Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-08-15
FROM MONTANA
Frank Il. Converse Writes interesting
Letter About THAT state


here and who is now in Livingston, Mon
tana, writes The Banner an interesting
letter descriptive of that state and the
Yellowstone Park. portion OF which we
give. After describing the state, its set
Element and rich resources in mines and
agriculture, its railroads, its fine climate
and beautiful scenery fertile valleys and
numbering and mining interests. he says:
Livingston. pretty town of about
5000 inhabitants, is situated on the yell
lowstone river Here is located the great
car shops of the Northern Pacific railroad
with pay roll of 100000 per month
While agriculture is carried on to GER
tain extent in this valley, the country all
up and down the Yellowstone IS noted
for the raising Of cattle anr sheep No
finer stock country is to be found any
where. Stock have an abundance Of range
both summer and winter. There is plenty
of tillable land to raise al tie hay that
the stock require during the winter, and
more too. 1t is from here that the North
ern Pacific leaves for Gardiner, which is
at the Yellowstone National Park line.
Last, but not least, is the Yellowstone
National Park. 1t is national reserya-
ton set apart by act Of Congress March
/. 1872, for the benefit ard enjoyment
of the people" Its area IS 5,548 square
miles. Its lenght from north to south IS
So miles, and width from east to west
54 miles. 1t lies right IN the heart OF the
Rocky mountains, with an average eleva-
ton at the points of interest OF So 500
feet. The government has spent S 500
600 on the roads, which are the finest 10
the world.
"You begin your tour Of Wonderland
by entering it through the beautiful arched
gateway. the corner stone Of which was
laid by President Roosevelt in 1908,
This gateway was built at cost OF
$4,000.
The drive from Gardiner to the Nam
moth Hot Springs is delightful. Here he
Gardiner river has fall of 200 feet e
the mile Two troops Of cavalry are
stationed here at Fl Yellowstone. These
soldiers guard the formations, etc. The
formations and terraces here at the
Springs are very beautiful The peculiar
monument-ike formation to the right Of
the road is called Liberty Cap and IS ar
extinct geyser crater SO feet high. A
similar formation still farther to the right
is known as the Devils Thumb. Tne
beautiful Angel terrace is next passed
and we then pass through the Hoodoc
region, silver and golden gates. through
the concrete viaduct in Golden Gate can
yon. built at cost of ST $1,000.
The lower geyser basin is next reached
Here we pass the noted Appolnaris
spring, Obsdian cliff, cliff of pure vol
canic glass; Roaring mountain, from
which steam constantly issues from hun
dreds Of openings. Many boiling pools
can be seen from the roadside and The
sulphurous odor becomes quite noticeable
One of the most noted is the DEVILS Fry
ing Pan, which is constantly sizzling
Next comes the Norris geyser basin. Al
ter leaving Norris the road enters Giboor
canyon. We pass Iron spring. which i,
highly lmpregnated with iron. and Giobor
falls, a pretty cascade of 80 feet. Here
are TO be found the Mammoth Paint Pots
and Fountain geyser Excelsior geyser
which is boiling constantly and furiousll
and empties about 1000 gallons Of water
per minute in the FIRE Hole river, has no
been active as geyser since 1889 w
then come TO Pnsmatic lake, one Of tht
largest and most perfect springs Of il
kind in the world, takes its name from
the beautifully colored border and the re
Election Of these exquisite colors in tn
great cloud of steam which CONSTANT,
hangs over it. About four miles farthe
and the wonderful upper geyser basin i
reached About so geysers and 200 no
springs are to be found here The form
ton around the craters of the geysers i
magnificent. Some are built several fee
in height. Of irregular shape, while other
are more symmetrical. Some of the gey
sers play as often as every minute. iron
that TO fourteen days. The length Q
time they play varies, some for only on
minute, others thirty to sixty minutes
while one plays from ten to twenty hours
Old Faithful plays from four to seye
minutes. sending its water straight up II
the air from l25 to 65 feet; interva
between times of playing, sixty to sevent,
minutes The Giant plays for ninet
minutes. throws its water from 200 t
$50 feet: interval, four to seven days
The Giantess plays from ten to twent,
hours; interval, IA days IT IS impossible
to describe all Of them, but have tried t,
select the most noted.
ION the drive from here to Yellowston,
lake. a distance of l9 miles, we eros
the Continental Divide. The elevation