4 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



The greater part of our outfit was obtained at Cheyenne. Through the 

 generous kindness of the depot quartermaster at Fort Eussell, Colonel C. 

 A. Eeynolds, we were enabled to start on our journey, fully equipped, 

 August 6th r The previous year our course had been southward from 

 this point, along the eastern base of the mountains to Santa Fe, in 

 order to study the fine exposures of the rocks of different ages, as they 

 were lifted up by the elevation of the mountain chains. In order that 

 the labors of the two seasons might be connected together, it seemed best 

 to proceed northward along the eastern base of the Laramie range, by 

 way of Chugwater Creek, Laramie Peak, North Platte, Sweetwater, and 

 South Pass. The country along the' immediate line of our route was 

 examined with as much care as possible, and frequent excursions were 

 made up tbe valleys of the little streams to their sources in the mount- 

 ains, thus obtaining cross-sections from the central nucleus of the mount- 

 ain ranges extending into the plains. In this way we explored the 

 North Platte and its numerous branches to the Red Buttes ; thence we 

 struck across the divide to the valley of the Sweetwater; thence up 

 that stream to its source in the Wind Eiver Mountains. The geological 

 structure of the Sweetwater Valley, although simple, was very interest- 

 ing, and afforded ample scope for the imagination in reconstructing the 

 numerous phases which it has assumed in past ages. We gave a hasty 

 glance at the Sweetwater mines and the southern portion of the Wind 

 Eiver Mountains, and passed down the Big and Little Sandy Creeks to 

 Green Eiver, and thence by way of Church Buttes to Fort Bridger. 

 Here we established a permanent camp for about twenty days, made 

 numerous side excursions up the Bear Eiver, Muddy Creek, Black's Fork, 

 and Smith's Fork, thus exploring, with considerable care, the northern 

 slope of the Uinta Mountains. This range is one of wonderful beauty, 

 a unique creation, without a parallel in the West, so far as I have yet seen. 

 From Fort Bridger we proceeded southward to Henry's Fork, explored 

 that stream to its source in the axis of the Uintas, then descended its 

 valley to Green Eiver, explored the latter stream to Brown's Hole, 

 and then returned up the river to the Union Pacific Eailroad. The 

 scenery and geology of this region are grand and instructive in the 

 highest degree. From Green Eiver Station we followed the old stage 

 road up Bitter Creek, via Bridger's Pass, Medicine Bow Mountains, 

 across the Laramie Plains, through the Laramie range, by way of Chey- 

 enne Pass, to our point of departure, where we arrived about the 1st of 

 November. Here the party was broken up, most of its members returning 

 to their homes. A portion of the month of November was occupied in 

 studying the more interesting geological features along the line of the 

 Union Pacific Eailroad from Cheyenne to Salt Lake Valley. Mr. Elliott 

 constructed an excellent pictorial section of the entire road, bringing 

 out all the surface features with remarkable clearness and beauty. In 

 addition to hundreds of local sketches and sections, Mr. Elliott has de- 

 lineated three continuous pictorial sections across the territory of Wyo- 



