REPORT OF C. A. WHITE, M. D. 



LETTEE OF TBAKSMITTAL. 



United States Geological and Geographical 



Survey of the Territories, 

 Washington, D. C, October 1, 1878. 



Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of my paleonto- 

 geological labors in the field for the season of 1877, together with other 

 relevant matter illustrative of their results. The field-work assigned to 

 me consisted of a series of special geological investigations, in which 

 paleontological research should constitute a prominent feature. The 

 regions or districts in which, in pursuance of this plan, I have prosecuted 

 my investigations, have from time to time been more or less fully reported 

 upon as to the stratigraphical geology, by various field geologists, but 

 still the necessity existed of correlating the formations as found in those 

 districts respectively, and upon both sides of the principal mountain 

 ranges, by a careful collection and investigation of their fossils. While 

 it was understood to be essential that all the formations which were trav- 

 ersed in my journey ings should receive careful study, it was thought 

 especiaUy desirable to investigate those strata on both sides of the 

 Eocky Mountains, which he between the Fox Hills Group of the Creta- 

 ceous series below and the Tertiary strata of exclusively fresh-water 

 origin above. These strata are here designated as the great Laramie 

 Group, and include those which have been designated, in the former pub- 

 lications of the Survey, as the Lignitic Group, east of the Eocky Moun- 

 tains and in Middle Park, Colorado ; the Bitter Creek series and their 

 equivalents west of those mountains, especially in the great Green Eiver 

 basin ; the so-called estuary beds of Bear Eiver Valley, in Southwestern 

 Wyoming and adjacent parts of Utah, and also the Judith Eiver and 

 Fort Union beds of the Upper Missouri region. 



My report, having in part a narrative form, will supply all the desirable 

 details of travel and field-labor, but the following statement of the gen- 

 eral course of my travel during the season will aid in forming an idea of 

 the geographical scope of my labors : 



Outfitting at Cheyenne, Wyo., I journeyed southward, traversing in 

 various directions a portion of the great plain that lies immediately ad- 

 jacent to the eastern base of the Eocky Mountains. The most easterly 

 point thus reached was some 60 miles east of the base of the mountains, 

 and the most southerly point about 25 miles south of Denver, Colo. Ee- 

 tuming to Denver for outfit-supplies I crossed the Eocky Mountains by 

 way of Boulder Pass ; thence through Middle Park and across the Park 

 Eange to the headwaters of Yampa Eiver ; thence down that river to a 

 point about 20 miles west of the western base of the Park Eange of 

 mountains ; thence southeastward to the White Eiver Indian Agency ; 

 thence down White Eiver valley about 100 miles ; thence northwestward 

 to the point where Green Eiver makes its exit from the caiions of the 

 Uinta Mountains. Crossing Green Eiver at that point, I continued my 

 journey westward, near the southern base of the Uinta Mountains, cross- 



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