38 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



Although, the geology as well as the mineralogy of the Wind Eivei 

 range is very simple, yet we turned our backs upon it with regret. I 

 shall always retain in view the hope that I may yet be permitted to spend 

 several months in this interesting range, so prepared that I can work 

 out its topography as well as geology. In studying these mountain sys- 

 tems, the geology is the anatomy, and we must have the topography 

 with it to clothe the skeleton and give it an expressive form. 



On our way up the valley we passed several saw-mills which belonged 

 to Mr. W. N. Hinman, of Atlantic City, one of the old pioneers of the Far 

 West. Thirteen years ago I met him near the base of Laramie Peak, 

 where he was engaged, as director of a saw-mill, by the commanding 

 officer at Fort Laramie. His experience in the Eocky Mountain lumber 

 business has been more extensive than that of any one else, and from him 

 I obtained some valuable information. He informed me that the Eocky 

 Mountain pines made lumber of about average quality ; that the trees 

 were of youDg growth, from two to three feet in diameter ; that the 

 boards dress smoothly and easily, and endure well, and are mostly free 

 from pitch. The lumber can be produced at about $50 per 1,000 feet. 

 He always explores the ravines and canons on the north side of the 

 mountains for the large tall pines, while on the south side they are liable 

 to be scrubby and knotty. The agricultural capacities of this mountain 

 region do not differ materially from those of the mining districts of 

 Colorado. The grazing is excellent everywhere. Potatoes, turnips, 

 peas, beans, and all kinds of garden vegetables that do not require a 

 long season grow remarkably well in the valley of the Wind Eiver, and 

 are produced in considerable quantities at the present time. 



At the time of our visit here Washakie's band of the Skoshones was 

 encamped in the valley of one of the branches of the Sweetwater, where 

 it emerges from the foot-hills of the mountains. Through the kind aid 

 of Major Gordon, Mr. Jackson was able to secure a remarkable series 

 of photographic views of these Indians and their camp in their native 

 haunts. Most of the views have the Wind Eiver Mountains as a back- 

 ground, and also show the women and children as they are naturally 

 distributed about the village. I regard this series of views as a real 

 contribution to Indian history. 



On the morning of September 5th we left Port Stambaugh, and fol- 

 lowed the old emigrant road toward Fort Bridger. We had received 

 every attention, and much assistance that was of great value to us, from 

 the gentlemanly officers of the post. To Major Gregg, the quarter- 

 master, we were especially indebted, not only for many social courtesies, 

 but for that kind of aid which is so indispensable to our success, and 

 which it is in the power of that officer to grant. Major G. kindly caused 

 all of our wagons to be repaired, and furnished abundant supplies for 

 our animals and ourselves. 



West of South Pass City we cross over gneissic slates that dip north- 

 east 10° to 25°. A little farther on we come to granites which incline 

 in the same direction. ]STear the crossing of the Sweetwater are thick 

 beds of reddish feldspar and white quartz imbedded with the gneiss. 

 The white quartz extends across the country in bands, about northeast 

 and southwest. The quartz seams in the massive granites are quite 

 conspicuous, and trend in the same direction. The dip is southwest 20° 

 to 30°. The granites and gneisses continued nearly to the Pacific 

 Springs. The massive granites intercalated among the stratified gneis- 

 sic rocks are the same in color and texture as those forming the central 

 mass of the Wind Eiver range, and I regard them as all of sedimentary 

 oricrin. 



