The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1901-08-21

this section does not even dampen tn
dry sands, much less mOisten the earth
At this point the wind blows gale mos
Of the time, and carries with it clouds Q
the sand. In few days time the win
shifts the sand until point that wa
high last week Is a deep hole or pit thi
week. Then the wind changes an
blows from another direction for Q fev
days, and thus shifts the surface Of tn
earth at this point again. The lake
which lies In these sand beds, IL neces
sarily compelled to change its bed con
tinually. As wind sweeps out q hol
on the north side the water must follow
then II changes to the east, then soutl
and then TO the west, 10 that one cal
zee where It has travelled about the des
ert for years, never getting far from
home, II In true, but still II travels con
siderable distances for a lake. Il 10 ,
mystery TO all who visit this section
why the lake never dries up in such ,
place. There seems TO be no spring
and there 10 no stream to feed it, ant
the rainfall Il light, and being constant
ly on the move, one would think |,
would be absorbed by the dry sands, but
within the knowledge Of the first set
tiers Of the country, this lake has never
been dry and has neither grown larger
nor smaller.
But the greatest object Of interest ia
the scientist In this section il the fossil
beds.
The entire sand-cOvered section IL a
fossil field. Animals for ages have come
to this lake for water, and AZ the aged
and sick ones have died, they have been
covered by the dry sands and their bod
ies preserved in such u state no long that
they have become completely fossilixed.
And IN they have followed the lake in
its travels, the consequence is that the
field IL u large one. The inexperienced
who have picked up the petrified bones
Of these animals, find many, the species
Of which IN unknown to them, and II IL
said that species have been found here
that puzzle and interest the few scien.
lists who have seen them. They have
been hauled away by the occasional Wis
itors, and adorn many Of the yards Of
distant ranchers, but the field IL still
Iull Of them, and the scientist may find
work here for years to come.
Albert lake, commonly called the
Modern Dead ses," IL better known.
Il 10 70 miles long, with an average width
u from 70 10 miles, and has depth Of
rom I foot TO III feet. Il lies In the
lesert proper, with tall rim.rOcks tower.
ng abruptly above its eastern shore,
while its western shore ID Ut the foot OF
! long range Of rock and sagebrush.cov.
,red hills. lts wallis are NJ impregnated
With alkali aud other minerals that
,Othing can live In II. Il IL fed by Q
mall stream, called the Chewaucan river
md few other smaller streams, and has
10 outlet. lts waters stand and evap-
'rAes until Il becomes thick and takes
N y dark color, and In death to every
living thing. Chewaucan river, its prin.
ipAl feeder, IL filed with fish. Al the
mouth Of this stream there IL . fall
where the waters enter the lake. The
lnwary fish that have ventured or fallen |
'ver this fall are there In evidence to
how that nothing can live In Albert |
AXE. The shores Of the lake ut this |
'oint are composed Of dead tish and fish
zones. Tons Of these bones could be
athered up, and ut certain seasons Of
he year the shores are lined with fish
n all stages Of decomposition. When
he fish first strikes the water Of the
AXE il makes for the shore and tries to
ounder out, and II II fails, hugs the
hore as closely as possible, with its head
ut of water, until II dies. The geese
nj ducks, and other water fowl that