168 



GUIDEBOOK OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. 



Doyle. 



Elevation 8,062 feet 

 Population 122.* 

 Denver 270 miles. 



NW. 



Tomichr Dome 



jApproximate scale 



5Mile& 



above the level of the valley. As shown in figure 44 this mountain 

 is a great stock or mass of granite, much younger than the granite 

 of the main mountains, that has been forced up through some crevice 

 from below. It is much harder than the surrounding shale and hence 

 stands up as an isolated mountain mass. The elevation of the valley 

 here is so great that few grains wall mature, but 

 fine crops of hay are grown and the level valley 

 floor is dotted here and there with ranches. Doyle, 

 the center of much of this fine meadow land, is 

 connected by stage with Waunita Hot Springs, 

 about 8 miles to the south, which is said to be a very beautiful health 

 and pleasure resort. 



Below Doyle the valley grows narrower, and within about 3 miles 

 from the town the Dakota sandstone rises from the floor of the valley 



and makes prominent ledges 

 on either side. This sand- 

 stone is underlain b}^ the 

 variegated shale and sand- 

 stone of the Gunnison for- 

 mation, and this in turn 

 rests directly upon the 

 granite, which forms the 

 foundation of this moun- 

 tain region. The Dakota 

 sandstone rises only a few 

 hundred feet above the level 

 of the stream, and the underlying rocks are worn into fantastic 

 shapes, as can be seen on the north (right) side of the valley. 



From the point where they first appear to a point a few miles be- 

 yond the town of Gunnison the Dakota and the underlying Gunnison 

 formation on the north side of the valley are continuously from 50 

 to about 300 feet above the level of the stream. In general, the 

 valley continues wide and includes many hay fields. 

 Parlin, at the mouth of Quartz Creek (see sheet 

 6, -p. 182), is the principal town in this area. 

 It was formerly connected with Buena Vista by a 

 narrow-gage line of the Colorado & Southern Eail- 

 way, but owing to the caving of the tunnel at the summit of the 

 range service on this line has been discontinued. This branch was 

 originally built down the valley to Gunnison, and the old track is 

 visible at several places on the right. On the south side of the valley 

 the sedimentary rocks can be traced to Parlin, but below this place 

 the granite that forms the lower slopes is overlain by a great mass 

 of volcanic rocks. These rocks cover every high point that projects 



Figure 44. — Section through Tomichi Dome, show- 

 ing the great ma.ss of a-ystalline rock (a) that 

 has forced its way upward, while in a molten 

 condition, through the older granite (b) and 

 sedimentary rocks. 



Parlin. 



Elevation 7,952 feet. 

 Population 90.* 

 Denver 277 miles. 



