XIV REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
To the division of the Survey in charge of Mr. Henry Gannett was 
intrusted the work of making a specially-detailed geological and geo- 
graphical survey of the Yellowstone National Park. The party was 
divided into two sections for the prosecution of this work; one section, 
consisting essentially of Mr. Gannett, topographer, and Mr. W. H. 
Hoimes, geologist, made the general survey of the park, while the 
other, consisting of Dr. A.C. Peale and Mr. J. BE. Mushbach, were oceu- 
pied in making detailed studies and maps of the geyser and hot-spring 
localities, a work of the greatest interest and value to the scientific world. 
Material was secured for a detailed map, on a scale of one mile to an 
inch, of the Yellowstone Park, an area of 3,500 square miles; and for 
maps on a large scale of all the principal geyser and hot-spring locali- 
ties. In the survey of the park, forty-seven important stations were 
oceupied for secondary triangulation and topography, besides a large 
number of lesser importance. On all the principal stations stone monu- 
ments were erected for future reference. Several groups of geysers and 
hot springs, not heretofore known, were discovered. : 
The area of the Yellowstone Park is, in round numbers, 3,500 square 
miles. Its surface is in large part level or rolling, with several groups 
and short ranges of mountains diversifying it. In the eastern part, 
extending its whole length and forming the watershed between the 
Yellowstone and the Bighorn, stand the rugged volcanic peaks of the 
Yellowstone Range. Nearly all of the park is covered with a dense 
growth of magnificent pine timber; indeed, west of the one hundredth 
meridian there is no area so densely timbered with the exception of Wash- 
ington Territory. The mean elevation of the park above sea-level is be- 
tween 7,000 and 8,000 feet, which implies too cold a chmate to admit of 
agriculture, except in certain very limited localities. Itis safe to say 
that not more than one per cent. of this area can, by any possibility, be 
used for agricultural purposes. Except along the northern border, graz- 
ing land exists only in small patches of a few acres each. There are not, 
so far as is known, any mines or mineral deposits within the park. 
The only occupied buildings within the park are at the White Mount- 
ain Hot Springs, where Mr. J. C. McCartney has made some improve- 
ments. A good wagon-road extends from Bozeman, Mont., to this point. 
From these springs, which form the usual point of departure for excur- 
sionists, there are excellent trails to all points of interest withiao this 
region; to Amethyst Mountain, Yellowstone Falls and Lake, the Mud 
Geysers, and other objects of interest on Yellowstone River and the 
Geyser Basins. It isunnecessary to specify these trails, as they traverse 
the country in all directions. In his campaign against the Nez Percés, 
in 18/7, General Howard constructed an excellent wagon-road up the 
Madison to the Lower Geyser Basin, and thence across to the Yellow- 
stone. His road upthe Yellowstone is impassable at present for wagons. 
Mr. W. H. Holmes acted as geologist to the second division. The 
first month of the season he was with the fourth division, which pro- 
