68 THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 
readily be seen that my time was all too brief for the performaaal 
of the work as I desired. 
Much has already been said concerning the benefits to be derived 
by science from the setting aside of this tract of land and the pro- 
tection of its natural features. In fact this was one of the in- — 
ducements offered for the passage of the bill in both houses of 
Congress. Dr. Hayden, in speaking of this bill says, ‘I believe 
it will mark an era in the popular advancement of scientific thought 
' not only in this country, but throughout the civilized world. . 
... This noble deed may be regarded as a tribute from our leg- 
islators to science, and the gratitude of the nation and of men of 
science in all parts of the world is due them for this munificent 
donation.” * 
In this paper I propose to offer some suggestions based upon 
my own experience in the Yellowstone country and adjacent por- 
tions of the Rocky Mountains, tending to show some of the ben- 
efits which, in my opinion, may be made to accrue to science by ; 
the proper use of this grant. The tide of emigration, now fairly 
started on its westward course, is daily seeking new fields for con- — 
quest, and with the abundant treasures stored by nature in the S 
hills and valleys surrounding our park, there can be no question — 
that this territory is destined to become a scene of great activity — 
at no very distant day. The Wind River valley, the greater por- — 
tion of which must be traversed by any highway entering the park — 
from this direction, is remarkably rich in mineral wealth so eX — 
posed as to make its working a problem of the simplest nature- 
In a previous papery I have briefly alluded to this fact in con- — 
nection with a discussion of the prominent geological features- of 4 
this highly interesting section. It is also highly probable that the — a 
once vigorous gold mining interests of South Pass and vicinity 
would be revived by the introduction of sufficient capital, while — 
the markets thus produced would stimulate agriculture in a region — 
very favorable for its successful prosecution. Nor can I doubt 
that the immense deposits of iron, coal, and even oil, will ye be | 
found to be of the very greatest economic value 
In a word, it is my humble opinion that the territories adjacent 
to the national park will ere long be among the most thickly se 
ted Portions of the west, and. that within the next decade or tW0 
{Ont Gono ai Wontene som Wyoming, me ‘our Sei. Dec», 1878. 
