COURT-HOUSE — LIGNITE. 49 



with a few narrow layers of sand. I attempted to cross it, but the 

 bottom consisted of a stiff marly mud, into which the feet of the 

 animals sank rapidly, and could with difficulty be withdrawn. 

 Fearful of miring them down, I gave up the attempt, and thus lost 

 the opportunity of examining this celebrated seat of justice more 

 closely. Upon the bank, where we attempted to cross, I found a 

 large block of what proved to be lignite^ and near by a lump of 

 what was thought to be oolitic clay, from which several species of 

 fresh-water shells were taken. The lignite had evidently been 

 brought down by the creek, as many large masses of it were seen 

 lying in the water and strewn along the banks. Should this sub- 

 stance be found in any quantity in the hills to the south, it may 

 have a very important bearing upon the future settlement of this 

 region ; one of the great obstacles to which, even when water 

 can be commanded, is the total absence of timber sufficient for 

 fuel. Could lignite be found in sufficient quantity for this purpose, 

 many spots in this extensive valley might be settled to advantage, 

 and would thus furnish stations where the emigrant and mail trains 

 might find shelter, protection, and provisions. I should have di- 

 rected a more extended examination, but the objects contemplated 

 by the expedition had been already too much delayed to justify it. 



After passing the Court-house, a large butte, to the right of 

 the Chimney Rock, was before us the whole afternoon, and pre- 

 sented so remarkable a resemblance to the capitol at Washington, 

 with its dome in the centre and its wings on either side, that it 

 was the subject of remark with all of our company who had ever 

 seen that building. The resemblance was very strong, and I could 

 not but wonder that it had not elicited remark from some previous 

 traveller ; since, compared with the far-famed Chimney Rock, it 

 is a much larger and more imposing object. 



After a warm drive of twenty-five miles, we encamped within 

 five miles of the Chimney Rock, upon a point, or rather knoll 

 of land, overlooking the prairie toward the Platte, here about a 

 mile distant. Directly at the foot of the bluff is a most lovely 

 spring, which comes bubbling up from the ground in a clear, pel- 

 lucid stream, affording abundance of the coldest and most delicious 

 water we had yet found. (Temperature, 52J°.) Here we spent the 

 following day, which was the Sabbath. No wood was to be ob- 

 tained nearer than the bluffs, and I was obliged to despatch a 

 wagon thither to procure sufficient for cooking purposes. The 

 hunters went out early, and returned about ten o'clock, with as 



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