GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TEERITORIES. 87 



their surface is covered with a deposit of loose materials, as fiue earth 

 and fragments of rocks. 



The hills have, therefore, been so smoothed down that it is difficult 

 to see the basis rocks in continuous lines. We saw enough, however, 

 to show us that red syenite, in its various forms, constitutes the prin- 

 cipal rock, while now and then a bed of hornblende, gneiss, white quartz, 

 and greenstone occurs. 



All through the mountain region are small open areas, sometimes on 

 the hills and sometimes in the lower ground, forming meadow-like spots 

 which the various kinds of animals love to frequent, to feed on the 

 abundant grass. 



The old Cherokee trail derives its name from the fact that a party 

 of these Indians cut their way through the thick pines, about thirty years 

 ago, with a train of about 300 wagons. The traveling was difficult at 

 this time, owing to the ruggedness of the surface and the obstruction 

 from the fallen pines. 



So far as I could ascertain, the trend of the upheaved mountain-ridges 

 of syenite was nearly east and west, and the dip nearly north. 



The Korth Park is oval or nearly quadrangular in shape, is about 50 

 miles in extent, from east to west, and 30 miles from north to south, 

 occupying an area of about 1,500 square miles. Viewing it from one of 

 the high mj^untains on its border, it appears like a vast depression 

 which might once have formed the bed of a lake. Its surface is rather 

 rugged, yet there are broad bottoms along the streams, especially the 

 North Platte and its branches. Scarcely a tree is to be seen over the 

 whole extent, while the mountains which wail it in on every side are 

 dotted with a dense growth of pine. The grass grows in the park quite 

 abundantly, often yielding at least two tons to the acre. Streams of 

 the purest water flow through the park, and there are some of the finest 

 springs I have yet seen, a few of them forming good-sized streams where 

 they issue from the ground. I am quite confident that this entire park 

 would make an excellent grazing region for at least six or eight months 

 of the year. Myriads of antelopes were quietly feeding in this great 

 pasture-ground like flocks of sheep. 



The soil is very rich, but the seasons must be too brief for the suc- 

 cessful cultivation of any crops. Indeed, there is a frost there nearly 

 every night, and snow falls every month in the year. 



As I have before started, the park is surrounded with lofty ranges of 

 mountains as by gigantic walls. On the north and east side may be 

 seen the snow-covered ranges, rising far above all the rest, their sum- 

 mits touching the clouds. 



On the west side there is also a short snowy range. The snowy ranges 

 on the eastern border of the park have their north sides abrupt, and the 

 south sides less so, as seen from a distance, as if the massive piles in- 

 clined southward. 



All along the north side of the park the lower hills incline southwest- 

 ward, while the higher ranges are quite steep and correspond, in the 

 apparent dip of the beds, with the lofty snow-clad mountains on the east, 

 which incline south or southwestward. The inclination of the meta- 

 morphic beds composing the higher ranges is from 60'^ to 80°. 



On the west side of the park long ridges seem to come into the park, 

 so that they die out in the plain, forming a sort of "en echelon^^ ar- 

 rangement. It is due to this fact that the area inclosed receives its oval 

 shape. 



The general trend of all the continuous mountain-ranges is nearly 



