The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-11-16
EOSSJE BEDS OF OREGON.
WHERE THE ELEPHANT. CAMEL, AND
REINDEER DWELr WHEN THE
WORLD WAS YOUNG.


,unt of 4 visit m;ule last June bv him
self and another person to the 3" ii'd
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
mach suffering was experienced hy
some of the early Oregon. pioneers, the
desert living north and east oi these
lakes. Silver Lake is encOmpassed by
rim rock except on the northwest.
On the east there is gap which leacs
into a b,sin nearly circular. and which
is probably thirty miles i'll diameter.
This basin is surrounded bv rim rock
on the south. southwest, and west,
rising to the heis lit Of several hundr'
feet. with occasional breaks or canons,
sloping into The basin On the north
AMI northeast Of the basin the ascent
is mOle gradual. but n. distance pre-
senting an uninterrupted bIrrIel. he
surface Of this basin is comparatively
level, being subject. however, To slight
inequalities in the hillocks or low ridges
rising but 81 { " feet the whole heavily
Set with sage (Or artemiSsia) grease
wood. and other small but kindred
growths The soil. it we may call 1t
soil. seems To be composed OF light
sand and volcanic ash with q per cent
are Of vegetable mold, into which 4
horse will frequently sink to his tct-
locks Near tile centre of this basin,
and about eighteen miles from Silver
Lake. in q northeast direction. is
Christmas Lake : eight miles from
Christmas Lake III the same direction
and apparently on the same level, are
.he Fussii Lakes About five miles
further ON. in the same direction are
two springs OF tulerahlv good water.
These springs are about half q nile
apart. heard the most nortEeriY
called Duncan's Spring. and we called
the other Mound Spring. The rocks
about Silver Lake and Summer Lake,
we're stratitied, appear to drip. TO
north.
From twenty to forty miles in n
northwest dir, ctiOn from here are the
FOSSIL Lakes, set in the lava mountains,
orTatIer mountains Of lava 1t would
seem that these fossil remains might
have remained buried from four to ten
feet in the earth and, therefore. un-
known to the prying ewes of the anti
Guarian, hut fol the action of the wind
There seems to be constant current
of wind from the southwest. All that
space wher2 bones are found appears
to he scooped ont 70 the depth of sew
rral feet, end carried. some OF il. to
distance of from five to ten miles,
where it is piled mp in every cOnceiva-
10, fly- l,y- ,,f
the wind conclusive evidence of this
Ia found in the numerous little mounds
still remaining and able to resist the
action of the wini nv the aid of the
roots of some more vigorous bunch 0t
sage or gyeascwoOd These mounds
present "a beautiful example of strait,
tied formation, often five or six strata,
ranging from three To- eight inches in
thickness. Ney clearly marked. On
tile lower levels OF the excavation are
where the fossils are found We found
fossil bones Of tue elephant, camel
horse, eln or reindeer, the horse hcing
much more abundant than either OF
the others, but all being SO clearly
mark, d as to leave no doujt us to til, IL
id nifty. I he g were other bones aD-
parently Of large animals, but youi
correspondent was unable to maine the
animal they once belonged To. A Amuug
the fossils found the smaller quadru
pedS had Z representation Dpnes an.
swering in size To Il fox and wolf were
found also others answering 70 the
sheep or goat III size and appearance.
Rem linS of birds we're very plentiful,
some very large, Others quite small.
Wadcrs, swimmers, scratcherS. and
probably climbers. were recognized
The verttbrfe or back lboue Of fish. OF
some other animal with backbone
like fish. are found in great plenty ;
also bones like nothing | ever saw he-
fore, therefore ] will not attempt to
describe them The fossil remains lie
scattered over the earth for a distance
of tour or five miles in the direction oi
northeast and southwest, the strip he
ing probably mile wide. Near the
southwest end Of the deposit are two
small lahes or ponds, highly impreg-
mated with alkali. the water having q
milky appearance, with disagrceahle
taste and smell. ] have presented tu
Professor Thomas COudon. of the
State University to- whom was large.
" indebted tor valuable suggestions
ns 10 the manner oi selecting and pack
ing specimens. the most OF nv find
retaining hut duplicates myself. To
any who NAV contemplate visit to
this fossil deposit. ] would say it is
anything else but play or pleasant
amusement, besides surface specimens
are rather scarce. pretty near all that
were in sight having been carried
away. and it is not known whether
digging would Weld profitable results,
md if it dill any number Of holes
might be sunk before striking pay
dirt Not heing scientist. have M
theories To offer as to the time when