The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-07
RAINBOW NATURAL BRIDGE.
Beautiful Towering Arch is Natre's
Marvellous Work in Utah,
IJoseph E. Pogue. in National Geo.
graphic MAGAZINE

(Joseph E. Pogue. in National Geo.
graphic Magazine.)
Near the southeast corner of Utah,
in a remote and well-nigh i%naccessi.
BILE part Of the Navajo reservation
now given over to the use of the Pr
utes. is situated a natural bridge, call
ed by the Navahoes Nonnezoshe, the
stone arch. by the Piutes Barohoini,
the rainbow, which surpasses any
structure of it's kind known to man.
Even the other great bridges Of
southern Utah, the Caroline, the Au-
gusta, and the Edwin. known since
1902, are exceeded in size and beauty
by the rainbow arch. Discovered but
little over a year ago. it has thus far
been visited by less than twenty-five
white mel and described but once.
"A towering arch, rainbow-shaped,
of wonderful symmetry, rises nearly
sheer from a ledge on the one side,
and. spanning the stream, joins the
opposite canyon wall on its down.
ward curve. The opening. augment
ed by a gorge cut by the stream to a
depth of eighty feet below the level
Of the supporting bench. measures a
vertical distance Of 267 feet: but the
total height from stream-bottom to
the top OF the arch is 800 feet, while
the abutments at their base stand 278
feet apart. The causeway. upon
which n may be lowered from an
adjacent cliff, but whose sides are too
steep to serve for a complete passage,
is thirty-three feet wide by forty-two
feet hick at its keystone point: and
the limbs are not greatly in excess Of
these dimensions.
A mere recitation OF figures must
fail to convey an adequate idea Of the
imposing nature of the bridge. 1t is
not the size alone. though his far
exceeds the greatest masonry arches
constructed by engineering skill: nor
is it solely the graceful lines or curry.
AZURE OF maximum stability. but rath-
er all OF these, that combine to make
this the most remarkable single arch
with roo to spare, the dome Of the
capitol at Washington; or, if hung
over the Flatiron building Of New
York. its limbs would come within a
few feet Of the ground. though to the
west Of Fifth avenue IN the one hand
and to the east Of Broadway on the
other.
The arch is carved from a buff
colored. 1ine-grained sandstone. brick
red upon its surface and stained with
vertica! streaks of a darker shade.
Mostly massive. though in part
oblique-bedded. the rock is only mod
erately firm. and is easily crushed be-.
meath the blows Of a hammer. Geo.
logically it is a part of the Upper La
Plaza sandstone. a formation of great
thickness, deposited in Jurassic time
over Il large portion Of southeast
Utah, southwest Colorado, and north.
east Arizona.
The origin of the arch is simple
and evident. 1t was caused by the
progressive narrowing Of the neck OF
It nleander intrenched between high
and steep walls. until an opening was
made through the tongue Of interven-
ing rock, permitting the stream to
cut off it's meander by flowing be-
meath the arch thus formed.
METHODIST WORKERS
Winona. Mimi, Feb. 7-Prominent
mission workers of the Methodist
Episcopal church are scheduled to be
present and make addresses at the
convention which 10 to be held at
Chatfeld. February 10 and; 20, under
the auspices Of the laymen's mission
airy movement. Among those VIII owill
participate are I. T. Headlund, Pek-
ing university, Picking: J. e. Fisher
from the Bombay. India. conference
and E. A. RaynOr. Philippine islands.