The Yellowstone Park as a 

 Game Reservation 



When the Yellowstone Park was set aside 

 by Act of Congress as a national reservation, 

 very little was known of the region beyond 

 such facts as could be gathered during one 

 short season of exploration, mainly devoted 

 to an examination of the marvelous hot 

 springs and geysers, which have since made 

 the place so famous throughout the world. 



During his first visit to the region in 1871, 

 Dr. F. V. Hayden realized the exceptional 

 •nature of the hydrothermal manifestations 

 found here and the grand scale upon which 

 the phenomena were displayed. Although it 

 was then far removed from all beaten tracks, 

 he shrewdly foresaw the necessity of govern- 

 ment protection, if these scientific curiosities 

 were to be preserved intact in their natural 

 condition. He saw that vandals would soon 

 despoil the region of the delicate incrusta- 

 tions and sediments slowly deposited through 



240 



