The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-02

AN AMATEUR PROFESSOR BELIEVES THEY ARE
NOT VERY ANCIENT.
Virginia New Enierpnse.J

NOT VERY ANCIENT.
Virginia New Enierprse.J
Conductor William M. Havenor, OF the
Virginia and Truckee railroad, who Is the
owner OF one of the finest meteorological
and geological collections In Nevada. and
who has made a study OF anthropoogy, has
been investigating in his leisure hours the
Carson footprints and alleged prehistoric
relics dug up at the State Prison quarry.
and has reached conclusion in respect to
them entirely different from that held by
the sdudnts from California and the East
who have been wrestling with the problem.
Professor Hayenor Is, we understand, pre-
pairing paper on the subject. which he
intends 10 read at the next meeting OF the
Nevada Academy OF Sciences, OF which he
is the honored president. Meanwhile he
has addressed the following communica-
ton, embodying his views In regard to the
fossils, &C., to Warden Bell, who had for
warded them 10 him for his examination:
VIRGINIA, November 10, 1888.
The Hon. Frank Bell, Warden Nevdda
State Prison:
Dear Sir,-After closely examining the
formation. fossil bones, shells, and sand
stone, which you so kindly sent me, have
no reason to believe the formation belongs
to a remote epoch or dates from period
exceeding one thousand years. The for
nation was caused by the Carson river
running northwest OF the short range OF
mountains that lie between the present
course OF the Carson river and the Nevada
State prison, the channel Of the river beng
not far from the prison-yard, and swinging
around to the southeast at the point OF rocks
about one half mile below the prison. AS
the channel filed up the water spread over
the valley and formed an inland lake, the
river bringing down sand. gravel, debris,
and vegetation from the Sierras, the liner
alluvlum being deposited below the prison.
and az 1t filled up formed the layers OF
sandstone in which the footprints and other
tracks are found, the water taking up the
solution Of lime dissolved from the shells,
limestOnes, and hot springs formation, ce-
menting the sand. The coarser sand and
gravel I'm which the fossil bones and
tracks occur contains great quantity
OF fine particles OF iron, and by
the water percoatlng through 1t would
quickly become solidI6ed. All the FOSSIL
tracks in the sandstone belong to the
present period, with the exception OF the
elephant, which at that time Inhabited
Southwestern California and during the
summer months ranged along the series OF
springs and rivers from the Big Trees
through Hermit, Charity, and Faith val
leys and Carson Csnon TO Bells Lake.
(Which have named after you,) the present
site OF the State prison, distance OF about
$50 miles. Fossil remains OF the elephant
have been found in Hermit valley four feet
from the surface. The man-tracks are in
disputable. They are probably a tritle
larger than the original, the sand being
forced outward by the pressure, and were
those OF Il large and powerful tribe OF In
dams, who were skilled in warfare and IN the
pursuit Of game, and, following the rivers
and lakes. roamed as far south as Owens
Lake. We find at Washoe Lake obsidian
arrowheads OF fine workmanship. The
obsidian is at White Mountains,
about 200 miles south, showing that they
migrated between these places, Bells Lake,
and other hot springs being
their natural camping-grounds in cold
weather; and at most OF these places NOR
tars are to be found in the rocks. The
large number OF fossils found in the sand
stone IL accounted for from the fact
that they were unable to eXtricate
themselves from the deep sand. Short
ly after the lake filled up the chan
mel OF the river changed above the
short range OF mountains to its present
course, and, following the dip OF the lime
stone, sinks when il comes in contact with
the sandstone, as do other rivers in the
State. The formation OF the rocks. depth
Of natural soil. salt and boraX marshes,
lakes OF brackish water. and the absence
OF coal, denotes very recent formation,
and. in connection with the winds blowing
from the west against the SUBMITS of the
Sierras. lose their moisture and become so
dry on reaching the plains and valleys that
vegetation would only exist by irrigation,
except along the rivers and springs, and
would only be sufficient to sustain limited
amount of animal life. Much more might
be written on this interesting subject. but,
as this is quite lengthy, will close. Yours
respectfully. W. NJ. HAvENOR.