April 22, 1879
had highered went to work and cleaned the cabin
out and Deposited all their freight in it the Altitude
of this spring & place is 8040 feet, the place is sheltered on
the East North & west and by the Mountain on the
South it is open and opens into one of the most Beautiful
natural parks I ever saw in my life it contains about 4000 Acres bordered all around with tall long leaf pine
trees 12 M[iles]
~ Wednesday
23John W YoungHoward Young and myself took
Each of us a Mule, rode through the valley Entered the
timber on the west and South and rode for several miles
then rode on the top of a volcanic cone some 1500 feet
higher than the park and valley, here we had a view of the
country for 50 Miles on the west South & East and the
finest view I ever saw in my life of an immens forest
of fine pine timber for 50 Miles in all directions inter-
spersed with fine Parks the sink in the top of the conn [cone]
was about 100 feet deep covered with timber and
grass. the Timber land had no under brush but was
covered with grass like a meadow The timber was from
6 inches to 4 feet through from 50 to 150 feet tall many
trees from 40 to 50 feet to a limb. The country
abounds with Deer Antilope, Turkeys, & some Bear
wild Cats & Panther I rode some 20 miles on Mule
Back the most I had ridden in 20 years in one day 20 m[iles]
~ Thursday
24 We took the man and his Effects who was in the
House and Bid good By to the 3 men left to take charge
of the place. we drove 8 miles to Mr McMullins
April 22, 1879
had highered went to work and cleaned the cabin
out and Deposited all their freight in it the Altitude
of this spring & place is 8040 feet, the place is sheltered on
the East North & west by the Mountain on the
South it is open and opens into one of the most Beautiful
natural parks I ever saw in my life it contains about
4000 Acres bordered all around with tall long leaf pine
trees 12 Miles
~ Wednesday
23John W YoungHoward Young and myself took
Each of us a Mule, rode through the valley Entered the
timber on the west and South and rode for several miles
then rode on the top of a volcanic cone some 1500 feet
higher than the park and valley, here we had a view of the
country for 50 Miles on the west South & East and the
finest view I ever saw in my life of an immens forest
of fine pine timber for 50 Miles in all directions interspersed with fine Parks the sink in the top of the cone
was about 100 feet deep covered with timber and
grass. the Timber land had no under brush but was
covered with grass like a meadow The timber was from
6 inches to 4 feet through from 50 to 150 feet tall many
trees from 40 to 50 feet to a limb. The country
abounds with Deer Antilope, Turkeys, & some Bear
wild Cats & Panther I rode some 20 miles on Mule
Back the most I had ridden in 20 years in one day 20 miles
~ Thursday
24 We took the man and his Effects who was in the
House and Bid good By to the 3 men left to take charge
of the place. we drove 8 miles to Mr McMullins
"Journal (January 1, 1873 – February 7, 1880)," April 23, 1879 - April 24, 1879, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 20, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/59wv