The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-03-14
A BONE YARD OF NATURE.
WHERE THE EARTHs HISTORY IS
WRITTEN IN STONE.
A Spot In Colorado where Petrifled
Monsters Fifty Feet in Length
Are Found-A Natural Wonder.


Monsters Fifty Feet in Length
Are Found-A Natural Wonder
During a recent visit in Colorado we
were detained for some hours at Canyon
City, and in looking for something to
help us pass the time away we were
directed to the so called bone yard. We
went as directed, aud | am constrained
TO say that among the innumerable
natural curiosities Of this strange and
curious country none possesses deeper
interest than this place. Here is the
rarest and finest geological display have
ever seen. The little stream through
whose canyon we approached the now
famous field leaves in many places the
formation cut cleanly down three thou
sand feet, howing all the qualifications.
The whole country for many miles around
is much broken, and the dip or inclina-
ton of the rock is such that in travelling
from Canyon City to this strange and
interesting quarry, we pass over the eX-
posed edge of all the formations from
the tertiary to the silurian periods. But
the exposure only becomes Of more than
usual interest as we enter the canyon of
Oil Creek, where the walls rise sheer and
clear cut above you, showing the strait
fication through many geological periods.
The Bone Yard proper is but seven or
eight miles out of Canyon City, but the
interest continues for the student of ma
ture, especially if geologist, for many
miles beyond. We found the superin-
tendent, Captain Felch, at the base of
the cliff, and in answer to our inquiry as
20 the location of the mine from which
they dug mastodons and many other
curious fossels, he pointed to dizzy
height up the perpendicular side
OF the canyon where q sandstone
strata cropped out. Looking up
we saw a stretch of white sail cloth
that protected the redeemed treasures
from the dis 'ntegrating action Of the
clements "Yes," said the superinteu
dent, ''this spot and in fact all about
here is perfect geological mine, but, as
a matter of fact, these saurian remains in
the Jurassic exposures about here are
found in greater abundance and perfec-
tion than any other place yet discovered.
Something like twenty millions of years
ago this spot without doubt was the mouth
Of an old Jurassic river, and, therefore,
natural feeding ground for the semi
amphibious creatures whose remains are
now being excavated. This sandstone is
perfect mass of bones and the variety
of animal remains is greater than at almost
any other known place in the world.
Many of them, too, are highly specified
To explain: Some of the animals whose
remains we find had become known to
the scientist, but occasionally some are
found having such wellmarked special
ties that is, individual features. as to
require a new or revised classification.
And now and then we find some things
that, when they become known, will
startle the whole scientific world. We
think that we have found a link here
that will connect two classes of animal
lie to all appearances more distinctly
separated than man and monkey"
The superintendent took me up to the
edge and showed me the sandstone
quarry where the bones were obtained.
The Journey was worth pilgrimage to
any one of those who see earth's history
in rocks and read the tablets of the
stratitcations which are the sepulchers
that hold the bones Of her dead sef-al
who have visited this spot have been
wonderfully interested. Although the
place is unknown to the millions, there
are but few spots in Colorado that have
received the attention of distinguished
scholars equal to this.
After some moderately hard climbing
we arrived at the quarry, and, distinctly
visible in the soft gray sandstone of the
Jurassic era in which they had become
mired and perished, are the petrifed
forms of huge monsters fifty feet in
length. The utmost care is required in
getting them out and the labor of three
men has been engaged in this service
for three or four years. This is all done
for the museum of Yale college and paid
for out of the Peabody fund. The
scientific interest of this mu,eum has
been materially increased by the remains |
taken from this quarry and the work will
no doubt continue so long as new or
special forms continue to be found.
We find in working over this field
anefits products that the forms of nature
change, but her methods are continuous.
The work that went on here at the mouth
of this ancient river mil ions of years ago,
is now, to limited extent, going on in
the deltas of all large rivers that empty
into The ocean. Such rivers carry down
food that is relished by certain fish and
sea an mails that come to these places
where the river debouches TO feed. Here
also come the larger and stronger of their
kind to prey upon the weaker. We
know that the largest animals and fishes
of our time get mired and cast ashore and
thus perish. When these species become
extinct their bones will in time become
curiosities. Thus nature continues to
write her history upon the rocks, which
speak it forth 10 man as he slowly and
laboriously turns the difficult and rarely
understood pages of her book. This is a
ciyi izing and refining work. Whether
it be that only gentle natures engage in
it, or that it has the mage TO work gen,
tleness in the heart of those who do thi
kind of work, it is, at least, my ubserva
tOn that savageness is at the very lowest
point n those who commune much with
nature through any of her forms.
This quarry is not the only place in the
vicinity where nature can be stud ed, TO-
IN a large spring near the Superintudelt
house we saw how these curious little
worms in the bottom cover themselves
with preparation of silica and lime ex-
tracted from the water, making shells for
themselves to live in. We had been wit
Messing water snails build their houses
over their own bodies; and what an adj
mira5le location wherein to rear family.