The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15

The United states Geological Survey has I
in course Of preparation for printing re-
mort by Lester F. Ward, the paleontologist |
Of the institution, on the "Petrified Forests !
of Arizona" The request for this investi-
CATION came at the instance Of the Secre-
tarv of the Smithsonian Institution, from
the Commissioner of the General Land or
fee. The report. which is very interesting
throughout, says in part:
THE scenic aspect has never been exag-
gsrated by any who have attempted to de-
scribe this region. The pictures given by
early explorers fall far short Of what might
be truly said from this point Of view. These
Mortified forests may be properly classed
among the natural wonders Of America,
and every reasonable effort should be made.
not only to preserve them from destructive
influences. but also to make their existence
and true character known TO the people.
| The report continues: Some Of the most
fpnortaDt considerations that may be
urged in favor of the Importance Of this
region. compared with other petrifed for
ests rests upon its geological relations. In
]
than the petrifed forests Of the Yellow
stone National Park. Of certain parts OF
/ wyoming and Of the CalistOga deposits IN
! California. These latter are OF Tertiary
| age while the Arizona forests belong Iar
hack In Mesozoic time. probably 10 the III
! AISLE formation The difference in thelr
antiquity is. therefore. many millions OF
wears. Scattered blocks Of silicihed WOOD
do indeed occur in the Irias at othef
| points. but this is the only region IN "hieh
! they are in such abundance as to deserve
the name Of a petrifed forest
There is no other getrifed forest IN
| which the wood assumes so many Narleu
and interesting forms and cOlors and II is
these that present the chief attraction LOT
the general public The state Of mlnerdh-
,ation in which much Of this wood exists,
almost places them among the gems OF
r-acfoug stones. Not only are chalcedony,
ona1s and agates found among them, put
many approach the condition Of Jaspar anu
onvx. The degree OF hardness attained oy
them is such that they are said 10 make
an excellent quality Of emery
Perhaps the most prominent OF al tne
scenic features Of the region is the we l.
known Natural Bridge. consisting Of
great petrifed trunk lying across a GahyOA
and forming foot bridge over winch any
one may easily pass.
The particular region known as the
| Fortified Forest OF Arizona lies in the
area between the Little Colorado and ire
! Rio Puerco. fifteen miles east OF thelF
| junction. seventeen miles east or Htl-
brock. and six miles south o. Atamana sta
tiou. on the Santa Fa Pacific Railroad
which measurements terminate az the
outer edge of the area on the west AKA
north sides II is about eight miles square
and falls chiefly within township u north.
range q east but extends short distance
on the south into township 10 north, and
| on the west into range % east.
This region consists Of the ruins OF Il
former plain, having an altitude above sea
level of . 700 10 f. $50 feet. This plain NJ s
undergone extensive erosion 10 d maxi
mum deuth Of nearly 700 feet. ana is cut
/ into iuuumerable ridges. bu,tes. ana sillaII
mesas. with valleys, gOrges, ana slithes
between. The strata consists OF alternating
bs5s of claws. sandstone shsles, and mas
siye sandstones.
! In another part Of the report Il says:
..Tbe CLAWS are purple. white and blue.
! the purule predomiuauug, the white ana
bIue forming bands Of different thicknesses
+ between the others. giving 20 the ems a
I lively and pleasing effect. The Sandstones
e are chiefly Of a reddish brown color. and
' | closely resemble the brOw1stone OF TIE
r | Portland and Newark quarries. or the o d
- | sandstone Of the Seneca QuarIies on tue
= Potomac River and 90 Manassas, IN VIZ
5 ! ginia but some are light brown, grey, or
| whitish in color. The mesas are formed
I | nv the resistance Of the massive eTosive
agencies, and vary in size from mere cap