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Show RECONNAISSANCE IN THE UTE COUNTRY; 81 toward the southwest. Lower down in the valley are also white and other light- colored clays, white compact sandstone, and soft crumbling chalky limestone. The formations are nearly in horizontal position. The mountain- slopes are of red granite, with veins and clusters of gneiss and rose quartz. At the foot of this valley the walls of both sides of the canon are broken away, through which the river is approached and crossed. We again leave the Arkansas River and ascend to the table- lands L through a dry canon. This elevated region differs in none of the essentials of those over which we passed since we left Pleasant Valley. On descending again later in the day we met heavy formations of limestone dipping at nearly every angle and crowning some of the high foot- hills. These strata are hard, cherty, massive, and compact. They soon disappear with a general dip toward the east. We then pass on. to thick beds of conglomerate ferruginous oxides, cementing rounded pebbles and water- worn boulders. These are extensive, in nearly horizontal position, and were the result of forces in operation after the limestone was in position and the valley had been exoded. Still farther down the valley there occurs thick beds of silicious sandstone and shales, which form prominent features in the left side of the valley to the opening of the plain on the east. At the mouth of the canon from which the town takes its name is a thermal spring, with a temperature of 114° F, but its discharge is too limited to be of any great practical benefit, whatever its medicinal properties may be. Within the lower limits is a mineral spring issuing out from under the sandstone. It is also weak in flow but discharges a large amount of gas. Judging from its taste and the effects on the system, the alkalies are in excess and are consequently not of much medicinal value. A mound on the prison grounds at Canon City is composed of light gray, shaly limestone, with inoceramus problematicm with two other species and the remains of fishes. These strata stand upon their edges, whether the result of a slide or from some internal convulsions could not be definitely determined. In passing down the valley on the right side of the Arkansas Eiver, ledges of heavy- bedded brown sandstone constitute the bluff of the stream for nine miles.* These are nearly horizontal in position, and seemingly had never been disturbed, but break or cease suddenly, and the cretaceous limestone comes in with a bed of coal 550 feet thick. I have no evidence to present that this coal belongs to the Cretaceous age. Organic remains of that system are found five feet below the coal bed. The coal is hard, brittle, and lustrous, reflecting the rainbow hues. It contains a large amount of gas, burns free with a clear blaze, but has too small an amount of fixed carbon to produce an intense heat. The Colorado Ceutral Improvement Company are the proprietors of * these coal- mines, have built a branch road to them, aud are shipping. At Caiion City we realize that we are approaching the great plains on the east. Here the valley widens out to au extensive undulating prairie, which is effectually protected on the north by a range of mountains extending east from Caiion City to Pike's Peak, where it intersects the range flanking the eastern plains. Several productive farms are cultivated below Canon City and are irrigated by the water taken from the river. Resume- The economical branch of the reconnaissance was elaborately represented in my journalized report, and therefore needs no H. Ex. 193 6 |
