Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-04-25
OYSTER SHELL MOUNTAIN.
Relic of an Ancient Era When
sOld Ocean Covered North
Dakota
Points Concerning N. DIS New
Game LaW---ChangeS
Made.

J. w. Balch and son OF this city, re-
Gently returned from trip through
Emmons, Logan and Mcintosh counties,
during which they made discovery of
butte, or'rather two buttes, 200 or more
feet in height-whlch are composed of
little else than oyster shells. This ex-
traordinary mountain Of shells lies in
the extreme southwestern corner of
Logan county, North Dakota, two or
three miles from the county line. The
base of the butte, which at height OF
about 100 feet is divided and forms two
peaks each 100 or more feet high, is
about three -fourths Of mile in length,
oblong in shape, and lies extended in q
northeastern and southwestern direc-
ton. The sides are preclpitous except
at the southern extremity where it was
possible to drive part way up, but not
down.
The butte lies in region almost en-.
tirely settled by Russians, and none, as
far as could be learned, had ever visited
it or ever given it name. 1t is con-
spicuous landmark visible in all direc-
tions for miles as 1t towers above the
surrounding rolling prairie and the
valley OF the Beaver-a tributary OF the
4 Missouri river near which it is located.
Very little vegetation is found on the
hltte besides prlckly pear-a variety of
cactus---and in favored spots, bunches Of
grass. The northern enc of the butte,
which has born the brunt Of wind and
rain for numberless centuries 10 SCARED
and eaten away and presents almost
vertical walls to the northwest winds.
Here and there on it's face are huge
blocks Of the cemented shells, which
form kind Of rock, which at q distance
look ready to fsll outward and down.
ward with crash. The juttinR crags
and rocks make wild and picturesque
/ sight.
The southern peak, which can only be
surmounted after stiff climb, was found
TO be nearly fiat on top. oval in contour.
and nothing visible anywhere but oyster
e-shslls some whole ss though just
emptied of their contents, some crum-
bling to dust as though extremely old,
while on every hand we're broken pieces
OF shells of all sizes. A small excavation
was made and nothing but shells, With a
small quantity of gravel, discovered. The
other peak was somewhat different in
character though this, as the other, was
composed of nothing but the shells.It was
more broken and rough in contour and
elevation. The shells seem to have been
united by some cementing material into
rock. One block was noticed 10 or IL
feet square that was almost as true a
cube in general outline, as though the
the hammer and wedge of the stonecut-
ter had fashioned it. Here and there,
projecting from the side, were at inter-
walls large oyster shells which countless
frosts had failed to loosen and overcome
the firm hold of the cement in which it
was embedded. A cave, few feet in
depth, was discovered and entered. Shells
formed its roof, walls and end-noth,ng
but shells. The butte is isolated, there
being no hills or buttes which approach
it in height for miles IN any direction.
A Russian family, who have for years
lived near the buttes, had never visited
it. The father, who accompanied Mr..
liBalch and his son on their exploration,
/ was surprised at the discovery made. He,
together with neiehboring settlers. had
rsver taken enough interest in the butte
to even visit it.