3
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. From the Geyser Basin to the Yellowstone Lake
is a distance of about twenty miles. The country is rolling, and for a part of
the distance filled with fallen timber. To make the circuit from the southwest
estuary of the lake to the point ten miles below its foot, it would be necessary
to approach both extremes by roads from the Fire Hole Basin. From the point
where these roads intersect below the lake, a road should be constructed to
Tower Falls, and thence directly to the Hot Springs on Gardiner's River, and in
as near a direct line as possible from that point to the northern boundary of
the park. A continuation of this road for fifteen miles from the boundary to the
first settlements above Boteller's ranch would furnish all road improvements
necessary to approach the park, either by way of Snake River or by the way of
the Yellowstone.
Another road
that is entirely practicable should be constructed from Gardiner River Springs,
in a direct line across the park to the Lower Geyser Basin, a distance not to
exceed forty-five miles.
These
roads, when completed, would enable the visitor to reach all the great points of
interest by carriage, and at any of these points horses would be provided for
interior exploration. The opening of these roads would insure the early erection
of large and commodious public houses at Mammoth Springs, Yellowstone Falls,
Yellowstone Lake, and the Upper and Lower Geyser Basins.
Frequent application has been made to me during
the past season by responsible persons for authority to improve these several
routes by the construction of toll-roads, but I have invariably, with a single
unimportant exception, (in which the applicants have not availed themselves of
the privileges allowed,) declined to grant these applications, believing that
inasmuch as this territory had been set aside and dedicated as a national park,
the Government would prefer to construct its own roads, and make them free to
all who wished to visit this wonderful region. It is, however, of the highest
importance that roads should be constructed at an early day for the
accommodation of tourists.
I
am satisfied, from the numerous applications I have received for leases of
property for hotel purposes at the leading points of interest, that if the park
were rendered accessible by good wagon-roads, it would immediately prove a
source of considerable revenue to the Government, and in a few years would
largely repay any expenditures needful for its present improvement. Leases have
been refused to all, simply because it was deemed necessary, first, to know
after fuller exploration of the park, what might be the intention of Congress
respecting it. With a liberal appropriation now for roads, and a few other
needed improvements, it is impossible to foresee what will be the future of this
remarkable aggregation of wonders.
Leases have been sought for the construction of
saw-mills in parts of the property where timber could be spared. The manufacture
of lumber will prove a lucrative employment whenever the erection of public
houses shall be commenced. In fact, with roads such as I have recommended, the
business might be extended to reach the settlements of Montana, in most of which
lumber commands a high price. A large portion of the park is covered with a
heavy growth of pine timber, fit only for manufacture into lumber.
There is no land in the park suitable
for agricultural purposes. Bunchgrass of a good quality, affording feeding for
horses, grows there in abundance, and will always abound in sufficient quantity
for the use of tourists. No mines have yet been discovered, and it is the
general opinion of Go to next
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