THE YELLOWSTONE PARK.
As soon as Dr. Hayden could make known officially the results of his
exploration of the Yellowstone Basin, action was begun to secure the
reservation of a portion at least of the marvellous scenes which it
embraces, for the undivided benefit, enjoyment and instruction of the
country at large.
A bill to this effect was introduced into the Senate of the United
States, on the 18th of December, 1871, by Hon. S. C. Pomeroy of
Kansas. About the same time a similar bill was offered in the House of
Representatives by Hon. William H. Claggett, delegate from Montana. The
bill was referred to the Committees on Public Lands in both houses, who
after due consideration returned with approbation the following report
prepared by Dr. Hayden:
"The bill now before Congress has for its object the withdrawal from
settlement, occupancy, or sale, under the laws of the United States, a
tract of land fifty-five by sixty-five miles, about the sources of the
Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, and dedicates and sets it apart as a
great national park or pleasure-ground for the benefit and enjoyment
of the people. The entire area comprises within the limits of the
reservation contemplated in this bill is not susceptible of cultivation
with any degree of certainty, and the winters would be too severe for
stock-raising. Whenever the altitude of the mountain districts exceeds
6,000 feet above tide-water, their settlement becomes problematical
unless there are valuable mines to attract people. The entire area
within the limits of the proposed reservation is over 6,000 feet in
altitude, and the Yellowstone Lake, which occupies an area fifteen by
twenty-two miles, or three hundred and thirty square miles, is 7,427
feet. The ranges of mountains that hem the valleys in on every side
rise to the height of 10,000 and 12,000 feet and are covered with snow
all the year. These mountains are all of volcanic origin, and it is
not probable that any mines or minerals of value will ever be found
there. During the months of June, July, and August the climate is
pure and most invigorating, with scarcely any rain or storms of any
kind, but the thermometer frequently sinks as low as 26°. There is
frost every month of the year. This whole region was, in comparatively
modern geological times, the scene of the most wonderful volcanic
activity of any portion of our country. The hot springs and the
geysers represent the last stages--the vents or escape-pipes--of these
remarkable volcanic manifestations of the internal forces. All these
springs are adorned with decorations more beautiful than human art ever
conceived, and which have required thousands of years for the cunning
hand of nature to form. Persons are now waiting for the spring to open
to enter in and take possession of these remarkable curiosities, to
make merchandise of these beautiful specimens, to fence in these rare
wonders, so as to charge visitors a fee, as is now done at Niagara
Falls, for the sight of that which ought to be as free as the air or
water.
In a few years this region will be a place of resort for all classes of
people from all portions of the world. The geysers of Iceland, which
have been objects of interest for the scientific men and travellers
of the entire world, sink into insignificance in comparison with the
hot springs of the Yellowstone and Firehole Basins. As a place of
resort for invalids, it will not be excelled by any portion of the
world. If this bill fails to become a law this session, the vandals
who are now waiting to enter into this wonder-land will, in a single
season, despoil, beyond recovery, these remarkable curiosities, which
have required all the cunning skill of nature thousands of years to
prepare."
[Illustration: THE GIANTESS.]
"We have already shown that no portion of this tract can ever be made
available for agricultural or mining purposes. Even if the altitude
and the climate would permit the country to be made available, not
over fifty square miles of the entire area could ever be settled. The
valleys are all narrow, hemmed in by high volcanic mountains like
gigantic walls.
The withdrawal of this tract, therefore, from sale or settlement takes
nothing from the value of the public domain, and is no pecuniary loss
to the Government, but will be regarded by the entire civilized world
as a step of progress and an honor to Congress and the nation."
In the Senate the bill was ably advocated by Messrs. Pomeroy, Edmunds,
Trumbull, Anthony and others. In the House the favorable remarks of
Hon. H. L. Dawes were so clear and forcible that the bill was passed
without opposition.
The text of the Act is as follows:
"_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled_, That the tract of land in the
Territories of Montana and Wyoming, lying near the headwaters of the
Yellowstone River, and described as follows, to wit, commencing at the
junction of Gardiner's River with the Yellowstone River, and running
east to the meridian passing ten miles to the eastward of the most
eastern point of Yellowstone Lake; thence south along said meridian to
the parallel of latitude passing ten miles south of the most southern
point of Yellowstone Lake; thence west along said parallel to the
meridian passing fifteen miles west of the most western point of Madison
Lake; thence north along said meridian to the latitude of the junction
of the Yellowstone and Gardiner's River; thence east to the place of
beginning, is hereby reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy,
or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart
as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of
the people; and all persons who shall locate or settle upon or occupy
the same, or any part thereof, except as hereinafter provided, shall be
considered trespassers and removed therefrom.
"SEC. 2. That said public park shall be under the exclusive control
of the Secretary of the Interior, whose duty it shall be, as soon as
practicable, to make and publish such rules and regulations as he may
deem necessary or proper for the care and management of the same.
Such regulations shall provide for the preservation, from injury or
spoliation, of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities
or wonders within said park, and their retention in their natural
condition. The Secretary may, in his discretion, grant leases for
building purposes for terms not exceeding ten years, of small parcels
of ground, at such places in said park as shall require the erection
of buildings for the accommodation of visitors; all of the proceeds of
said leases, and all other revenues that may be derived from any source
connected with said park, to be expended under his direction in the
management of the same, and the construction of roads and bridlepaths
therein. He shall provide against the wanton destruction of the fish and
game found within said, park, and against their capture or destruction
for the purposes of merchandise or profit. He shall also cause all
persons trespassing upon the same after the passage of this act to be
removed therefrom, and generally shall be authorized to take all such
measures as shall be necessary or proper to fully carry out the objects
and purposes of this act."
This Act was approved March 1, 1872; and shortly after the Hon. N. P.
Langford, whose graphic descriptions of the Wonders of the Yellowstone
first called public attention thereto, was appointed Superintendent of
the Park.
[Illustration: MAP]
FOOTNOTE:
[1] Mr. Langford appears to have underestimated this fall. The report
of the U. S. Geological Survey gives the height as 140 feet.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
--Obvious print and punctuation errors were corrected.
End of Project Gutenberg's Wonders of the Yellowstone, by James Richardson