GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 1J5 



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we look far away southward toward the sources of the North Platte in 

 the North Park, we shall see some lofty ranges of mountains with peaks 

 that loom up in solitary grandeur. Elk Mountain is a noted landmark, 

 and seems to rise out of the plain as if it were an isolated peak. It is, 

 however, a portion of the Medicine Bow range, partially cut off from, 

 the northern end. It is surrounded by rolling prairie, which is covered 

 the greater portion of the year with splendid grass. Hence all the 

 river valleys in this portion of the mountains have been noted places 

 for game of all kinds, as elk, deer, mountain sheep, &c. Fabulous sto- 

 ries are also told of the mines of gold and silver which have been dis- 

 covered. As yet the geology is little known. The sides of these moun- 

 tains are covered with dense forests of pine, spruce, and hemlock ; and 

 during the construction of the railroad thousands of ties were floated 

 down the branches of the North Platte into the main stream and thence 

 taken to their destination. The little streams that flow from the moun- 

 tains have in many places quite broad valleys, which afford an abun- 

 dance of hay and pasturage for all kinds of animals, wild and domestic. 

 The wild animals often descend into the beautiful grassy bottoms to 

 feed in large herds, and at the least approach of danger retire to the 

 almost inaccessible ravines aud gorges of the mountains. The big-horn 

 or mountain sheep may often be seen in flocks, peering from some 

 mountain peak upon the traveler below. Early in the morning these 

 animals descend into the valleys to crop the moist grass, but during 

 the greater portion of the day they will be found, if discovered at all, 

 upon the most precipitous crags and ridges of the mountains. The 

 little streams are full of fine trout, which are easily caught, they not 

 having learned as yet the cunning arts of self-protection, like their east- 

 ern relatives. These ravines and gorges afford most excellent shelter, 

 both for Indians and animals, during the cold season of winter. The 

 close x>roxirnity of this delightful region to the railroad must make it a 

 desirable place of resort for sportsmen during the summer. 



There is another interesting feature connected with the North Platte 

 and its tributaries, as well as with most of the mountain streams, to 

 which I would call the attention of the inquiring traveler ; and that is, 

 the abundant signs of the existence of that most sagacious animal, the 

 beaver. These mountain streams seem to abound with them at the 

 present time, and their dams are very numerous, not unfrequently pro- 

 ducing a rise of the water, three to five feet. Extensive dams and 

 ponds are caused by these industrious animals, and sometimes quite 

 large areas in the valleys are overflowed, rendering the crossing diffi- 

 cult and dangerous. They sometimes strip off the usual fringe of Cot- 

 tonwood and willows along the streams so completely that they are 

 obliged to emigrate to some other locality to secure food and materials 

 to repair their dams. 



Not far from Fort Steele may be seen at this time cottonwood trees, 

 eighteen and twenty inches in diameter, which have been cut down by 

 them, and I have seen stumps in the valley of the Yellowstone thirty 

 inches in diameter. Their fur is of so little value at the present time 

 that they are not much sought for by trappers or Indians. 



From St. Mary's to Eawlings' Springs, a distance of about thirty miles, 

 the railroad passes over rocks of cretaceous age. No coal beds need be 

 sought for in the immediate vicinity of the road, although it is quite 

 possible that on the north side of the road isolated patches of tertiary 

 containing coal may be fouud. The railroad from a point about eight 

 miles east of Benton to Eawlings' Springs passes through one of the 

 most beautiful anticlinal valleys I have seen in the West. On either 



