Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-07-03

proposed setting aside this region
for national park. and many other
prominent men made extensive ex-
plorations in the. park, visiting ev-
cry locality of any interest, except
the Mammoth Hot Springs.
Until 1872 the region was open
to homesteaders and there were no
restrictions on hunting, trapping or
fencing in geysers for privale gain
but these dangers were foreseen and
on March 1, 1872 President Grant
signed the Act of dedication setting
the region aside as a national park.
President Arthur was the first
president to visit the park. With
Gen. Phil Sheridan and numerous
other distinguished men, he visited
the different points of interest by
packtrain, in 1888.
President Roosevelt visited the
park in April, 1908 when he laid the
cornerstone for the entrance arch
at Gardiner.
Editors Note.-We wish to add
a little to the above regarding some
of the early travellers in the park.
In the latter part Of August 1878,
the writer, who was then a lad
of nine years, was member of a
party of about 16, which visited the
Mammoth Springs, having made the
trip from the Grow Indian Agency
which was then located 40 miles east
of Bozeman. Among the party
were the writer's parents, a younger
sister, brother-in-law, Capt. R.
w. Cross, his wife and eight-year-old
daughter. AT that time there was {
fairly good wagon road to the
springs, which entered the park a
> what is now known as Gardiner
: Beyond the springs there was no
thing but trail leading to the gey
$ ser basins.
: After spending several days a
the springs, Capt. Cross decided t
e see more of the wonders of the par
4 Of which but little was then known
8 Accompanied by his wife and littl
e daughter, and two men. the part
It set out on horseback, with two pac
horses, for the geyser basins. tn
n balance of the party returned I
d Grow Agency.
G. We don't know that any histor
lie records who was the first whit
is woman to behold the wonders I
a the geyser region. but it is certai
Id that Mrs. Cross was one of the frs
ly and there is no doubt but what Il
es writer's niece, Miss Mabel Cros
was the first white child to tour Il
rk park. This party spent two wee
k. or more in the geyser region al
ne visited every section of the pa
e. where it was possible to go wi
lid a pack outfit.
re Capt. Cross gathered many spe
nd mems on the trip, which at tn
TX. time were objects of curiosity
ith even the people of Montana. T.
he years later when he returned to
ay, home in Des Moines, Iowa, he to
a the specimens with him. They,
ark gether with the description he ga
is of the wonders of the park, h
NJ much to do with bringing =
heart Of wonderland to the att
his ton Of eastern people, especia
and those of Iowa, for an account
the his trip thru the park and the sp'
mems he had gathered, was p
rye lished in the Des Moines papers.
,lth The writer was very anxious
-ec' make the trip with Capt. Cross
nth party, but owing to parental OBJ
ies' tions, and the fact that there
as no saddle horse for US, we very
'ner luctantly returned to the AgeI
10 and we have never since had
pleasure Of visiting this. the wor
the greatest of wonderlands. Howe
'ey' after lapse of nearly Il years,
ex- still have vivid recollection Of
go Cap Of Liberty" the various
snts nations about the springs,
Washburn and scenes in that
Gen. cinity.
of