Evening star., 1909-08-22

triumph of engineering in building the
Yellowstone system of roads is not fully
were overcome by Col. Chittenden in
their construction will never be fully ap-
preciated. The original cost averaged
almost as much per mile as that OF any
railroad in the country.
Annual Appropriation.
The annual appropriation is now $4,000.
of which more than $4,000 is required to
pay for sprinkling, which is extremely
important not only for the comfort or
visitors who take the drive, but as a
matter of economy because when the
roads are not sprinkled, every gust OF
wind blows away a considerable portion
OF them. which sooner or later Will nave
TO be replaced at a greater cost than the
maintenance of a sprinkler. Oli mas
never been used because the cost is pro
hibitive i'm consideration of the limited ap-
preparation. but one two applications
Of Wyoming crude petroleum during the
season might be as effective as daliS
application of water.
Col. Chittenden has written book
about the park which everybody ought to
read. because 1T contains Information
about every thing in the park and IS o.
absorbing interest.
Every Variety Of Tourist.
1t was an observing little girl who re-
marked to her mother. What queer peo-
pie you when you are travelling.
That idea occurs to every one who
watches the crowds of tourists that come
and go incessantly. The average num-
Der of arrivals at this season of the year
is about 45O daily. and they represent
every variety of humankind. The hotel
clerks lose their confidence in human
nature tier a year or two of experience.
But the hotel and transportation organi-
zation is so perfect and the arrange
ments are complete, that there is never
any confusion, and, after the first day all
the travellers fall into the routine and
take care of themselves in manner that
eXciteS admiration.
Everybody VINO arrives at the entrances
of the park BY train is required to pass
in line through a roped alley in front
of the ticket office of the stage company
II you have an excursion ticket the
agent tears off the coupon that covers
the ride and hotel bills through the
park and hands you in return a card
board ticket, which entities you to a
seat in coach for the entire drive OF
five and a half days. and accommoda-
tons al all of the hotels. If you have
no excursion ticket YOU buy one for
completed, a clerk writes down the
names and addresses: he inquiries OF
everybody what sort of coach he prefers
10 ride in, and if he mas any friends he
would ike TO ride WITH, and lie iildkeS
notes of replies. He then makes up the
coach parties accordingly, and the next
morning at 80 or s o'clock. when the
start is made the names of the passen-
gers for each coach are grouped upon
pieces of cardboard, and they are sent
off in that way.
The driver of the coach, which is num-
bered. or bears a name like Pullman
car, is presented with a duplicate, which
he hands to the agent at the hotel at
the end OF each days drive. The next
morning. when the journey is resumed
every passenger knows his own coach
and takes the same seat that he occupied
the previous day. Before the coach starts
the agent reads off the list of names to
see that everybody is aboard and then
hands the card list to the driver to be
used in similar manner at the next
hotel.
If any passenger happens to be missing
his or her name is called out through q
megaphone. and if that fails a boy is
sent to the writing room, where the
delinquent is usually found, addressing
a few final post cards to the loved ones
at home. Two-thirds of the tourists are
women.
Everybody Rents a Duster.
Everybody rents linen duster of deal
ers who. make that their business, and
leaves a deposit of $3.50 or So, or what
ever the price of the garment may be.
When the wind blows during the drive
II is very much needed, although it does
not improve the appearance of the wear
er. At the end of the journey the duster
agent refunds the deposit less ST. which
is retained as rental. And everybody
who desires to do SO can check his good
hat and buy a cheap one for 10 cents
and upward, which is safe although not
a necessary precaution.
Everybody has a kodak, and the stage
driver is expected to stop on application
to allow his passengers to photograph
elk, deer, bears and scenery great many
times day.
The stage drivers have a great deal to
endure and are entitled to the sympathy
of the public. Their patience seems to
be inexhaustible. They have to answer
silly questions as respectfully as wise
ones. and laugh heartily at all the cheap
jokes they are compelled to hear They
are expected to explain things as they
go along and give lessons in natural his
tory concerning the geysers, hot springs.
wild animals. geology, botany. forestry
and the other sciences which can be ap-
piled to the contents of this great mu-
scum Some of them are not always re-
liable. They vary their explanations ac-
cordng to circumstances and the char
acter of the inquirer. Some of them try
to make the journey more interesting
than 1t really ought to be, and the tales
they tell of their own experience and
that of others cannot always be sub
stantiated.
Mountain Lion Always.
One of the veteran drivers always
points out a mountain lion to his pas
sengers when they reach a certain dense
piece of woods scattered with dark-col-
ored boulders. He stops his team and
shows where the animal stands crouch
ing and most of the passengers see it.
although there isn't a single mountain
lion in the park and there hasn't been one
here for a generation.
Many of the extraordinary tales that
travellers bring home from the park may
be attributed to the imaginations of the
stage drivers.
The Yellowstone Park is the last refuge
of that profession in the United States.
The star route mail system has given
way to the rural delivery, the Concord
coach has been displaced by the Pullman
car and the automobile. The mule skin
ner' and bull whacker'' are almost ex-
tinct. The prairie schooner is a curios
ity in these days and has given place to
a neatly painted Studebaker wagon. A
few oid-timers are still driving stages
and scarcer they become more and more
interesting.
Cross Lake in Gasoline Launch.
Those who choose to do so can make
the journey across Yellowstone lake,
which requires about three hours. in a
gasoline launch instead of remaining in
the coach and following the road around
its shores. The boat trip, however, is not
included in the regular ticket, but costs
extra. Mr.. Z. j. Hofer, or Billy Hofer.
one of the best known of all the many
guides and hunters in the west, who took
Theodore Roosevelt upon his first eXpedi-