14 



in a sort of amphitheater, with the red beds rising to a great 

 elevation all around. The Bed Buttes are so called from the 

 high ridges, or groups of ridges, on the south side of the 

 Platte, their basset edges bearing eastward toward our camp, 

 and of a bright brick-red in color. 



As we approach them from the east, in the afternoon, the 

 rays of the setting sun greatly heighten their effect and 

 bring them out in strong relief, so that we can readily see 

 why they have been such prominent land-marks and have so 

 long attracted the attention of the traveler. 



No, 78. Jackson Canon. A dry gorge, cut down perpendicularly 

 through the limestones some .'><)(> or -400 feet. 



No. 79. View WEST across the NoBTH Platte, from above Jack- 

 son Canon, and showing very distinctly an amphitheater, or 

 upheaved ridge of the red beds, forming a half-circle. 



No. 80. A group of all of the members of the survey, made while in the 

 camp at Red Battes. 



No. 81. VIEW FROM THE SUMMIT OF INDEPENDENCE ROCK, looking 

 down the Sweetwater Valley, and showing very plainly that 

 all this portion of the valley was at one time the bed of a 

 great lake. 



Nos. 82, 83. Independence BOCK. A noted land-mark for travelers 

 at the time when this route was used. Its base, bordering 

 the old road, is literally covered with names and dates, many 

 of the former well known in the history of the West, and 

 some of them antedating Fremont's time. 



The Sweetwater Hows immediately along the southern end 

 of it, although, on the opposite side of the stream another 

 ridge, continuing toward the southwest, was once connected 

 with it. It is a vast and excellent illustration of disintegra- 

 tion, its rounded form resembling an oblong haystack, with 

 layers of rock lapping over the top and sides of the mass. 

 Thin layers have been broken oil' in part, and huge masses 

 are scattered all around it. On some portions of the sides 

 they lap down to the ground with so gentle a descent that 

 one can walk up to the top without difficulty. 



Measured by the odometer, the rock has a circumference 

 of 1,550 yards. The north end is 1!>;> feet in height and the 

 opposite end 1(57 feet, with a depression in the center of not 

 more than 75 feet in height. 



No. 84 Devil's GATE, on the Sweetwater. General view from above. 



No. 85. Devil's Gate, on the Sweetwater. View inside the gorge. 



Five miles up the valley we come to another well-known 

 locality, the Devil's (bite, a canon which the Sweetwater 

 seems to have worn through the Granite Range, cutting it at 

 right angles. To one side but a short distance is a low 

 natural depression, a few feet above the present bed of the 

 stream, through which it must have once tlowed ; and the 

 mind is very much perplexed to account for its digression 

 through this great solid wall of granite rock. The current is 

 not strong, finding its way among the huge masses which 

 have fallen down from above without difficulty, and with a 

 gentle, soothing music not common to mountain streams. 

 The walls are vertical, and on the right side about .'*50 feet 

 high, the other being a very little lower. The distance 

 through is about 300 yards. 



