502 BUFFALO LAND. 



retire to the deeper portions of the lake, and are not seen 

 again until spring. These little animals are possessed of gills, 

 and, were it not for the legs, would most nearly resemble a 

 miniature cat-fish. But when warm weather comes, a form 

 closely resembling them, but entirely destitute of gills, may be 

 seen in the water swimming, or creeping clumsily about on 

 land. Sometimes they travel long distances, and are found in 

 towns, near springs or wet places, usually one at a time, while 

 those with gills are never seen except in the alkaline lakes 

 which are so common all over the West." 



THE MOUNTAIN SUPPLY OF LUMBER FOE THE PLAINS. 



In connection with this (the western) border of the plains, 

 it IS interesting to note what the same writer says of a future 

 supply of lumber : 



" Not only in the more lofty ranges, but also in the lower 

 mountains, are large forests of pine timber, which will eventu- 

 ally become of great value to this country. Vast quantities 

 of this pine, in the form of railroad ties, are floated down the 

 various streams to the Union Pacific Railroad. One gentle- 

 man alone contracted for five hundred and fifty thousand ties, 

 all of which he floated down the stream from the mountains 

 along the southern side of the Laramie Plains. The Big and 

 Little Laramie, Rock Creek, and Medicine Bow River, with 

 their branches, were here literally filled with ties at one time ; 

 and I was informed that, in the season of high water, they can 

 be taken to the railroad from the mountains, after being cut 

 and placed in the water, at the rate of from one to three cents 

 each. These are important facts, inasmuch as they show the 



