Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1915-09-24

thing to show for it and roads that will
last long time. At Lead CITY we
learned that the Black and Yellow trail
to the Park was almost impossible and
we're advised to 90 north to Miles City.
Montana, to strike the Yellowstone
trail. We left Lead, Monday morning
and went by way of Spearflsh to Belle
Fourche, then to Camp Crook. The
roads from Lead to Belle Fourche were
good but beyond that they we're al
most impossible. We went over miles
and miles Of prairie country mostly
gumbo roads, badly rutted, and sticky
from extensive rains. We were told
that at Baker, Montana, we would
strike the Yellowstone trail and our
troubles would be over, but we en-
countered bad roads until we reached
Miles City. From Miles City to Bill.
ings, l64 miles, we made on days run
and from Billings to Gardiner 1914
miles, also we spent one day. The
roads from Miles City to Gardiner
we're good altho not properly dragged
and very little expense for dragging
would have placed these roads in first
class condition. The country to Miles
City to Livingston, Montana, gave
every Indication of prosperity. The
road followed along the Yellowstone
river and the country almost this en-
tire distance WAS under irrigation. The
wheat yield was reported as very heavy
and We passed many teams drawing
loads of grain to the elevators.
We arrived at Gardiner on the even.
Ing Of September 10th expecting to en-
ter the Park on the early morning sch
edule next morning but to our disap-
pointment at six O'Clock the next
morning when we should have started
1t was showing hard and the ground
was quite covered. We decided to wait
until 2:3O In the afternoon before at
tempting the long climb from Gardin-
or to Mammoth Hot Springs. About
noon the storm ceased, the clouds broke
away. with every indication of pleasant
weather for the balance of the day.
After having our car tested as to its
brakes and general condition We were
allowed to enter the Park. We came
upon large drove Of antelope just af-
ter leaving Gardiner and several pho
tographs we're taken which we hope we're
good. From Gardiner to Mammoth Hot
Springs. distance of five miles, we
climbed 1000 feet thru gumbo nearly
over the fellows of the car. At
Mammoth Hot Springs is located Fort
Yellcwstone. The Colonel in command
Is also in charge Of the Park. The
Mammoth Hot Springs are looked
upon by some as being more wonder
ful than the geysers themselves. Seve-
raj of these springs are from SO to 100
feet across, the overflow forming
little cascades over the springs to the
valley below. There lie very strong
sulphur odor from all the springs.
Here also is located the smallest gey-
ser in the Park, being no larger in di-
ameter than lead pencil and when
playing does not spout water over six
inches in height. We stayed that night
at Swan Lake, nine miles farther into
the Park, and there we saw the first
bear of the trip. The bears are fed
night and morning at the hotels of the
camps and are comparatively tame,
and as such are perhaps more at.
tractive to the tourists. While max
ing this trip thru the park we patron
lied the Wylie Permanent Camps. It
was rather late in the season for sleep
log In tents but the beds we're good
and were really the only redeeming
feature of the Wylie Camps as the
food was poor and almost invariably
served cold. People expect better food
and are entitled to 1t where the chsrp-
es are $3 90 per day. The next morn
ing we started ahead of the coaches as
the government regulations require
that all autos keep entirely away from
the coaches and in case they get be-
hind schedule they must wait until
that time the next day. The drive this
day took US through the geyser basins,
both upper and lower basins. We also
passed what is known as Roaring
Mountain, mountain about 1000 feet
high and the entire sides belohing forth
steam and smoke. This was q wonder
ful sight and next to the Reysers was
the most attractive thing in the Park.
We we're at the Ola Faithful Inn for
dinner. This is magnificent structure
built of logs entirely, even to the
smallest detail. 1t is reported to have
COST S250,OO0. From the top Of this inn
at night strong search light is thrown
on Old Faithful geyser and the guests
view the operation of this old geyser as