1869.] '^ ' [Hayden. 



is composed of Jurassic beds mostly capped with the sandstones of No. 1, 

 while as far as the eye can extend southward the low wave like ridges of 

 No. 2 can be seen. Towards the southwest the anticlinal valley seems 

 to close up, but north-eastward expands indefinately, and extends no 

 doubt to the Laramie mountains. In the valley the red arenaceous beds 

 are quite conspicuous. 



These Jurassic rocks are composed for the most part of alternate layers 

 of loose sands and some harder beds of sandstones, biit there are a few 

 layers of sandstone and marl ; and in these are great quantities of an 

 Ostrea, Pentacrinus, Asteriscus, and Belemnites clensus, all well known 

 Jurassic tyi)es. 



These beds throughout the Jurassic series are full of tidal ripples, mud 

 markings and irregular lamina3 of deposition, indications of a shallow 

 water deposit. All the fossils are badly broken and worn as if they had 

 been transported from a great distance and deposited in turbulent waters. 

 About a mile west of the station the road cuts through the full series of 

 Jurassic beds with Nos. 1 and 2 of the cretaceous inclining north-west at 

 anangleof45°to50°. 



From a point about 10 miles east of Como to St. Mary's Station, for a 

 distance of about 50 miles, the tertiary formation occupies the country 

 with the sands, sandstones and clays peculiar to it and also numer- 

 ous coal beds. The most marked development of the coal beds is at 

 Carbon Station, about 80 miles west of Laramie Station. The rocks 

 incline nearly south-east or south and east. Three entrances have been 

 made to mine a bed 9 feet thick. The openings follow the dip and con- 

 sequently descend. The mines are about 300 yards from the railroad ; a 

 side track has been laid to them. More than 1000 tons of coal have 

 already been taken out, and the Union Pacific Eailroad Company are 

 ready to contract for any amount that can be supplied. The coal at Car- 

 bon is of the best quality of tertiary splint, very compact and pure. It 

 is not as hard as anthracite, but the miners informed me that it was 

 more difficult to work than the bituminous coals of Pennsylvania. It is 

 used to a great extent on the locomotives, and the engineers speak in 

 high terms of it. Over the coal is what the miners call slate, a somewhat 

 earthy bed breaking into slabs showing woody fibre, and much of it look- 

 ing like charred wood or soft charcoal. As we pass up in the section 

 fragments of deciduous leaves are seen more distinctly, and finally the 

 whole graduates into a dark drab clay. At the bottom of the coal are 

 thousands of impressious of deciduous leaves, such as Popiilus, Platanus, 

 Tilea, &c. Some of the layers of rock, 2 to 4 inches in thickness, are 

 wholly composed of these leaves, in a good state of preservation, and so 

 perfect that they could not have been transported any great distance. 



The Union Pacific Railroad Company have placed their coal interests 

 in charge of Mr. Thomas Wardell, an old English miner, who is con- 

 stantly employed in prospecting and opening' mines the whole length of 

 the road. At Carbon he has erected six pretty cottages, as residences 

 for the miners, and a number more are in process of building. At 



