GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 83 



was estimated by Professor Hall to be about 3,000 feet, while the Cre- 

 taceous beds were 500 to 800 feet thick. 



Camping with our wagons at the base of the main range of mount- 

 ains, near the source of the Little Laramie, wej)repared to ascend the 

 mountains on horseback to the gold mines. The distance was about 10 

 miles before we came in view of the "diggings," and to reach them we 

 made an ascent of 2,000 feet above the bed of the creek. We were then 

 between 10,000 and 11,000 feet above the sea, very near the elevation of 

 perpetual snow, and where frost occurs every night of the year. 



On the summit of these lofty mountains are some beautiful open spots 

 without a tree, and covered with grass and flowers. After passing through 

 dense pine forests for nearl^^ ten miles, we suddenly emerged into one of 

 these park-like areas. Just on the edge of the forest which skirted it 

 were banks of snow sis feet deep, compact like a glacier, and within a 

 few feet were multitudes of flowers, and even the common wild straw- 

 berry seemed to flourish. Here the mountain is filled with streams of 

 the purest water, and for six months of the year good pasturage could 

 be found. 



The gold is sought after in the gulches that are formed by the little 

 streams that flow from the Medicine Bow and otlier snowy mountains, 

 most of which flow into the North Platte. 



We labored two days to discover the quartz seams which we supposed 

 to be the source of the stray lumps of gold, but the great thickness of 

 the superficial drift which covers all these mountains concealed them 

 from our view. The gold, so far as known in this district, seems to be 

 confined to the lower glacial drift, and it was the conclusion of Professor 

 Hall that gold would not be found here in i^aying quantities. But that 

 valuable mines will be found in these mountains at no distant day seems 

 probable. 



The geological evidence is quite conclusive, as these mountains form 

 a continuation northward of the same range in which the rich mines of 

 Colorado are located. 



Not only in the more lofty ranges, but also in the lower mountains, 

 are large forests of pine timber, which will eventually become of great 

 value to this country. Vast quantities of this pine, in the form of rail- 

 road-ties, are floated down the various streams to the Union Pacific 

 Eailroad. One gentleman alone has a contract for 550,000 ties, all of 

 which he floats down from the mountains, along the southern side of the 

 Laramie Plains. 



The Big ajid Little Laramie, Rock Creek, Medicine Bow Eiver, and 

 their branches are literally filled with ties at this time, and I am informed 

 that in time of high water they can be taken down to the railroad from 

 the mountains, after being cut and placed in the water, at the rate of 

 from one to three cents apiece. These are important facts, inasmuch as 

 they show the ease with which these vast bodies of timber may be brought 

 down into the plains below and converted into lumber. 



Should the future settlement of the country demand it, I am inclined 

 to believe that a peculiar class of people, like the lumbermen of Maine 

 and Michigan, will some day fill these mountain regions. 



There are several species of pine and one spruce or balsam fir — Ahies 

 douglassi. The latter is a beautiful and symmetrical tree, rising to the 

 height of 100 to 150 feet, and as straight as an arrow. The ties that arc 

 made from this spruce are of the best quality. 



On the morning of August 25 I left Fort Sanders on a third side trip 

 to the North Park, in company with a hunting party composed of General 

 P. P. Blair, Colonel Dodge, United States Army, and Captain Proctor, 



