Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-27
FOSSIL BEDS.
Where the EiePh ant. Camel and
reindeer Were wont TO Lie Down
TOUotfAP

| "ehe WONT 10 Lie DOUl
A corresI ondent Of the Eugene City COre
eoD) Guard says Silver lake and Summit
axe both lie on the confpes of the grea
ier1ng was experienced by some OF the EARL
oregon pioneers, the desert being north anC
cast OF these lakes. Silver lake Is encom
PASSED by rim rock" except on the north
INTO basin nearly circular, aud which 4,
PROBABLY thirty miles in diameter. This
Dasin Is surrounded by rim rock on the
south, southwest and west, rising to the
height OF several hundred feet, with occa
slonal breaks or canOns, slOping into the
pasln. On the north and northeast OF
the basin the ascent is more gradual, but
al distance presenting an uninterrupted
barr er. The surface of this basin IS compar-
atlvely level, being subject, however, to Sigh,
ridges rising but few feet, the whole heayily
set with sage cor Rrtemisia,) grease wood and
other small but kindred grOwths. TIE soil,
III we may CAL II soil, seems to be composei
OF light sand and volc anic ash with a per
centage of vegetable mold lutO which a
morse Will frequently sink to his fetlOcks.
Near the center OF this basin and abouf IS
miles from Silver lake, In a northeast direc
uon, is christmas Lake" eight miles from
NnrlktInas 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 tolera bly,
good water. These springs are about halt a
mile apart. i heard the most northerly cali
Mould spring. The rocks about Silver lake
and Summer lake, where stratidei, appear
10 dip TO the north. From twenty to forty
M les In northwest direction from Fossil
lakes set in The lava mountains, or ra her
mountains of lava. IL would seem that
these fossil remains might have remained
buried from four to ten feet in the earth
and therefore unk Gown TO the prying eyes of
the antiquarian, but for the action of the
wind. There seems TO be constant current of
wind from the southwest. All that space
where bones found "a N ha ~
out to the depth OF several feet, and carried
some OF 1t, 10 q distance. OF from five TO ten
miies: Where ~ IS piled up IN every conceiv-
able form. evidently by the action of the
wind; conclusive evidence is found of this in
The numerous little mounds still remaining
aud able Ia resist the action OF the wind ~
the aiu OF the roots OF some more vigorous
bunch of sage or grease!yo God. These mounds
Present a Ueautiful example of stratifiei
formation, often i've. or six strata, ranging
nom three - tlSnJ inches ii thickness, very
clearly marked. On the lower levels of this
excavation is where the fossils are found.
We found fossil bones of ths elephant.
camel, horse, and elk or reindeer; the horse
being much more abundant than either of
the others, but all being SD clearly marked
as TO leave no doubt a. To their identity.
There were other bones apparently OF large
10 name the animal they once belonged to
Among tie fossils found the smaller quad
Tupeds had a representation. Il Jnes answer
ing in size TO The fox anl Wolf Were found;
also others answering in size to the sheep o.
goat IN size and appearance.
Remains of bids were very plentiful, some
very large, Others quite small. Waders,
swimmers, scratcEers, and probably climb RS
We're recognized. The yerLebse or back oOne
of fish, or some other animal with a back
bone like the fish, are found in great plenty;
also bones like nothing | ever saw before,
there fore i VIII not undertake 10 describe
them.
The fossil remains lie scattered over th 2
earth for "a distance OF fOur or i've miles ia
the direction of northeast aud southwest, the
strip being probably mile wide. Near the
southwest end of the deposit are two small
lakes or ponds highly impregnatei with
alkali, the water having a milky APPEAR
ance, with a disagreeable taste and smell.
have presented TO Prof. Thos. Condor, OF
the State university, TO whom was largely
indebted for valuable suggestions as 10 the
manner of selecting and packing specimens,
the most find, retaining but a few duplicates
myself.
TO any who may contemplate a visit to
this fossil deposit would say IT is anything
else but play or pleasant amusement, besides
surface specimens are pretty scarce, pretty
much all that were in sight having been car
ried away, and il Is lot known whether dig
giDg would yield profitable results, AMI If it
did, any number of holes might be sunk
before striking "pay dirt"
Not being a scieltist, / have no theories
to offer as TO the time when these animals
lived or the circumstances attending their
death, or what were the necessary surround
ings in order to preserve their bones 10 TIA 2
pres ent time.