278 TRANS. OP THE ACAD. OF SCIENCE. 



inclined stratified rocks in different states of metamorphisrn. 

 The adjoining hills and mountains are frequently capped with 

 basaltic or vesicular trap, all showing a previous active con- 

 dition of volcanic phenomena. The general surface of the 

 country is thus rendered irregular and varied, and the exist- 

 ence of hot springs represents the present condition of the 

 active volcanic forces, now nearly extinct. The usual variety 

 of volcanic products is farther exhibited in the different qual- 

 ities of soil, being in some portions coarse, arenaceous, and 

 barren, while others exhibit a remarkable fertility, which is 

 only checked by the severity of the seasons, in which killing 

 frosts occur during every month in the year. 



At lower elevations, however, more remote from the high 

 Snowy Mountains, the valleys -which can be irrigated are 

 doubtless well adapted to agriculture; and in many other 

 portions the uplands furnish an unlimited range for pasture. 

 The character of the seasons is however quite variable, with 

 occasional severe winters and heavy snows, burying up large 

 tracts of country ; while the summer rains, owing to the ir- 

 regular distribution of high mountains, are uncertain and 

 widely diverse in their continuance and in actual amount of 

 precipitation. Still there is doubtless a large scope of habit- 

 able country, which, in the development of its true natural 

 resources, will be able to support a permanent population, 

 whenever it shall be made accessible by ordinary means of 

 conveyance, especially should it eventually be found to lie 

 along the main track of the great Continental Railway. 



EXCURSION TO LONG'S PEAK. 



By the middle of August the snow had so far disappeared 

 from the higher peaks and ridges, and the heretofore swollen 

 streams had so far contracted, that we concluded to attempt 

 the ascent of Long's Peak. Our route in this direction took 

 us again to the eastern base of the mountains ; thence passing 

 over the uplands adjoining and crossing the numerous valleys 

 and streams, which, fan-shaped towards the mountains, con- 

 verge in their easterly course to form the main stream of the 

 St. Vrains. The cultivated crops in all these bottoms, where 

 they had not been washed away by spring floods, exhibited 

 unwonted luxuriance, most of the small grains being already 

 harvested. Occasional butes of basalt formed prominent land- 

 marks along our route, while at other points horizontal ledges 

 of light-colored sandstone stretched in irregular mural bluffs 

 along the borders of the principal streams. Associated with 

 this loosely coherent sandstone we met with variable seams 

 of lignite, in some localities attaining a thickness of five to 

 eight feet. Where thus developed, these beds have been 

 mined to some extent for fuel, the product finding a ready 

 market at Denver City, thirty miles distant. 



