The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-10-30
FOSSIL BEDS OF OREGON.

WITH REMAINS OF PRE- ANlMALS
WHERE THE ELEPHANT, CAMEL AID
REINDEER pwELr WHEN THE WORLD
WAS YOUNG.
A correspondent OF the Eugene City,
Oregon, Guard gives the following ac-
count OF visit made last June by him
self and other persons 10 the so.called los
sill 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 50 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.rocks except on
the northwest. On the east there is a
gap which leads into basin nearly cir
cular, and which is probably thirty
miles in diameter. This basin is SUR
rounded by rim-rock ON the south,
southwes: and west, rising to the
height Of several hundred icet,
with occasional breaks or can,
ons sIoping into the basin. On thenor
and northeast of the basin the ascent Is
more gradual, but at distance present.
ing an uninterrupted barrier. The sur"
face OF this basin is comparatively Level,
being subject, however, to slight inc
qualities in the form OF hiliocks or low
ridges rising but few feet, the whole
heavily set with sage Tor artemissia) :,
greasewood, and other small but kindred
growths. The soil, if We may call 1t
soil, seems 10 BE- composed OF light sand
and volcanic ash, with n percentage OF
vegetable mold, into which horse will
frequently sink to his tetlocks. Near The
center of this basin, and about eighteen
miles from SILVER Lake, in northeast di.
rcction, is christmas Lake. eight miles
from Christmas LAKE in the same direc-
ton, and apparently 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 Is mile apart. |
heard the most northcrly called Duncan
Spring, and we called the other Mound
Spring. The rocks about SILVER Lake
and Summer Lake, where stratltfcd, ap-
pear to dipto the north.
From twenty to forty miles in q
northwest direction from the Fossil
! Lakes, set in the lava mountains, or
rather mountains Of lava. 1t would seem
tina ihese fossil remains might have re-
manned buried from tour to ten feet in
the earth, and therefore unknown TO the
| prying eyes OF the antiquarian, but Tor
| 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
conceivable form, evidently by the action
of the wind; conclusive evidence OF thl
is found in the numerous little mounds
still remaining ,and able to resist thu
action of the wind by the aid OF thu
roots OF some more vigorous buncl
of sage or crossword. These mounds
present q beautiful example of stratified
formation, often five or six strata, rang
Ing from three to eight inches in thick
ness, being very clearly marked. On thu
lower levels OF this excavation are
where the fossils are found. We tount
fossil bones OF the elephant, camel
, horse, and elk or reindeer, the horse be
ing much more abundant than either o
the others, but all being SO clearly mark
cd as to leave no doubt as to their ident
; | ity. There were other bones. APPARENT
of large animals. but your correspOn
dent was unable to name the animi
they once belonged to. Among tn
fossils found the smaller quadruped
had q representation; bones answerin.
in size to the fox and wolf were found
also others answering to the sheep o.
goat in size and appearance. Remains o
birds were very plentiful, some very
large, others quite small. Waders
swimmers, scratchers. and probably
climbers, were recognized. The verte-
brn or backbones OF fish, or some othel
animal with backbone like the fish, ar
found in great plenty; alse bones like
nothing | ever saw before, therefore
will not undertake to describe them. Thu
fossil remains lie scattered over tn,
earth for distance OF four or five mile
in the direction OF the northeast an,
southwest, tho strip being probably
mile wide, Near the southwest end 0
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 pre-
scented to Prot. Thomas Condor, OF tht
| a. 4 L., a.