The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-07-24
Uncle SANS" Wonderland-Rock For
nations, Springs and Geysers Be-
yond the PENS Power to
Describe-Not Anoth-
er Place Like It
on Earth.
CAroNsvILLE, Nd, July 10, 1903

what are now the confines of the park several
times between 1924 and 1874. The territory was
explored by the Washburn- Doane Expedition of
1870, under the leadership of General Washburn.
of Montana. This exploration led to that of
| Chief Geologist, DIR. F. v. Hayden, in 1871, and
| finally to the setting aside of this region as
| National park in 1872.
The whole region has witnessed tremendous
volcanic activity at comparatively late geologic
epoch, and the results of this action in the form
| of geysers-thermal springs terrace and orator
formations, cliffs of obsidian, deep canyons,
petrifaction, sulphur hills and he like, are of
| the strangest and most startling description.
In that epoch lava was piled up to depth of
| 1000 feet. 1t is believed that the present high
| temperature of the subterranean rocks is result
ant from that activity. The contact of these
super heated rocks with the snow water perco-
lated downward through the tissue veins Is what
probably produces the varied geyser and hot
spring action in this wonderland Of the World"
The park has an average elevation above sea
level of from $500 to 5000 feet. 1t contains
something like 1900 hot springs, 100 geysers, so
beautiful lakes-ranging from the big Yellow
stone lake to very small lakelets-many rivers
and creeks we'll filled with trout several glori-
Gus canyons, 100 mountain peaks, 30 water falls,
large herds of deer, elk and antelope, black and
grizzly bears and herd of over 100 buffaloes.
The park, with its natural curiosities, forests
and game, is set apart in the Act of Dedication
"for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,"
1t is under the jurisdiction of the Interior De-
partment of our Government. The Government
has spent $500, 900 upon the park roads, making
the journey of the tourist comparatively easy
and very enjoyable. We reached the National
Park on the morning of June both by the west
ern entrance at Riverside Mont.
Six days were spent In touring the park.
Almost every hour brought a new and great
surprise. A lady of the party fifty expressed
our feelings on leaving wonderland" 1--WE
have used up all our adjectives and now fall
back on oh y"
There are two great centres of interest in
National Park-the Upper Geyser Basin and the
Grand Canyons of the Yellowstone. These may
be spoken of as representing the mysterious and
majestic. Not that each is not both mysterious
and majestic. but that wonder is more promi-
nent in the geysers and majesty in the canyons.
While geysers and hot water pools are found in
nearly all parts of the territory and canyons and
peaks are visible in every days tour, they
reach their perfection in the two places re-
spectively mentioned. The Upper Geyser Basin
is located in the southeastern section. 1t con-
tains 40 geysers and 200 pools in an area mile
and a-half square, nearly the whole extent Of
which is covered with formation. The geysers
are of two kinds-those which have formed
cones around the mouth and those which have
only fat formation. These are known as
leone" and fountain geysers respectively.
The most respected geyser in this section is
known as "Old Faithful" because of its regu-
larity of action. 1t plays every hour without
| fail and sends forth its water and steam about
100 feet We were fortunate in seeing the Giant
in action. 1t plays at irregular intervals of ito
days and emits large column of water 200
feet in height and continues this performance
nearly two hours. In the day and two nights
spent in the Upper Geyser Basin we saw proba-
bly, score of geysers in action. The hot water
and steam belched forth fills one with awe and
makes him feel that he Is standing over caverns
of boiling, seething matter which at any moment
might engulf him. The pools of hot water,
found in such great number, vary in size from
foot to 100 feet in diameter. 1t is impossible to
describe them. Their chief feature is their
| coloring. Every tint and hue are blended in
these marvellous pools of clear bubbling water.
| No two are just alike either in DEPTH shape or
color. The largest and most beautiful are named,
as are the geysers, from some shape or color or
position. There is the Beauty" spring. called
thus because of its shape and color and because
anyone who bathes in 1t thirty days in success
sion will get the kind that won't wear Of"
There are the ''Sunset" and the Rainbow"
springs, whose names give but faint idea of
their beauty. There is the handkerchief"
pool, where number of persons turned In their
soiled handkerchiefs to have them engulfed
from view for some moments and then returned
Numbered.
Among these boiling springs and geysers flows
fha nhOlo rfx fol
whose waters are nearly ice cold. Bass and
salmon trout abound in this stream. There are
many places along its banks where one may
catch the fish and without changing position
cook it in boiling pool on the rivers brink.
On the morning of July I'd we left "Old Faith
full and his numerous family to go across the
Continental Divide, where the famous robbery
took place last year, to Yellowstone Lake. The
Great Divide brings us 8,345 feet above sea level.
Here is lisa Lake, one-half of which is on either
side of the summit, the waters on the western
side running to the Gulf of Mexico by way of
the Missouri river, and those on the eastern side
into the Pacific ocean by way of the Columbia
river.
Yellowstone lake is beautiful body Of clear
water with an area of 1879 square miles and an
average depth of 800 feet. 1t is the highest body
of water in the world which is navigated, being
7,740 feet above sea level. The Absaroka range
of the Rockies rises above the eastern edge of
the lake and ornaments it with snow-capped
peaks. On the 9th of June this lake was still
covered with ice, but was cleared on June 18th.
The Government keeps the water of Yellow
stone lake and river supplied with fish which
add greatly to the anglers delight and help sup
ply the breakfast tables of the camps. When
salmon trout was being served one of the party
rLxodf no oh fr0u
the Yellowstone river are yellow.
Steam launches carry passengers almost the
full length of the lake. One welcomes the
change after two days of dusty travel. After a
night on the northwestern bank of the Yellow
stone lake the tour is continued. The mud gey-
sers reached about the middle of the forenoon
afford interest for every traveller and stamp
themselves upon memory. They constitute
deep caverns belching with steam and mud in
the most savage manner of anything yet wit
messed. Their filthy waters are in strange con-
trast with the beautiful colors of the springs
and geysers formerly seen.
The majesty of the park is epitomiZed in the
Grand Canyons reached on the afternoon CT the
fourth days tour. Even to hint at description
of this wonderful formation one must consider
length, depth, color, crags and falls of water.
In none of these are words or pictures adequate
for description. The heart Of the mountains lie
open to the travellers eye to depth of 1900 feet,
while the surging stream cuts its way along in
the valley through twenty miles and more.
Here the ragged rocks of every color are broken
into every conceivable shape and size project
ing, standing erect in massive columns, under
cutting, overlapping, forming banks and depres-
sions huge in themselves, yet all part of one
great canyon which in color and formation is
unsurpassed in the world. The Upper and Lower
Falls-the former liz feet. the latter $40 feet in
height-add greatly to the enchanted view of the
tourists.
Nothing more poetic is found along the route
than the eyrie Of the American eagle slowed
away upon the lofty peak of high tower in the
cascades of the National Park, far from all reach
of man. Standing on Inspiration Point, or Ar
lists Point or Lookout Point, the CALCULATIONS Of
visitors reach their limit. One looked up and
down the canyon. viewed the falls in the distance.
the miles of deep chasm and exclaimed: "Wbata
whaling big thingl" This, in our opinion is the
climax of wonderland" though as day or two
later one rides through the Golden Gate" and