OBSERVATIONS ON THE EXPEDITION 



where a moment ago you thought it was a perfect plain. Then 

 you undertake to enter it through a ravine and travel many times 

 the distance it was supposed to be, and of a sudden you find 

 yourself standing on an immense strata of rock, a step more 

 would land you six or seven hundred feet below in a stream 

 which rushes madly, as it were, past the boulders that have 

 fallen from the cliffs. If one has imagined that he would like 

 to go through the canon his slightest wish quickly leaves him on 

 seeing the danger of such an undertaking. The most sublime 

 sight I ever beheld was to stand on the edge of this caiion and 

 see the tilted strata, the Archean to the left and below, and look 

 to the right and see the great number of strata through the series 

 to the characteristic red beds of the Triassic and above these 

 the Jurassic. The scene impresses one in a way that words 

 meagerly describe, but the feeling comes that here is an epitome 

 of Nature's records inviting one to read the history of these for- 

 mations, see the principles of structural geology here unfolded, 

 and conceive the great length of time necessary for their con- 

 summation. 



The noted Fremont fault is about three miles north of the 

 caiion. Here the carboniferous lime and sandstones are 

 faulted and lying on the Jurassic, apparently, almost conform- 

 able. Here are five hot springs, the temperature of the largest 

 being 140 degrees. The entire route through Wyoming 

 afforded a most excellent opportunity for studying geology. 

 The great amount of tilted and eroded strata, and the sparse 

 vegetation, enabled one often to follow for miles, with greatest 

 ease, a single formation, or to cross a great many different ones 

 in traveling only a short distance. 



In conclusion I wish to say I am very grateful to our leader. 

 Prof. Wilbur C. Knight, for his able and efficient service 

 and his many valuable suggestions, also to the Union Pacific 

 Railroad Company for its many courtesies. 



J. A. YATES, 



Professor of Natural Sciences, Ottawa University, 



Ottawa, Kansas. 



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