PEALE.] TURBID LAKE GEOUP STEAMBOAT SPRINGS. 115 



Fartber north, near tlie shore of the lake, are several cold springs con- 

 taining common salt, which our riding- animals immediately recognized. 

 From the numerous game-tracks about these springs, it is evident that 

 the place is used as a lick by deer and elk. 



Professor Comstock in 1873 visited the Turbid Lake Springs three 

 times, and records the following in regard to periodicity of action in 

 these springs: 



About 3 p. m. of tlie 2d day of Aiignst I first caught sight of Turbid Lake, from a 

 high poiut north of the Stinking Water Pass, 2,000 feet above the level of the springs. 

 At that time no vapor was rising from this spot, although the locality of the con- 

 cealed Steamboat Springs, which emit much less vapor at any time than the Turbid 

 Lake group when in action, could be plainly discerned by the vapor. On the following 

 day, as previously stated, I reached this locality, at 11 a. m., and discovered that an 

 eruption had occurred before my arrival. Upon the way, at least two hours before reach- 

 ing the place, I clearly distinguished volumes of white vapor issuing from the direc- 

 tion of the group, and then the view was obstructed by timber for the remainder of 

 the distance. On the 4th of August I found the springs in action at 8.45 a. m., and 

 the emission of vapor had almost ceased at 10 a. m. 



Returning to spend the night in this vicinity on the 6th of the same month, no 

 notable quantity of vapor was visible, but during the night a heavy mist shut out 

 the springs from view. When this had been dissipated by the sun, I again saw the 

 springs in vigorous action, before 6 a. m. From these observations it seems reasonable 

 to conclude that the increase of activity, or the eruptive throe, takes place in all 

 the springs of this group quite regularly, beginning before 6 a. m. each day, and con- 

 tinuing for at least four hours, without interruption. It is possible that another period 

 of activity may occur at night; but this I regard as exceedingly doubtful, for good 

 reasons, which it will be impossible to give here.* 



My visits in 1871 were both in the afternoon, which is probably the 

 reason I saw no evidence of special activity. The deposits about Turbid 

 Lake consist largely of clay beds, which is the source of the alumina in 

 the springs, and the cause of their assuming the character of mud and 

 turbid springs. 



Sulphureted hydrogen is the gas evolved from the springs, and sulphur 

 and alumina the principal constituents of the deposits. 



STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AT STEAMY OR STEAMBOAT POINT. 



Steamboat Point, oi? Steamy Point, as it is sometimes called, was so 

 named from the existence on the point of the bluft" which here extends 

 into the lake of a powerful steam vent from which a vast column of 

 steam escapes with a continuous roar that exactly resembles the escape 

 from a huge steamboat. The locality is interesting, as it shows the re- 

 mains of what was once a very active group, the point once having been 

 covered with very active springs. There are at present only two or 

 three very small springs containing any water. One of these is like a 

 sieve through the bottom of which the water bubbles with a simmering 

 sound. There are a number of steam holes, and the ground is perforated 

 in many places, so that one has to be careful in walking over it. 



Steamboat Spring. — This is an orifice in solid rock, from which the 

 steam escapes with a constant puf&ng noise like the escape of steam 

 from a high-pressure engine. The resemblance to the escape of steam 

 from a steamboat is perfect. The second steam jet was named in 1873 

 by Professor Comstock, who named it the — 



Locomotive Spring. — Professor Comstock describes this spring as fol- 

 lows : 



A few rods further up the lake [from the Steamboat] sulphurous vapor issues from 

 a cavern, in conglomerate, with a seething noise, as it comes in contact with the waves, 



* Report of Reconnaissance of N. W. Wyoming, «&c., p. 191. 



