The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-30
THEIR TIME FOR WORK
How the Professors Spend the
Vacation Months.
GEOLOGICAL EXHIBIT
Representative Collection of Montana
Ores : Filling the Museum With
Valuable Specimens-A Sue
cessiul Expedition,

are scattered and visitor at the
campus finds everything locked up tight
and the janitors reigning supreme in
their glory, tyranncal in their power as
turkeys. No professors haunt the
halls of learning, and the overworked
clerks and men of business sigh for the
glorious "cinch'' of professor or in-5
structor who can have only three
months of vacation and leisure at the
most acceptable time Of the year
To those unacquainted with the work
of the faculties of colleges and uni
versities it may be surprising to know
that when the professor can close the
door behind the student and breath
freely in June, he is Just getting ready
to do some work Work that means
as much to himself and to his depart
ment as all of the past nine months
together. AS one science teacher has
expressed it, Il exist through the col
lege year to live during the vacation"
1t is now that each scientist feels that
he can do those many things which he
has longed to do during the year. but
which lectures, laboratory work and
recitations have made impossible.
No time in the year is one-fourth
the work done for the general univers-
ity. and especially for the science de-
partments, that is done in the all-too
short vacation period of the summer.
The University of Montana is no ex-
cepton to this, and it may be of in
terest to enumerate what has been
done already since the vacation began.
Perhaps no one part of the university
will see as much material collected and
work done as the biological and geo
logical departments of the university
museum. Boxes, large and small, long
and short. barrels, casks, etc, have
arrived already to fill the museum to
many times it's proper capacity. Prob
ably one of the most interesting addi
tions of the summer is a large portion
of the mines and mining exhibit of ores
from the Omaha exhibition, which are
just at hand from Mr.. Sutherlin. AS a
reward for the efforts of President
Craig and the university authorities
and friends, a considerable portion Of
the ores were finally obtained, and
when these are all properly classified
labeled and arranged with the present
large representative collection of ores
of Montana and other states, the uni
versity will have one of the finest eX-
hibits of economic geology specimens
to be found. 1t is to be hoped that
this material can be properly arranged
in cases and thrown open to public in
spection within the near future. With
out doubt 1t will be one of the drawing
cards in Missoula and should draw
visitors from throughout the state, for
nowhere can one see such represen-
ta,tive collection of our mineral wealth
as has been brought together in the
geological division of our university.
Mention has already been made in
hn 70 do Of 1iSnny0rinG q RI a
by Earl Douglass and Professor Smith
in the line of fossils, etc, near Drum
mond. From Professor Smith, who has
lately returned to Missoula from the
geological expedition, the Standard rep
resentative was able to learn many in
teresting points about the expedition
which started out quietly and unan-
nDunced soon after commencement.
The party of two had for its objec-
tive point the Madison valley in Gal
latin county. and it's purpose was to
continue the collection and study in
the neocene lake beds of Montana, a
subject in which Mr.. Douglass prob
ably stands highest in this country in
che intimate knowledge of the history
and vertebrate life of these lakes. Mr.,
Douglass having already been at work
for five years on these lines, was in at
tendance at the university last year as
a graduate student, and won the de-
gree of master of science on thesis
entitled THE Neocene Lake Beds oil
Montana and Some New Species OF
Vertebrates Therefrom."
The trip was made by wagon in order
that careful study could be made of the
geology of the country. Material was
collected to represent the geological
formations passed, and, in fact, care
full reconnaissance was to be made
across Montana. But the expedition
was suddenly and agreeably surprised
when, entering the Flint Creek valley
near New Chicago, to find fine expos.
ures of neocene lake beds with goot
prospects of rich findings. Those wht
are familiar with this locality viii
easily recall the great basin-like valley
extending from Drummond to neal
Stone station, on the Northern Pacifi,
railroad branch. On either side of thu
valley are extensive benches or tablt
200 or 300 feet. Wherever exposed, on
can see that the material is not solit
rock but cream colored clays. whit,
and gray marls and soft ash-like de
pcsits, probably volcanic ashes. From
any high hill around this valley on,
does not have to draw extensively upoI
the imagination ITO see the valley ont
immense lake. extending across from
divide to divide, and from the canyon
pc rhaps to Garrison. and up the Dee
Lodge valley. And then the benches
| become the remnants of the old bottom
| to this lake after the streams hay,
| carved out Flint Creek valley and tn.
many ravines and gulches. The top.
| of the benches mark then the bottom
| of the lake, and the depth of the bed!
| gives one an idea of the length OF tim,
| biologists have 10 deal with, for TIL,
sediments We're probably deposited
! slowly as to-day.
1t is in these banks of benches, callet
lake beds, that the Psychologists seel
| the fossil remnants of animals tina
| lived in the days or ages of these lakes
| One who has made the careful stud,
that Mr. Douglass has knows how t,
search and find easily the bones tina
| the ranchmen and cattlemen ride owe
daily and never see. Not always, how
ever, is the geologist rewarded in hi
search, and for this reason the success
of this expedition is the more remark
able.
The animals found are recognized anC
identified according to certain charac
teristic features as the teeth. the foo
lo Sly,1n far = iy f. h.