250 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



observations extending over two years and a half, and re- 

 ferred to railroad levels, and can probably be depended on 

 to within a few feet. 



The general topography is a gentle rise from the White 

 River toward the south, and a sudden breaking off, when 

 the divide is reached, into ragged and often impassable cliffs, 

 known on the maps as the Roan or Book Mountains. The 

 gentle plateau slope of the White River side is cut by almost 

 numberless and often deep caiions, and in many cases the sur- 

 face of the country has been eroded away, leaving broken and 

 picturesque forms, the lower benches generally covered with 

 cedars and piiions, and the upper rich in grass. 



There are four main streams draininsc into the White 

 River within the limits of our work a distance of some- 

 thinsc over 100 miles. All of these streams have more or 

 less good water at their heads. They traveled nearly the 

 whole length of all these water-courses, but found good 

 trails only in the middle ones. Trails, which traverse the 

 whole district in every possible direction, keep mostly on 

 the summit of the ridges and plateaus, and, by taking care 

 not to cross the caiions, the country is very easily traveled 

 through. 



The country is almost entirely destitute of timber, and has 

 but little good water. It is, however, abundantly supplied 

 with grass, and, especially in the winter season, must be well 

 stocked with game. 



In the far western portion, and outside the limits of the 

 Reservation, one large vein of asphaltum and several small 

 veins were found, and also running springs of the same ma- 

 terial all of which, if once reached by railroad, will prove of 

 great commercial value. These deposits have been spoken of 

 before, but their location has not been accurately determined. 



According to the report of F. M. Endlich, the geology of 

 the district is very simple, though interesting. Inasmuch as 

 but one divide of importance occurred within the district, 

 the M^ork was somewhat simplified. This was formed by 

 the Book Cliffs between the drainasres of the Grand on the 

 south and the White on the north. Both of these rivers flow 

 a little south of west into the Green River, w^hich they join 

 in Utah. From the junction of the Grand and Green down- 

 ward, the river is called the Great Colorado. Orograph- 



