The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-28
Fine Collection Made
by University of
California
Newly Discovered Beds are
Remarkably Rich in Rare
and Valuable Speci-
mems

this year by the University of Cali.
fornia paleontologists than in any pre-.
vious field season. An expedition,
equipped and maintained by Miss A..
M. Alexander of Oakland, spent the
month Of June in exploring the lime
stone beds OF Shasta county, and the
material collected has just been re-
ceived and unpacked at Berkeley.
Miss Alexander although assuming the
entire expense of the undertaking. has
made the state university present
OF the entire collection.
Without doubt the University OF
California has the finest saurlan col.
lection in the United States. and IFS
marine Trlassic saurians are unedual.
ed by any collection in the world. with
the possible exception OF the museum
at Stuttgart, Germany. For three
years the Berkeley geologists have
dug In the reptilian beds I'm Shasta
county, and an immense amount OF
the rarest saurians have rewarded
thelr labors. In fact the discoveries
made have necessitated a revision OF
the entire study OF saurians, since the
new specimens discovered have revo.
lutionized the previous classification
OF these strange reptiles. half fish and
half lizard.
IL was the realization that in Shasta
county there were untold fossil treas.
ures awaiting the pick OF the geologist
that prompted Miss Alexander, daugh
ter OF s. r. Alexander, the Hawaiian
capitalist, TO volunteer the support
OF the successive expeditions that
have done such remarkable work in
that region. An interesting student
Of paleontology herself. she not only
donated the funds but even accom-.
panied the geological party -and as.
sisted in the field work. The total
amount OF her gifts to this department
OF the university now approximates
$2500 In cash, and an untold amount
In the priceless fossils that have been
added to the archaeological collec.
tlon at Berkeley.
Professor John @. Merriam, head
OF the department, has Just completed
an examination of the material col.
lected by the last expedition. He Is
unable 20 determine the exact nature
OF many OF the specimens. as they are
still locked In their limestone mat
rices, and IL will require over a year
of patient work In the laboratory.
with chisel and acids. as well as with
n new high power electrical dental
drill. TO gouge out the rock and leave
the bones in plain view. Unfortunate.
ly for science. this labor Is slow. part.
ly because there are hardly enough |
workmen TO handle the enormous
amount OF material, and partly be |
cause the task requires the most mi |
mute attention OF skilled eyes and |
hands In order that bone may be nice. |
ly separated from limestone without
the slightest loss 10 the specimen.
Although handicapped by the fact
that only a small part OF his fossils
are visible, Professor Merriam dis
Germs a number OF new features in the
bones in the rev collection. A larg;
part OF the hitherto missing paddle
lf the famous Shastasaurus is now
'ound, Hitherto only the radius.
ilna and humerug were obtainable,
md the exact nature OF the rest OF the
limb was mere guesswork. There
$ also In the collection vast quan
ity OF vertobra, limb bones arches
md skull bones. which will go far 20
diving the scientist a correct restora.
ion Of the other new saurians dis.
overed by Professor Merriam In re,
ent years. or the new saurlan.
which was 80 fragmentary that II /
ould not be described accurately. Q
here Is now a very large part In ex =
client condition. A study OF this /
pecimen win undoubtedly make the i
lassification OF the stranger posi-
le Last OF all. there Is the skele-
,n OF an animal which represents
absolutely new In the sau. +,
an line. In some respects Il re.
smblas a crocodile. but II has enough y
10 make a full study of =
one OF absorbing interest 10 the
Work on this notable
SSH will commence as soon as pos.
Bile.
The occurrence OF so much yalua p
e saurian material In Shasta county n
IS led scientists to seek a solution M
the reason for this remarkable q
ate of things. II may be explained /"
I the fact that there the nmestones,
hich are found all over Western
merica, are In an unmetamorphosed
and the fOssils within them ri
e not changed so as TO be unrecog of
Fable. A similar condition OF A,
ings exist In Iny0 county, and In
cho and Nevada Professor Mer W
nm believes that saurian material da
q been common all up and down
g Pacific Coast. but changes In the %
institution and position OF the lime -
Dnes due 10 seismic disturbances IN
We hopelessly ruined the fossils. or
le occurrence OF SO many saurians III
parently piled on each other ia the -,
asia rocks has led to the theory :"
at that region might have been IN 90
2 Trassic age protected arm OF the Al
4. where these ancient marine mon
RS wailowed In the slime OF shell Al
ed waters running far into the
finland from the ocean. Under these
lOrable conditions the reptiles In.
,ased In great numbers, and, on dy-
!, dropped 10 the floor OF their sea
me and mingled their bones with bs
Sc OF the fkell nah that were Al a.