Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-31
FOSSIL BEDS.
Where the Elephant, Camel, and Rein
deer We're Wont to Lie Down To-

ueeI were wont 10 Lie Down To-
gether.
A correspondent of the Eugene City
Oregon) Guard says: 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 comprised by
rm-rock," except on the northwest.
On the east there is a 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 Of several hundred feet.
with occasional breaks of canons, slop-
Ing into the basin. On the north and
northwest Of the basin the ascent is
more gradual, but at a distance, pre-
sentlng an uninterrupted 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 few feet, the
whole heavily set with sage Tor artemi-
sla,) greasewood 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 a per
centage of vegetable mold into which a
horse will frequently sink to his fet
locks. Near the centre of this basin.
and about eighteen miles from Silver
lake, in northwest direction, is Christ
mas lake ;" eight miles from Christmas
lake, IN the same direction, and appa-
rently on the same level, are the Fossil
lakes. About five miles further on, in
the same direction, are two springs of
tolerably 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 and
Summer lake, where stratifed, appear
to dip to the north. From twenty to
forty miles IN a northwest direction
from Fossil lakes set in the lava noun
talns, or rather mountains Of lava It
would seem that these fossil remains
might have remained buried from four
to ten feet In the earth, and therefore
unknown to the prying eyes Of the an
tlquarian, but for the action of the
wind. There seems to be a 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 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 is found
Of this 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 crossword These mounds present
a beautiful example Of stratifed forma-
ton, often five or six strata, ranging
from three to eight inches in thickness,
very clearly marked. On the lower lev
els of this excavation is 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 so
clearly 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 smaller
quadrupeds had a representation
Bones answering in size to the wolf
were found ALSO others answering in
size to the sheep or goat in size and ap-
pearance.
Remains Of birds were very plentiful,
some very large, others quite small
Waders, swimmers, scratchers, and
probably climbers, were recognized.
The vertebr9 or back bone of fish, or
some other animal with back bone
like the fish, are found in great plenty
also bones like nothing ever saw be-
fore, therefore I will not undertake to
describe them.
The fossil remains lie scattered over
the earth for a distance of four or five
miles in the direction of northeast and
southwest, the strip being probably
mile wide Near the southwest end of
the deposit are two small lakes or ponds
highly impregnated with alkali, the wa
ter having a milky appearance, with
disagreeable taste and SMELL
have presented to Prof. Thos. Con
don, of the State University, to whom |
was largely indebted for valuable sug-
gestions as to the manner Of selecting
and packing 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
anything else but play or pleasant
amusement, besides surface specimens
are pretty scarce, pretty much all that
were in sight having 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
before striking pay dirt"
Not being scientist, / have no theo-
ries to offer as to the time when these
animals lived or the circumstances at
tending their death, or what were the
necessary surroundings in order to pre-
serve their bones to the present time.
1t is said that Jeff Davis has about
finished his memoirs. and is now trying