236 BITTER CREEK — EXTENSIVE COAL BEDS. 



the trace, heretofore unexceptionable, rather more unfavourable. 

 Frcm the lake we followed the right bank of the east fork of the 

 creek for six miles, when we again crossed it, and one mile beyond 

 we broke out, from a bed twelve feet thick, some beautiful speci- 

 mens of excellent bituminous coal, which burned in our camp-fires 

 with a clear yellow flame. In the sides of the ravines putting into 

 the valley are abundant beds of this mineral. 



The rock is very much of the same character as that observed 

 below — red, white, and yellow sandstone, with a slight dip to the 

 east and north-east. In some places, nodules of rock, deeply tinged 

 with oxide of iron, were frequent. The rock is very porous, and 

 rapidly disintegrating under the action of snow and frost, and is 

 washed down into the valley by the spring rains in great quanti- 

 ties, so that vegetation, except grease-wood and salt-grass, is very 

 sparse. 



Continuing up the left bank seven miles farther, we encamped 

 in the forks, after a journey of twenty-five miles, near two cold 

 sulphur springs which issue from the base of a clifi" of light-gray 

 coarse-grit sandstone, having fragments of coal interspersed, so 

 as to form something like a pudding-stone of coal and cemented 

 sand. 



Near the northern spring some beautiful white lichens were 

 growing on the rocks over which it flows; and under the project- 

 ing clifi", some highly coloured ones, with variegated hues, like the 

 neck of a mallard. Currant-bushes were quite plentiful, and the 

 plain near the springs has a dense growth of broad-leafed blue- 

 joint and wire-grass, among which I observed some purple asters. 

 A mile and a-half north of the camp, on the North, or Evans's 

 Fork, is an outcrop of coal, ten feet thick ; but most of that in 

 sight appeared to be but imperfectly mineralized. Indications 

 were also observed of the presence of •iron-ore near the camp. 

 Lat. of the camp, 41° 30' 51''.4. Long. 108. 50' 34''. 



Monday, September 16. — Our route to-day continues up the 

 east or left fork of Bitter Creek. Sandstone clifi's bound the val- 

 ley on the north side, in which I observed a stratum of coal, which 

 was exposed for a hundred yards, and was at least ten feet in 

 thickness. During the whole day's march this mineral was met 

 with in every favourable locality, and in quantities apparently 

 without limit. The formation was the same as lower down the 

 stream, except that the dip was north-easterly, at an angle of from 

 5° to 10°. 



