REPORT 



^. C. P^E^LE, M:. 13., 



GEOLOGIST OF THE SOUTH PARK DIVISION. 



Washington, D. C, BIcitj 1, 1873. 



Sir : Herewitli I liand you my report upon the " South Park District" 

 to which I was assigned as geologist during the season of 1873. 



To the report of Mr. Henry Gannett, who had charge of the division, 

 I refer for details of organization, routes followed, and the topographi- 

 cal and geographical features. I have confined myself somewhat strictly 

 to the enumeration of geological facts, leaving deductions and gener- 

 alizations mainly for the final report to be made when the entire terri- 

 tory shall have been explored. 



The limited time at our disposal, the want of an accurate topographi- 

 cal maj), and the rugged character of a large portion of the region ex- 

 amined were disadvantages under which we necessarily labored, and 

 which will account for any real or apparent deficiencies in the work. 

 In addition to the absolute value of the results recorded, I am satisfied 

 that the data obtained will be of great service to future more detailed 

 investigation. 



My plan of work was as follows : With Mr. Taggart, my assistant, I 

 instituted a division of labor. One of us did the detailed work at or 

 near camp ; the other accompanied the topographical party to the sta- 

 tion of the day, and made a drainage-map of the surrounding country, 

 upon which the geological boundaries were defined in color. This sta- 

 tion was usually the highest point in the region, and the work done 

 from it was of course based upon the details previously obtained. I 

 shall therefore color the final geological map, not from memory nor 

 solely from notes, but from field geological maps. By this plan I am 

 enabled to present a much larger number of detailed sections than I 

 otherwise could have done. 



I have appended to the report the usual catalogues of rocks and min- 

 erals. 



In conclusion, I wish to express my obligations to Mr. William I*. 

 Taggart, who acted as my assistant, and by his zeal and efficiency con- 

 tributed largely to the success of our division of the survey. My thauks 

 are due to Mr. William H. Holmes, not only for invaluable illustrations, 

 but also for useful notes on several localities not visited by myself. I 

 desire to thank, also, Messrs. George Summers and M. France, of Colo- 

 rado Springs ; Messrs. Stevens and R. A. Kirker, of Fair Play, and C. 

 L. Hill, of Oro City, for favors and information afforded. 

 With great respect, I remain your obedient servant, 



A. C. PEALE. 



Dr. F. V. Hayden, 



United States Geologist. 

 13, G s 



