1SG9.] ^^ [Ilaj-dcn. 



is a great thickness of shale, capped with a kind of conglomerate made 

 up of rounded pebbles and concretions, with here and there a JJnio. In 

 the south and east, 75 miles distant, we can see a range of snowy moun- 

 tains, Minetah ; and the intermediate country is covered with rugged 

 tertiary bluffs. To the north, 100 to 150 miles away, the Wind River 

 range is visible, and this interval is also occupied by the same rugged hills. 



At Church Butes a remarkable luidescribed species of turtle was found 

 projecting from the hill sides. 



The beds of this basin near Church Butes and Fort Bridger incline to 

 the eastward, but are nearly horizontal, and seem to jut up against the 

 mountain sides with very little inclination. The style in which they 

 have weathered or suffered erosion, their position in relation to the older 

 formations, and the general appearance of the surface, suggest their 

 identity with the AVhite R^ver formations. But they are more arena- 

 ceous. I am inclined to the opinion that while they are independent 

 basins they were synchronous. 



The western rim of this recent fresh water basin is well defined at 

 Quaking Asp ridge. Everywhere here the examples of erosion are dis- 

 played on a tremendous scale, and the rounded water worn boulders 

 almost pave the ground. The west sides of the hills are quite abrupt, 

 and are covered with the worn rocks ; while the eastern sides slope 

 gently down in long ridges ; showing the direction from which the forces 

 have acted as well as their local character ; that they originated some- 

 where in the direction of the mountains, and by scooping out the valleys, 

 strewed the surface with rocks. 



Near Fort Bridger, and west to Quaking Asp Summit, there are in 

 the recent tertiary formations several beds of the reddish grit Avhich 

 give its j)eculiar variegated character to much of the snrface in this part 

 of the West. In the cuts of the railroad are shown numerous beds of 

 brick red and purplish clays and sands, g The inclination of the beds just 

 on the western margin of the basin is 3^ to 5°. There are 100 to 150 fei6t 

 of reddish indurated clays, slightly arenaceous, with some light brands, 

 and one or two layers of gray sandstone ; above this, 100 feet or more of 

 light gray arenaceous material, with some hard layers of sandstone ; then 

 irregular harder layers of sandstone, sometimes concretionary, project- 

 ing from the sodded hills,* and many of the peculiar features of the 

 scenery are 'due to their existence. 



After passing Quaking Asp Summit westward we come into a region 

 underlaid by a distinct series of formations of older date than those at 

 Fort Bridger, and in many cases nearly or quite vertical. The same dip 

 is again to the westward. 



About 20 miles west of Fort Bridger there is a fine soda spring yield- 

 ing the most delicious water. Judging from a deposit near the spring of 

 what appears to be limestone, the water must hold lime as well as iron, 

 &c., in solution. Probably it will be a place of resort at no distant day. 



On Bear river there are several outcroppings of coal. The principal 

 one by the side of the railroad near the station is nearly vertical, en- 



