'iit became IN
terested aud ordered ''s exploration by
military and scientific corps, but its
particular characteristics were not dis
closed 10 those engaged in the work.
In 1869 the Yellowstone River was
followed to its source in the Yellow
stone Lake for the first time, and it was
not until that year that The wonderful
volcanic formations and the geyser re
gions were looked upon by white men
1t was not, however, until 1871 that a
complete report Of the discovery of the
Yellowstone wonderland was made ito
Congress and a project Of a national
park suggested
A New York journal early in 1871
referred to it as follows: This is
probably the most remarkable region Of
natural attractions in the world, and
while we already h i've our N agara and
Yosemite, this new field of wonders
should be at once withdrawn from oc
cupancy and set apart as Il public Ma
tional Park for the enjoyment of the
American people Ioi all time
The Yellowstone Park project was
soon brought to the attention of Con
gress, senators and representatives from
western states taking leading part
in pushing the measure. though it was
approved all supported by leading
statesmen everywhere. The bill was
passed and received the approval Of
President Grant March /, 1872.
The territory comprising the Park
was specifically described in the act
aud reserved and withdrawn from
settlement. occupancy. or sale under
tLe laws of the United States. an / ded-
icated and set apart as public park or
pleasuring ground for the benefit and
enjoyment of the people; and all per-
sons who shall locate or settle upon, or
occupy the same shall be considered
trespasserS and removed therefrom, -
The act provided that.the Park should
be under tie exclusive control Of the
Secretary Of the Interior, who should
make and publish all rules necessary
for its proper care and management
The mean dimentions of the Reser'
vation are Gl miles by So 6 miles, Civ
ing an area of 3,3l2 ;quare miles,
situate mostly in Wyoming, but with
narrow strips of Idaho and Montana
In connection with Park are two re-
serves by the Government, the Yellow
stone Reserve 13 070 square miles,
and the Madison r serve 2i0 square
miles, equally reserved from settlement
and occupancy, being Forest Reserves.
but not no part Of the Park.
1t was not until 1886 That the rHle o.
civilian SUPPLEMENTARY ende and
the military took Its place, Since
that time United States cavalry nave
been in control as Park police, under
efficient officers, thus doing away with
all civilian superintendents, and as
sistant superinlendents as Park police,
This new order of things has given as
.urance that the government and con-
trol of the Park will be free from pli-
vate cupdity, and th splendid heritage
be preserved to all our people, uncon-
tamlnated by maladministration.
R1les and regulations have been pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Interior
forhidding the injuring, defacing or re
moval of any OF the objects embraced
therein; and this includes all forma
tions, natural curiosities. or wonders.
Hunting or killing. wounding or cap
turing any bird or wild animal except