100 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TEEEITORIES. 



CHAPTER! 



COLOEADO AND UTAH. 



While the expedition was being organized at Ogden, Utah Territory, 

 Mr. W. H. Jackson was ordered to make a photographic tour through a 

 portion of Colorado. Fortunately, I was able to accompany him, and 

 while assisting him took a few notes in regard to the lithology and geol- 

 ogy of the places we visited. Colorado City and Golden City were our 

 principal points, and it is of them I will speak more particularly. We 

 were limited as to time, and the area ovej? which we passed was so small 

 that I shall have to restrict all I have to say to each immediate locality; 

 still 1 hope it may not be without some little interest. We left Omaha on 

 the 20th of May, and the following evening reached Denver, in Colorado 

 Territory. In passing, let me say a word or two about Denver. Thirteen 

 years ago a log-ca\)in represented this city, that now contains a popula- 

 tion of over 14,000' people, and which is in every way a thriving and 

 prosperous place, bidding fair to become the metropolis of the far West. 

 Four years ago there was not even a mile of railroad in the Territory, 

 and to-day Denver is the center of five distinct lines of railroad, and 

 still more are being built. The city is beautifully situated on the banks 

 of Cherry Creek, about twelve miles from the mountains. The plain 

 upon which it is built is so covered with the superficial drift of the 

 mountains that the underlying rocks are entirely concealed. There is lit- 

 tle doubt, however, as to what they are, for, as we proceed toward the 

 mountains, we come upon the u]3turned edges of Tertiary sandstones, 

 containing beds of coal, the tipping up of which is explained by the 

 grand range immediately in front of us, from which Gray's Peak and 

 Long's Peak raise their "snowy heads, seeming almost to j^ierce the 

 heavens. Leaving Denver we took the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad 

 to Colorado Springs, some seventy-six miles farther south. This rail- 

 road is a narrow-gauge road, and the first of any length that has been 

 built. It threatens to work an important revolution in the railroad- 

 system of the West. The road gradually ascends ujion leaving Denver 

 until we reach the summit of the Colorado divide. This is a spur or 

 high ridge, projecting from the mountains at right angles to their trend. 

 It forms the dividing line between the waters of the Platte River and 

 those of the Arkansas. It is very thickly timbered, and lumbering is 

 carried on quite extensively. The ascent from Denver to the summit of 

 the divide is very gradual, and it is a little difficult to believe that one 

 has ascended 2,000 feet. The elevation of the divide at the summit is 

 8,000 feet above the sea. Smoky-quartz crystals are found here quite 

 abundantly, and are called topaz by the people. I was shown several 

 good specimens said to have been jiicked up near the railroad. The 

 rocks as seen from the cars seem to be mostly red and gray Tertiary 

 sandstones. From the divide the railroad has a gentle descent, and 

 after a ride of twenty-four miles, jiassing some beautiful scenery, we 

 reach Colorr.do Springs. This is a new colony, just established on the 

 line of the railroad. It is about eight miles from the mountains. Its 

 site is covered with local drift from the hills. To the east the country 

 spreads out into the plains. We spent several days at Colorado Springs, 

 making excursions to the various points of interest. Our first day was 

 spent in the "Garden of the Gods," about four miles northwest from 

 Colorado Springs and two miles north of Colorado City. This interest- 

 ing and peculiar place is a valley in the foot-hills of the range, and is 



