70 



GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



tlie clear depths and see, with perfect distinctness, the minutest orna- 

 ment on the inner sides of the basins; and the exquisite beauty of the 

 coloring and the variety of forms baffle any attempt to portray them, 



Fig 



i8. 



BATHING POOLS, WHITE MOUNTAIN HOT SPRINGS. 



either with pen or pencil. And then, too, around the borders of these 

 springs, especially those of rather low temperature, and on the sides and 

 bottoms of the numerous little channels of the streams that flow from 

 these springs, there is a striking variety of the most vivid colors. 1 can 

 only compare them to our most brilliant aniline dyes — various shades 

 of red, from the brightest scarlet to a bright rose tint ; also yellow, from 

 deep-bright sulphur, through all the shades, to light cream-color. There 

 are also various shades of green, from the peculiar vegetation. These 

 springs are also filled with minute vegetable forms, which under the 

 microscope prove to be diatoms, among which Dr. Billings discovers 

 Falmella and Oscillara. There are also in the little streams that flow 

 from the boiling springs great quantities of a fibrous, silky substance, 

 apparently vegetable, which vibrates at the slightest movement of the 

 water, and has the appearance of the finest quality of cashmere wool. 

 When the waters ate still these silken masses become incrusted with 

 lime, the delicate vegetable threads disappear, and a fibrous, spongy 

 mass remains, like delicate snow-white coral. Although these springs 

 are in a constant state of violent ebullition at diflerent points in the 

 basin, yet it will be seen on the chart that the temperatures are far 

 below boiling-i^oint, the highest being 162o. Owing to the thinness of 

 the rim of the basin, and the heat from the steam, it was impossible to 

 take the temperature except at the edges, and by no means at the hottest 

 portion ; and the violent ebullition is undoubtedly due in part to the 

 evolution of carbonic acid gas. It is quite possible that the thermome- 

 ter would have indicated the boiling-point (which at this elevation is 

 about 194°) if it could have been placed in one of these centers of 



