The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1901-08-21
rim Rocks" Moving Lake
And Dead Sea in
Oregon.

Oregon, and Lake county has her share
OF these. In fact, many people do moi
know what they look like, and some dc
not even know what the word means.
A correspondent 10 leading paper ol
the state was Mortified to see the name
Of these rocks, where he had referred Ia
them, changed IN "round.rocks" by the
mansgin Z editor.
Throughout eastern Oregon, and on.
pecislly what IL known ~ the dessert"
country, these rim.rocks are prominent
features. The country In q succession Of
level plains, varying In width and length
from few miles u more than hun.
dred. These plains are often spoken Of
as plateaus, from their high elevation
above Sea level; In fact they are nothing
more nor less than u succession Of ba.
sins, In many cases resembling era.
ter beds, for they lie among the
mountain tops, only lower than the
snow-caprcd peaks that have to be IN.
cended from almost every point to reach
them, and the tall rim.rocks that tower
immediately above them. These pla-
teaus or basins are separated by the
rim.rocks and along one side or tho
other of the large lakes tower from
few feet 10 hundreds Of feet In the air.
The walls II these rocks are perfectly
perpendicular, often possessing the ap.
pearancc of having been constructed by
skilled human hands. Layer upon lay.
or Of smooth rocks lie upon one IN.
other with tho joints broken as carefully
IN modern masonry work, with pillars
now and then many feet tall 10 support
them ON broader tables Of rocks. These
pillars, however, are close together, and
although possessing various rides, from
q triangle 10 an octagon, they 1T PER.
fectly together. At the top Of these
walls broad, level rocks lie. jutting out
" several fest above the sides Of the
wall like the leaf Of table or the rim Of
hat. II In impossible to descend from |
the top Of this rim down the wall or 70
ascend from below tO the top Of the rim.
rock, except where the wall IL broken by
crevssseS OF gulches or canyons. Many
of the small plains thus surrounded
have bcen tho scene Of Wholesale slaugh.
ter In tho past. Indians used TO lind
deer and antelope browsing In these bS.
sims, and placing . guard ut the only
entrance or entrances, " among the ami.
malls and slauShter the entire band.
The deadly way in which they used to
fire upon immigrant trains from these
rim.rocks IL part Of the history Of tho
A two days drive from Silver lake,
the entrance way to the main desert"
brings one IA the greatest wonder ON the
Pacific coast, possibly the greatest In tho
United States. Here il u rich fossil
field covering hundreds of acres, IN the
midst of which il the wonderful "mov-
ing" lake. One does not see il move In
fact, but the evidence is there To show
that il moves, and there are men living ,
In Lake county who can verify the fact
lhat,it IL constantly on the move. Not
only the water moves, but the lake
changes its bed from time to time, and
IN the course oi few decades traverses ,
territory. :
In this region there is continuous ex-
losure of sand beds. The sand Is Of the
lines, grain and is Of unknown depth. .
II is always dry, as II seems to never
rain to amount to anything at this i