The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
Fossil Beds Of Oregon.

A correspondent Oh the Eugene WY O''
gon) Guard gives the following account OF a
visit made last June by himself and another
nerson to the socalled fossil-bcds of Lake coun
~, that state:
"Silyer lake and Summer lake both lie on
The confines of the great desert, by the crossing
If which so much suffering was experienced
nv some of the early Oregon pioneers, the dcs
,rt living north and east OF these lakes. Silver
lake il encompassed by 'rimrock,' except on
tbe northwest. On the east there is gap
which leads into basin nearly circular and
which is probably thirty miles in diameter.
This basin is surrounded by rim-rock on the
south southwest and west, rising to the height
ofseveral hundred feet, with occasional breaks
orcanons, sloping into the basin. On the north
and northeast of the basin the ascent is more
gradual, but at distance presenting an unin-
corrupted barrier The surface of this basin is
comparatively level, being subject, however,
TO slight inequalities in the form of hillocks or
low ridges rising but sew feet, the whole
heavily set with sage, Tor artemissia), grease
wood, and other small but kindred growths.
The soil, if we may call it soil, seems to be com
posed of light sand and volcanic ASH with II
percentage of vegetable mold, into which Il
horse will frequently sink to his fetlocks. Near
the centre of this basin, and about eighteen
miles from Silver lake, in Il northeast direc-
ton, is Christmas lake; eight miles from
Christmas lake in the same direction anu ap-
parentlv on the same level, are the Fossil lakes.
About five miles further on, in the same direc-
ton. are two springs of tolerably good water.
These springs are about half u mile apart |
heard the most snorthcry called Duncan 5
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 n northwest
direction are the Fossil lakes, set i'll the lava
mountains, or rather mountains of lava. 1t
would seem that these fossil remains might
have remained buried from fOurtot ten feet in the
oarth and therefore unknown to the prying
ewes of the antiquarian, but for the action of
,he wind There seems TO be u constant cur
rent 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, 10 distance of from five to ten
miles, where it is piled up in every conceiv-
able form, evidently by the action of the wind ;
conclusive evidence of this is found in the
numerous little mounds still remaining and
able to resist the action OF the wind by the alO
of the roots of some more vigorous bunch OF
sage or greasewood. These mounds present Il
beautiful example Of stratitcd formation, often
five or six strata, ranging from three to eight
inches in thickness, very clearly marked. On
The lower levels of this excavation are where
the fossils are found We found fossil bones
Of the elephant, camel, horse and elk or rein
deer, the horse being much more abundant
than either of the others, but all being so clear
lv marked as to leave no doubt as TO their
identity. There were other bones apparently
Of large animals, but your correspondent was
unable to name the animal they once belonged
TO. Among the fossils found the smalerq quad
rupeds had a representation; bones answering
in size to the fox and wolf were found also
others answering to the sheep or goat in size
and appearance. Remains of birds were very
plentiful, some very large, others quite small.
Wadcrs swimmers, scratChcrS and probably
climbers, were recognized. The vertebrp or
backbones of fish, or some other animal with
a backbone like the fish, are found in great
plenty; also bones like nothing ever saw be
iore-therefore will not undertake to describe
them. The fossil remains lie scattered over
the earth for distance of four or five miles in
the direction of northeast and southwest, the
strip being probably q mile wide Near the
southwest end of the deposit are two small
lakes or ponds, highly impregnatcd with aka
Ii, the water having Il milky appearance, with
Il disarrccabe taste and smell | have pre-
Scnted to Prof. Thomas Condor of the State
university, to whom I was largely indebted for
valuable suggestions as to the manner of Sc
Letting and packing specimens, the most ofmy
find, retaining but a few duplicates myself To
any who may contemplate visit to this fossil
deposit, would say ii is anything else but
play or pleasant amusement, besides surface
specimens are rather scarce, pretty much all
that were in sight having been carried away,
and il is not known whether digging would
yield profitable results and if it did, any num-
her of holes might be sunk before striking pay
dirt Not being II scientist, ! have no theo-
rics to offer rs to the time when these animals
lived, or the circumstances attending their
death, or what were the necessary surround
ings in order 10 preserve their bones 10 the
present time"