The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-12-13
Fossil Beds of Oregon.

(Oregon) Guard gives the following ac-
count of visit made last June, by him
self and another person, to the so-called
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 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-rock," except on |
the northwest. On the east there is a |
gap which leads into basin nearly Gil |
cular, and which is probably thirty !
miles in diameter. The basin is sur
rounded by rim-rock on the south, south
west and west, rising to the height of
several hundred feet, with occasional
breaks or canons, sloping into the basin.
On the north and northeast of the basin
the ascent is more gradual, but at
distance presenting an uninterrupted
| barrier. The surface of this basin is
comparatively level, being subject, how
ever, to slight inequalities in the form
of hillocks or low ridges rising but few
feet, the whole heavily set with sage (or
artimissia), grease-wood, and other small
but kindred growths. The soil, if we
may call it soil, seems to be composed of
| llUll SdIlu anu NolCdhlC dSu, Will ptl-
centage of vegetable mold, into which
locks. Near the center of this basin,
and about eighteen, miles from Silver
Lake, in a northeast direction,
" Christmas Lake," eight miles from
Christmas Lake, in the same direction
and apparently on the same level, are
the Fossil Lakes. About five miles
| f,,r r+bor tho Iiraotiou
two springs of tolerable good water.
These springs are about half mile
apart. I heard the most northerly
called Duncan's 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 the
northwest direction from the Fossil
Lakes, set in the lava mountains, or
rather 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 eyes of the antigua
: rian, but for the action of the wind.
= There seems to be constant current OF
wind from the southwest. All that
:, space where bones are found appears tc
> be scooped out to the depth of several
E feet, and carried: some of it, to adistance
! of from five to ten miles, where it is
u i, piled up in every conceivable form, evi
= IDENTIFY by the action of the wind; con
Z Z elusive evidence Of this is found in the
u u numerous little mounds still remainin,
y and able to resist the action of the wint
: : by the aid of the roots of some NOR
! vigorous bunch of sage or grease-wood
- These mounds present beautiful ex
II ample of stratifed formation, often fiv
!, or six strata, ranging from three t.
= eight inches in thickness, very clearl.
= marked. On the lower levels of this eS
6 cavation are where the fossils are found
u u We found fossil bones of the elephant
I camel, horse and elk or reindeer, tn
-, - horse being much more abundant tina
- either of the others, but all being s
~ clearly marked as to leave no doubt g
- to their identity. There are other bone'
apparently of large animals, but you
- correspondent was unable to name th
W W animal they once belonged to. Among th
- ~ fossils found the smaller quadrupeds ha
+, a representation; bones answering t
- the sheep or goat in size and appearance,
~ ~ Remains of birds were very plentiful
~ some very large, others quite small
=. bly, climbers, were recognized. tt
~ verterbrae or backbone of fish, or son
~ ~ other animal with backbone like fis1
ho he are found in great plenty; also bones lii
l nJ nothing l ever saw before-therefor
~ ~ will not undertake to describe ther
lo The fossil remains lie scattered over tt
~ ~ earth for a distance of over four or fl
ho miles in the direction of northeast al
l,JI nJ southwest, the strip being probably
o' mile wide. Near the southwest end
70 the deposit are two small lakes or pond
i;e highly impragnanted with alkali, tn
~ ~ water having milky appearance, wi
lu III disagreeably taste. and smell. I ha
rs presented to Prof. Thomas Condor,
o'5 ,ee the State University, to whom l W
ay largely indebted for valuable suggestion
:iis na as to the manner of selecting and pac
,o4 ~. ing specimens, the most of my fin
ls' 40 retaining but a few duplicates myse
"a "a to any who may contemplate a visit
,'7s ,us this fossil deposit, would say it is al
ou ost thing else but play or pleasant amu
as' ment, besides surface specimens a
rather scarce, pretty much all that we
in sight have been carried away, and
is not known whether digging wor
yield profitable results, and if it q
esh any number of holes might be sunk
ION ION fore striking "pay dirt.' Not being
"o scientist, I have no theories to offer as
Ga a the time when these animals lived, or
Tie circumstances attending their death,
lie what were the necessary surroundings
order to preserve their bones to I
a present time.