Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-08-26
The Tenin0 Mounds.

\ ie" day a-,p a correspondent
of tne ufy2"jt" WHO mad visited
VI )und Pta!rie ii, einptei to settle
the ne J,e;; Question of the origin of
the cunica, u.eya.ious by at;r.butiu5
them 10 luintl agency. After lew
. Il, urs osti.ation, he debates
thin IN be Tie place OF sculpture OF
Il bysOne age, an opinion which none
OF those who have had more eX' end
ed means Of observation share. 1t
Ems that ii TN, hypothesis Were
tc;Ie the demolition OF mahy of tUes''
III iuucs in grading 10 ,d-be-! Tot
Il. ralll oad, would have bought t.
light aotho reGilins OF the human
body. VI hch are capable of withstand
lug the effect of time for ages if not
centuries, as well Us those relics OF
stone always buried with the dead
by savage races, which are practl
ca'ly understandable.
This theory, Therefore, fluids bui
few supporters among those who
have given the subject much thnuSh'
but a subsequent letter, in the same
paper, written by a resident of Spokan
county, advances u theory, based
upon observation of the formation of
similar elevations in Eastern Wash
ingtop, which seems to be the most
plausible explanation yet suggested
of the phenomenon. He says that
in that part of the Territory may be
found several small tracts of country,
! dotted over with just such mounds,
! and others in process of formation at
this time, but not by the work of man.
They are owing solely to-" a peculiar
current of wind, which on reaching a
certain district of country moves with
such whirl that it sweeps up and
carries the loose and light PARTICLES
of earth to common center. If
there be any blades or tufts of grass
to cling to, it concentrates and keeps
accumulatlng. This process is slow
er or rapid, according to the loose
ness or compactness of the soil, and
the velocity of the wind. But it
steadily goes on; and like the Te
nino mounds the top of these eleva-
tons is composed of the light dust
that is waited by the whirling wind,
from among the stones to its lodg-
ment among the blades and roots of
vegetation. Only disturb the earth
on a windy day, on any side of these
mounds and it is instantly lifted up
and deposited on the top or sides of
them.
Here, then, is an explanation which
Is not weakened by any improbable
conditions, as are most of the theories
advanced by those who invoke the
aid of the earthquake, or a deluge,
to make their idea conform to Civ
en- result. "In some Districts" the
correspondent says, "this whirling
wind. has ceased and found new
channels. Probably the growth or
destruction of timber has done this,
for we generally find these mounds
not long distances from timber.
There is one exception, however in
the district lying about SCI en- miles
north of Wash tub. nee lake in Whit
man county, w. I. This country is
without timber, the top soil is rich
loan, tue subsoil appears to be sand.
By the force and peculiar direction
of the wind the sand is lifted to a
considerable height. A furrow is
ploughed several hundred yalds
wide, 100 to $50 feet deep, and sew
eral miles in length, the sand and
dust on ascending rome distance,
say from 200 to 800 feet high are
met by counter current, the heavier
particles are dropped on a ridge,
and the light dust and sand carried
beyond, forming ridges parallel with
this deep furrow.