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YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE 



[Vol. III. 



The valley of the Rio Puerco lies directly across the road leading 

 to the main forests. It is comparatively broad and shallow with the 

 bed of the stream three or four feet below the general level of the 

 country. At most times this river is represented only by a bed of 

 dry sand, but after heavy rains it is frequently a raging torrent of 

 muddy water and then cannot be forded at the usual places. So it 

 was on September 21st, for the preceding week had been one of very 

 severe rains and the main stream was so swollen that no communi- 

 cation was possible between its north and south sides in this vicinity. 



Fig. 89. — A general view of the North Fore-st. 



In view of this situation, it was necessary for those who desired 

 to see something of the Petrified Forests, to visit the north or Black 

 Forest, which lies on the same side of the stream as the railway sta- 

 tion. The road to the Black Forest is one long up-hill slope which 

 ends at the brink of a high cliff overlooking the "bad lands" below. 

 Even from the top of the cliff masses of the petrified wood can be 

 distinguished, while a descent down a rugged path brings the visitor 

 into a maze of little hills and valleys where the petrified wood is scat- 

 tered over the surface of the ground in great profusion, as may be 

 seen in figure 89. These "bad lands" are cut into shales and sand- 



