70 EEPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



had erected some buildings tliere before the Park was reserved. C. J. 

 Barronette also bad constructed a bridge across the East Fork of the 

 Yellowstone. This bridge was destroyed by the Nez Perce Indians in 

 their raid across the Park in 1877. 



The following is the report of the House Committee on the Public 

 Lands : 



THE YELLOWSTONE PARK. 



Mr. Bunnell, from the Committee on the Public Lands, made the following report : 



The Committee on the Puhlic Lands, having had under consideration Mil M. B. 764, 



would report as follows : 



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 55 by 65 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 comprised 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 15 by 22 or 330 square miles, is 7,427. 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 invigoratiug, 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 compara- 

 tively 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 lfi,'-'t 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 speci- 

 mens, 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 travelers of the entire world, sink into insignificance in com- 

 parison with the hot springs of the Yellowstone and Fire-Hole 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. 



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 mount- 

 ains, 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 civilised world as a stej) of progress and an honor to Congress 

 and the nation. 



Department op the Interior, 



Washington, D. C, January 29, 1872. 



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 27th 

 instant, relative to the bill now pending in the House of Representatives detlicating 

 that tract of country known as the Yellowstone Valley as a national park. 



I hand you herewith the report of Dr. F. V. Hayden, United States geologist, relative 

 to said proposed reservation, and have only to add that I fully concur in his recom- 

 mendations, and trust that the bill referred to may speedily become a law. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



C. DELANO, 



Searetary. 



Hon. M. H. DUNNELL, 



House of Representatives. 

 The committee, therefore, recommend the passage of the bill without amendment. 



