The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-12-08

forms and life-ike figures. Many Of these
were beautifully rounded others Jagged and
overhanging: The whole presenting a
picture that has aptly suggested for this
region the name of 'sThe Play Ground of
the Devil"
The eye is at first confused by the i'm
mensity and completely Of this impressive
panorama, and only by degrees do the
details of forms separate themselves from
the general confusion and allow any con-
ception Of height and distance, The erosion
of the great deposit began Immediately
after its up-lift, in comparatively recent
geologic time, and was most active along
the courses of the rivers, their branches and
the waterways leading to them. By con-
tinual re%branching, an endless maze of
arm-like ridges with crooked fingers ex-
tended in every direction. The tops of
these have been reduced, in many cases,
by lateral erosion to razor-back ridges, while
occasionally a solitary pyramid occupying
al isolated position on the bottom level is
all that is left Of a part Of the original
plateau. A peculiar blisterlng of the soft
limerick offers additional facilities for
weathering, the large percentage Of soluble
material and the tendency of the rest to
slime suggests a reason for it's rapid
removal. The impervious nature Of the
material is indicated by it's clay-like consis-
tency and is shown by the absence of
springs. Nearly all the rain that falls flows
over the surface into the streams. In one
place only, near Sheep Mountain, are there
indications of ground water where a mere
trickle running into a barrel supplies the
needs of a lone rancher.
On the way back to camp an opportunity
was given to inspect more closely the fea-
lures of the topography and to gain some
idea of the nature Of the deposit and it's
contained fossils. The descent from Sheep
Mountain was made through a narrow
ravine cutting between perpendicular walls
of stiff, white lime-bearing material
resembling soft rock. In some places
surface water had undermined great masses
which hung threateningly over the path;
while in other places the material had
fallen from the sides partly blocking the
way. A number Of difficult places were
crossed without accident, and the party
stopped for a while at the mouth of the
draw to search for fossils. A number of
these were found including portions of
bones and jaws of the Oreodon, and the jaws
and teeth Of a small rodent. A number of
turtles were also found in the Oreodon beds
but were not in a good state of preservation.
Time for gathering fossils however was
limited and the party had to be satisfied
with such as could be found along the
way.
The journey home on the following day
was made under adverse circumstances. A
cold wind and wet snow made life anything
but agreeable. The order was "hurry'' and
the forty miles to Behrens' ranch was made
by dark. Rapid was reached at noon
Sunday.
It has been suggested that, considering
the difficulties of the trip, even under favor
able circumstances, a longer time should be
granted to study the Bad Lands. We must
consider, however, that the responsibility
of maintaing SO large a party in this area is
great, and that except by special organize
ton into smaller parties under men we'll ac-
q%uainted with the region, the risk is one
which no one person can be expected to
assume.
The expedition was we'll managed and
only the unusual condition Of the weather
rendered the trip less enjoyable than on
previous occasions.-Nov. Awum.