272 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



in a fine state of preservation, were examined. A good col- 

 lection of pottery, stone implements the latter including 

 arrow-heads, axes, and ear ornaments, etc. some pieces of 

 rope, fragments of matting, water jars, corn and beans, and 

 other articles, were exhumed from the debris of a house. 

 Many graves were found, and a number of skulls and skele- 

 tons, that may fairly be attributed to the prehistoric inhabit- 

 ants, were added to the collection. 



The Western or Grand River Division consisted of Henry 

 Gannett, topographer -in -charge, W. R. Atkinson, assistant 

 topographer, A. C. Peale, geologist, two packers, and a cook. 



The district assigned to this party lies between the paral- 

 lels of latitude 37 52' and 39 15'; is limited on the west by 

 the meridian 109 30', and on the east by the western limit 

 of the work of last year, approximately the Gunnison and 

 Uncompahgre Rivers. This embraces the country drained 

 by the Uncompahgre and Dolores Rivers and their branches. 



The party left Denver on June 7th, and on July 3d com- 

 menced work. They worked uninterruptedly until August 

 15th, when the work was brought to a sudden close by the 

 Indians. 



The work was carried to the western line of Colorado, 

 toward the northern end extending 25 or 30 miles into Utah, 



CD 7 



and reaching the north and south lines throughout, except 

 in the southwestern part. The total area surveyed is about 

 6000 square miles. In doing this 74 stations were made. 



The country is extremely diversified. The Uncompahgre 

 flows through a broad valley, fifty miles in length by about 

 twenty in width, almost perfectly flat, and very dry. The 

 elevation is 4500 to 6000 feet. The soil is poor, and vegeta- 

 tion, except in the river bottom, very scanty. 



Between the Uncompahgre and Dolores is a high ridge, 

 whose axis is parallel to the course of the river, i, e., about 

 N. 30 W. It has a long, gradual slope to the Uncompahgre 

 valley, while it breaks off sharply and steeply to the Dolores. 

 The average elevation of the crest is 8000 to 9000 feet. 

 Most of this country is well timbered with heavy pine, quak- 

 ing aspen, and some spruce. There is also considerable open 

 country, which is covered with luxuriant grass. 



The Sierra La Sal is a short, isolated range of mountains, 

 just west of the Dolores, separating it from the Grand River. 



