File:The Yosemite, Alaska, and the Yellowstone (1893) (14592204568).jpg

Identifier: yosemitealaskaye01wile (find matches)
Title: The Yosemite, Alaska, and the Yellowstone
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Wiley, William Halsted, 1842-1925 Wiley, Sara King, 1871-1909
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Publisher: London, Offices of "Engineering" New York, J. Wiley & sons
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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es we had ever seen. The pureness of the air and its rarefaction madethem seem very near, and the sparseness of the vegetation marked our nearapproach to the timber line, for we had attained an elevation of 10,139 ft. Shortly after crossing the summit we descended into South Park, amost beautiful plateau extending some 65 miles, and being in breadthabout 45 miles. A clear stream of water ran by the side of the track, and theirrigating system was in vogue. In the distance we saw herds of cattle,and everything pointed to peace and plenty. This latter idea was beginningindeed to be a factor in the minds of many, and it was rapidly assumingcontrol. On the distant hills could be seen a snowstorm raging, and weentered Como amid a shower of hail. The dinner here was all that couldbe desired, and the town itself repaid a visit, although it was small, yetthere were plenty of signs of the usual Colorado enterprise. And now westarted to climb to the highest elevation reached by a railway in this
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Fig. 32. Royal (Jorge, Grand Canon of Arkansas. 42 The Yosemite, Alaska, and the Yellowstone. country. The railroad winds around the mountain side, circling towardsits sumnit, and the little town of Cotno becomes merely a speck below.As there was a rapidly falling stream near the track, as water had beenabundant, and the gold promising (it always promises), we found hydraulicmining had been largely practised, the method of working being thatfamiliar to every one. The force of the water from the nozzles used is verygreat, and the bank melts away like snow. That it is a most wastefulsystem of mining is beyond doubt; but who, in the early stages of searchingfor gold, ever considers economy ? Many abandoned claims greeted oureyes, but the miners were still working at others, and as we reached thehigher elevations they seemed like ants moving around the hill, and finallybecame entirely indistinguishable. Still we climbed, sometimes runningthrough a snow-shed, and occasionally passing snow

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