The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-11-14

might be considered simple accidents.
as had the globe remained quicsCent
and uphpavals Of the crust not OC-
Cured the globe would have been a
vast sea. Happily for the human race
the reverse held, and man has made
his home upon what are virtually the
tops Of mountains or long elevated
mountain ranges ten miles in height,
measuring from the top of the highest
mountain 10 the deepest abyss OF the
ocean. Many changes have occurred
I'm the past millions of years since the
dry land appeared, and doubtless many
Of the mountains were much higher
but nature is ever carrying ON a fierce
warfare and slowly and imperceptibly
the heights are leveled. the mountain
peaks denudcd, and the dry land
washed down the great river courses
into the sea; and theoretically, given
sufficient time, assuming that no cle-
walton occurs, the entire earth may dis
appear.
This wear and tear Of nature Is ac-
Complishod I'm many ways, and is pro-
duCtive OF interesting results Frost,
snow, wind and rain are the principal
erosive agents which are chiscling,
cutting, grinding and wearing away
the surface Of the earth. The elements
are all Jewelers.. and the tendency is 10
reduce the mighty monuments of ma
ture and level them i'm the dust. In the
accomplishment Of this many remark
able natural monuments are made,
splendid in their dignity and grandeur.
Instances are found in the Garden of
the Gods. I'm Colorado, where pillars.
towers, monoliths. arches, gateways,
titanic newell posts and forms and
shapes of every possible kind and de-
sign are secn-the work of frost ana
rain.
But It Is further west that the most
striking effects Of erosion are found.
In the region TO the west of Salt Lake.
and from there on. in what was for.
merly known as the Great American
Desert every overland passenger has
been entertained by the weird and pic.
turcsque works Of nature.
one of the most interesting Of the
largest buttcS is the famous Enchant.
ed Mesa which has been written up rs
novelty 10y many modern writer's and
over which much discussion has oc-
Cured. This mesa is a type of eX-
trcmn isolation and abruptnesS, the
talus being so steep that ascent is cX-
tremcly difficult to the average climber.
\ typical butte is well shown in the
accompany illustration rock pillar
ut Acoma. New Mexico. photographed
by G.. Wharton James. Harder than
the rest Of it's surroundings, 1t has re-
sisted the floods and rains of cen-
turtles. and stands gigantic monu-
mcnt to the resisting quality Of certain
portions of the surface. This pillar is
merely a diminutive Enchanted Mesa.
II may have been acres in extent nj
some early age, dwindling away with
each successive year, the pillar being
the heart or core of sometime lofty
and isolated mesa.
In the famous fossil forests Of the
Southwest the fossil trees often form
interesting columns which have deted
the elements. In the accompanying
picture is shown Eagle Rock Monu-
ment pillar In this region: not the
trurk of a tree. hut a column Of Shale
piled layer upon LAYER which FOR some
reason has resisted the elements AMI
stands alone. Its base is fast diSap-
pcaring. the taluS even In the photo
graph being seen to he crossed and
lined by the torrents which have
poured down It's sides and which ulti-
matcly will carry Il entirely away. dis
tributing II over the surface and
finally the column itself, weakened and
undermined. will topple over and he