jkdlich.] SWEETWATEE DISTRICT — TOPOGRAPHY. 47 



Passing on. outside of the nietamorphic area, it forms the little cauon of 

 the Sweetwater. On the south side of the river it gives rise to the small 

 carboniferous hills that have been mentioned in connection with the 

 Sweetwater Hills. At that point there can no longer be any distinction 

 made between the regular chain and the Sweetwater Eange. The two 

 merge into each other imperceptibly. In the vicinity of Stambaugh 

 and at Atlantic City the foot-hills have been greatly modified, changing 

 into low, rolling hills toward the south and southeast. 



Near the northwestern comer of our district, at the exit of Muddy 

 Creek from the mountains, a small, subsidiary range separates itself 

 from the western base of the main chain. Diverging with increasing 

 distance we find a comparatively level valley of triangular shaiie in- 

 cluded between the two ranges. That designated as subsidiary is com- 

 posed of isolated groups or hills composed of red granite. They are 

 arranged in an approximately straight line, and evidently formed a con- 

 tinuous chain at one time. Northward they form an integral portion of 

 the mam chain, being absorbed, as it were, within its western slope. 

 Toward the south they gradually diminish in height, until the hills dis- 

 appear within the rolling nietamorphic area. Streams coming from the 

 mountains have cut their way through this little chain, completing the 

 isolation of the individual hills or small groups, and affording low, con- 

 venient passes. 



The trend of the Wind Eiver Mountains is very nearly south 45° east. 

 Parallel among themselves are the three chains above discussed, until 

 they join together in the nietamorphic area on the Sweetwater Eiver. 

 At the distance of about 28 miles, which we may regard as the length 

 of the western subsidiary range, its divergence from the main chain pro- 

 duces a valley about 4 miles in width. Topographically considered, 

 this short, low chain can be considered as a terminal spur. Taking into 

 account, however, its geological structure, it will be more correct to 

 regard it as a subsidiary range. The total length of the Wind Eiver 

 Mountains is so short that the term "spur" would, perhaps, not be 

 properly applied to a series of hills so extensive as the one under con- 

 sideration. 



BLTJPE-REGION OF WIND EIVER DRAINAGE. 



Beyond that chain of the Wind Eiver Mountains which has been desig- 

 nated as ' ' outlying hills " the bluffs begin. In the vicinity of Sheep Mount- 

 ain a succession of stratigraphical disturbances have resulted in producing 

 a "broken" appearance of the country. This extends over a small area 

 only. Xorth and east of that hill the surface of the country resolves 

 itself into a series of parallel bluffs. In their general direction they at 

 first exhibit a parallelism with the Wind Eiver Eange. As we recede 

 from the mountains, however, the trend and form of the bluffs is deter- 

 mined directly by the character and position of the strata composing 

 them. At some localities the character of the country typically rex>re- 

 sents " terres mauvaises." Eising abruptly from these low bluff-regions 

 we observe the steep edge of the Sweetwater plateau. The lowest eleva- 

 tion which we reached in this section of country was on Beaver Creek. 



Along the eastern base of the outlying hills, toward Camp Brown, north- 

 ward, the bluffs are located nearer the range. They are very regular in 

 their course and form, and, gradually diminishing in height, they extend 

 for miles along the Wind Eiver Valley. 



Although we had within our district a large proportion of low, flat 

 country, we had a sufficient diversity in its mountainous portions. 



