Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-10-31
FOSSIL BEDS.
Where the Elephant. Camel. and Rein.
deer We're Went to Lie Down To.
yether

loleSoiit ouIu sd SILVER lake and
Summer lake both lie on the confines NJ
the great desert by the crossing of which
so much suffering was experienced bv
some of the early Oregon pioneers, the
desert lying north and east of thea
lakes. Silver lake is comprised bv
" rlm-rock," except on the 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-rocl
on the south, southwest, and west, risino
to the height of several hundred feet
with occasional breaks of canons, sion.
ing into the basin. On the north and
northwest Of the basin the ascent i
more gradual, but at distance, pre-.
senting 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.
sia,) 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 per
centage of vegetable mold into which
horse will frequently sink to his fet.
locks. Near the centre of this basin.
and about eighteen miles from Silver
lake, i'll a northwest direction, is Christ
mas lake y 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 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 stratified, appear
to dip to the north. From twenty to
forty miles in Il northwest direction
from Fossil lakes set in the lava noun
tainS, 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
unknown to the prying eyes of the an
tiquarian, but for the action of the
wind. There seems to be u 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 a distance of from five to ten miles.
where it is piled up in every conceiy-
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
Il beautiful example Of stratitied 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 Il representation
Bones answering in size to the wolf
were found also others answering in
size to the sheep or goat in size and APP
pearance.
Remains of birds We're very plentiful,
some very large others quite small.
Waders, swimmers, scratchers, and
probably climbers were recognized.
The vertebrc 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 | will not undertake to
describe them.
The fossil remains lie scattered over
the earth for distance Of four or five
miles in the directitn of northeast and
southwest, the strip being probably a
mile wide. Near the southwest end OF
the deposit are two small lakes or pond,
highly impregnated with alkali, the wa
ter having milky appearance, with Il
taste and smell.
| have presented to Prof. Thos. Con
don, of the State University, to whom l
was largely indebted for valuable sug-
gestions rs to the manner of selecting.
ana packing specimens lile NiuoV VI
my find retaining but a few duplicates
myself.
To any who may contemplate visit
to this fossil deposit | would say 1t Is
else but play or pleasant
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 II Il
did, any number of holes might besunk
before striking pay dirt"
Not being Il scientist, | have no theo-
ries to offer as to the time when these