DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN ROUTE. 213 
Just west of Mounds curious hard masses of rock which on ac- 
count of their nearly spherical shape are frequently referred to as 
“cannon balls” may be seen in the shale that forms the cut edge of 
one of the terraces. These round masses of rock are known to 
geologists as concretions,” and they were undoubtedly formed in the 
shale after it was deposited as mud in the bottom of the ocean. 
From the uplands at Mounds the road descends westward to Price 
River, which it reaches at milepost 607. Here the traveler is once 
more gladdened by the sight of green trees and small irrigated farms 
in the river bottom. The valley becomes rather nar- 
row, and at Farnham the bluffs of shale encroach 
oP ol ee tag steely upon the river bottom. The shale hills are 
and barren, but they form a background that 
serves to heighten the color of the fields and trees. 
From Farnham the railroad follows Price River practically to its 
head. Irrigation is generally practiced in the valley, but the supply 
of water is not sufficient to serve all the land that is 
Wellington. otherwise favorably situated. Towns have sprung 
pale ee feet. up along the railroad and are achieving more or 
Denver 614 miles, | less success. The next town to be passed is Welling- 
ton, which appears to be a thriving village, whose 
most prominent building is a modern schoolhouse. 
Northwest of Wellington the valley is more open, and well-irri- 
gated farms are abundant. The country on both sides of the river is 
served by canals that take their water from the river 
Price. several miles above Price. Price is the county seat 
pevetion 5 “pgs of Carbon County, which was so named because of 
Denver ate ni the great beds of coal that are found in the Book 
Cliffs. It is a general supply point for the ranches 
in Duchesne Valley, north of the Book Cliffs, and in Castle Valley, 
south of them. 
For a distance of 4 miles above Price the course of the river is 
southeastward and its bottom lands are fairly wide. The railroad 
is in this bottom and affords good views on both sides of the best 
part of the irrigated district. From this open valley the traveler may 
see the shale terraces extending toward the river from both sides, like 
long fingers, and at milepost 623 they approach so closely that the 
river flows in a veritable shale canyon, with steep walls on either 
hand that rise to a height of nearly 100 feet. 
Farnham. 
”The origin of concretions is not | a crystal. Concretions, however, are 
well understood, but they are supposed | generally rounded, or at least they are 
to be due to the collecting together in | without sharp co 
the mud of certain mineral particles, | sides, though they may take on a 
in much the same manner as the 
Molecules of a mineral unite to form 
80697°— 2215 
variety of forms, some of which are 
very complex and fantastic. 
