The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-12-22
Fossil Beds of Oregon.

A correspondent of the Eugene City
| (Oregon) Guard gives the following ac-
count of visit made last June, by him
self and another person, to the so-called
fossil beds of Lake County, that State /:
Silver Lake and Summer Lake both
lie on the confines of the great desert by
the crossing of which so much suffering
was experienced by some of the early
Oregon pioneers, the desert lying north
and east of these lakes. Silver Lake is
encompassed by rim-rock," except on
the northwest. On the cast there is n
gap which leads into basin nearly cii-
cular, and which is probably thirty
miles in diameter The basin is sur
rounded by rim-rock on the south, south
west and west, rising to the height Of
several hundred feet, with occasional
breaks or canons, sloping into the basin.
On the north and northeast of the basin
the ascent is more gradual, but at n
distance presenting an uninterrupted
barrier. The surface of this basin is
comparatively level, being subject, how
ever, to slight inequalities in the form
of hillocks or low ridges rising but a few
feet, the whole heavily set with sage Tor
artimissia), grease-wood, and other small
but kindred growths. The soil, if we
may call it soil, seems to be composed of
light sand and volcanic ash, with per
centage of vegetable mold, into which
horse will frequently sink to his fet-
locks. Near the center of this basin,
and about eighteen miles from Silver
Lake, in northeast direction, of
Christmas Lake." eight miles from
Christmas Lake, in the same direction
and apparently on the same level, are
the Fossil Lakes. About five miles
further on, in the same direction, are
two springs Of tolerable good water,
These springs are about half a mile
apart. | heard the most northerly
called Duncan's spring, and we called
the other Mound spring. The rocks
about Silver Lake and Summer Lake,
where stratifed, appear to dip to the
north.
From twenty to forty miles in the
northwest direction from the Fossil
Lakes, set in the lava mountains, or
rather mountains of lava. 1t would
seem that these fossil remains might
have remained buried from four to ten
feet in the earth, and, therefore, I'M
known to the prying eyes of the antigua
rian, but for the action of the wind.
There seems to be constant current of
wind from the southwest. All that
space where bones are found appears to
be scooped out to the depth Of several |
feet, and carried, some of It, to Assistance
of from five to ten miles, where it is
piled up in every conceivable form, evil |
IDENTIFY by the action of the wind cor
elusive evidence of tins is found in the |
numerous little mounds still remaining
and able to resist the action of the wind |
by the aid of the roots of some more
vigorous bunch of sage or grease wood. |
These mounds present beautiful cx-
ample of stratified formation, often five |
or six strata, ranging from three TO
eight inches in thickness, very clearly
On the lower levels of this ex-
cavation are where the fossils are found.
We found fossil bones of the elephant,
camel, horse and elk or reindeer, the
horse being much more abundant than
either of the others, but all being 80
clearly marked as 10 leave no doubt as
to their identity. There are other bones,
of large animals but your
was unable to name the
fossils found the smaller quadrupeds had
a representation bones answering to
the sheep or goat in size and appearance.
Remains of birds were very plentiful,
some very large, others quite small.
Waders, swimmers, scratchers and proba-
bly, climbers, were recognized. The
verterbrae or backbone of fish, or some
other animal with backbone like fish,
are found in great plenty; also bones like
nothing / ever saw therefore |
will not undertake to describe them.
The fossil remains lie scattered over the
earth for distance of over four or five
miles in the direction of northeast and
southwest, the strip being probably a
mile wide. Near the southwest end of |
the deposit are two small lakes or ponds, |
highly impragnanted with alkali, the
water having milky appearance, with
a disagreeably taste and smell / have
presented to Prof. Thomas Condor, of |
the State University, to whom / was
largely indebted for valuable suggestions
as to the manner of selecting and pack
ing specimens, the most of my find,
retaining but few duplicates myself,
to any who may contemplate visit to
this fossil deposit, would say it is any
thing else but play or pleasant amuse-
ment, besides surface specimens are
rather scarce, pretty much all that were
in sight have been carried away, and it
is not known whether digging would
yield profitable results, and if it did,
any number of holes might be sunk be-
fore striking pay dirt" Not being a
scientist, have no theories to offer as to
the time when these animals lived, or the
attending their death, or
what were the necessary surroundings in
order to preserve their bones to the
present time.
AT a matrimonial bureau lately |
opened in Vienna the ladies pay fee, |