, 1900-12-24

ned their summers work and were con.
s%equently unable to accept the invita-
ton. Nearly one hundred lei how,
ever. awaited themselves of this oppor.
tunity for study in the Rocky Noun,
tains, and arrived at Laramie, as des-
ignated. on July 49,"
Other extracts from his article are
as follows:
Bates Hole is another instance
where a region brimful of geographic
and geological interest has beer almost
entirely overlooked. The Hole"
as it is usually called, was named af-
ter a hunter and trapper who former
ly had his home there. In reality. it is
a great valley that has been eroded
out of the soft tertiary beds. and APP
6 to IL miles in width. At its southern
end this depression is 500 feet and at
its northern end 800 feet deep. 1t is
surrounded by tertiary rocks that are
called the rim" but to the east. north,
and west. and at some distance away
rise mountain ranges varying from s.
900 to 10000 feet in height. From the
rim of this depression the slopes are
very precipitous. In some places they
consist of high terraces OF castelled
rocks; in others the clayey bands have
been carved into normal earth slopes:
occasionally there are areas covered
with a scanty vegetation, and in a few
instances groves of pine and spruce.
So steep. in fact, are the slopes that
for a distance of 20 miles there is but
a single wagon trail leading into the
valley.
Water is scarce. though one sees
a few small streams. with their spruce
clad banks. These break the monotony
of the desert and lend a peculiar charm
to the entire region. About the rim"
OF this great depression. especially on
the eastern and western slopes. are
some. of the most wonderful examples
of Bad Land erosion found in America.
They are of huge dimensions. rising |
from a chalky slope to a height of sew
eral hundred feet and extending for
miles. The carving is elaborate: col
umns. spires. arches. and gateways
are numerous. and their establishment
would do credit to any sculptor. Mar
,.nvr nnnnG with pt,nnli4,tl ,.n I |
200 feet in height. are common occur
rences, and add greatly to the attract.
iveness of the scenery. Here and there
are small forests of pine and spruce,
and jutting out from their dark green
foliage are the white castles whose
forms are too varied and complex to
admit of description. AS the setting
sun gilds these broken spires and
crumbling walls. and the deepening |
shadows bring out wildly their intri-
cate designs, it needs no effort of the
Imagination to see in them the ruins
of an aboriginal city which has crumb-
led away, and whose only occupants
are the mountain wolves and lions and
their only guard the hooting owl by |
night and the screaming buzzard by
day.
THE results OF the work accomplish
ed will appear from time to time in
scientific journals, as the discoveries
themselves are not all hat should be |
considered of value. The field exper-
fence has deepened the interest and
.broadened the horizon of every mem
Der of the expedition. Young and old
were alike enthusiastic over the op-
%portunities offered by this region for
tield-work in geology. While they re-
turned to their various spheres of duty
enriched with material for use in their
future class-work. they all carried
home with them thai lasting benefit
and stimulus which are derived from
contact with the keen minds of those
working along similar lines of research
under more or less varying conditions