The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-06-21

posits were being laid down in the
ocean just as they are being deposited
today in the Atlantic and Pacific
These layers were deposited thousands
of feet thick one over the other, until
the surface extended over the area
which is today North America.
This land area, being low in eleva-
ton, was subject at different times
to the invasion of sea, either due to
the raise in water level or the sink
ing of the land. Each period depos-
tied another layer on the ocean bed,
carrying with it the remains of leaves
and trees and whatever organisms
may have existed during the time this
erosion took place.
The biologists tell us that North
America had three revolutions. These
revolutions were periods of mountain
building. The first revolution was the
raising of the Appalachian mountains
some 10000 feet above the surround
ing surface.
Shortly after-a million years
the second revolution took place on
the Pacific coast and formed the
Sierra Nevada range Of mountains
from Alaska to Panama.
Nov, we have North America with
mountain range on the Atlantic and
another on the Pacific with a shallow
inland sea, depositing the debris of
these two mountain ranges, again
elevating the surface as the river and
mountain streams were filling up the
depression just as the Mississippi
river is today extending the shoreline
of the United States miles out into
the Gulf of Mexico.
"Thus was formed a great plain
between the Appalachians and the
Sierra Nevadas.
"Climate conditions were most ia
vorable at this time for luxuriant
growth of vegetation. This is borne
out by the vast coal deposits that were
formed at this time. Even as far
north as the Arctic circle coal beds
were being formed.
Visualize for the moment the
western interior of the continent with /
an even, warm climate with plenty
of moisture; swamps, lagoons,
marshes and estuaries, extending for
miles and miles, covered with reeds
ana rushes, cycads and ferns, while
on the higher slopes grew figs, palms
and magnolias, multiplying with as
tonishing rapidity. Shell life under
the water took on a remarkable de-
velopment. Tons of lime deposits
mark the fossil beds Of these crea-
cures.
"The dominant creatures that ruled
the air, land and water at this stage
were the dinosaurs. This was truly
the heyday of existence for these rep
tiles-not the crawling, creeping war;.
iety that we know today, but the
enormous monsters of tremendous
growth whose petrified fossil remains
we find today"
DR.. Siegfriedt explained that there
were three kinds of lizards, the swim
ming, walking and flying lizards, and
that they were cold blooded animals,
clumsy and unintelligent He
described them by groups.
Taking up methods Of determining
ages of the various strata and time
required for their deposit, DR.. Sieg-
rriedt said that erosion laid down
strata at the rate of one foot in 5000
years; deposition one foot in $500
years and that coal was deposited at
he rate Of one foot in 10000 years.
lie said that 100 years were required
or production of 100 tons of coal on
4 single acre.
Bringing his auditors up to the
lose of the Age of Reptiles, DR..
oiegfriedt entered upon a discussion
# the third revolution.
"This is called the Rocky Mountain
evolution" said DR.. Siegfriedt ct
S marked as the most profound and
disturbance in the history
If North America. Layers had been
deposited over the Rocky mountain
district to thickness of between TO-
100 and 10000 feet. Vigorous fold
ng and disiocation of strata now
ook place. Side pressure caused the
,lains to buckle. Volcanic and fissure
ruptions accompanied the disturb
nee. Lava several thousand feet
hick accumulated over the northwest.
finally the Rocky mountains came to
est with their wonderful peaks 10000
0 10000 feet above sea level, marking
he close of the Age of Reptiles and
marking the opening of the Age of
lammals."
The layers so exposed, DR.. Sieg-
lledt explained, are now full of fos-
lis, A like metamorphosis, he said.
vas repeated during the mammal