OCR Text |
Show COURT- HOUSB- LIGNITE. 49 with a few narrow layers of sand. I attempted to cross it, but the bottom consisted of a stiff marly mud, into which the feet of the animals sank rapidly, and could with difficulty be withdrawn. Fearful of miring them down, I gaye up the attempt, and thus lost the opportunity of examining this celebrated seat of justice more closely. Upon the bank, where we attempted to cross, I found a large block of what proved to be lignite, and near by a lump of what was thought to be oolitic clay, from which several species of fresh- water shells were taken. The lignite had evidently been brought down by the creek, as many large masses of it were seen lying in the water and strewn along the banks. Should this substance be found in any quantity in the hills to the south, it may have a very important bearing upon the future settlement of this region; one of the great obstacles to which, even when water can be commanded, is the total absence of timber sufficient for fuel. Gould lignite be found in sufficient quantity for this purpose, many spots in this extensive valley might be settled to advantage, and would thus furnish stations where the emigrant and mail trains might find shelter, protection, and provisions. I should have directed a more extended examination, but the objects contemplated by the expedition had been already too much delayed to justify it. After passing the Court- house, a large butte, to the right of the Chimney Bock, was before us the whole afternoon, and presented so remarkable a resemblance to the capitol at Washington, with its dome in the centre and its wings on either side, that it was the subject of remark with all of our company jrho had ever seen that building. The resemblance was very strong, and I could not but wonder that it had not elicited remark from some previous traveller; since, compared with the far- famed Chimney Bock, it is a much larger and more imposing object. After a warm drive of twenty- five miles, we encamped within five miles of the Chimney Bock, upon a point, or rather knoll of land, overlooking the prairie toward the Platte, here about a mile distant. Directly at the foot of the bluff is a most lovely spring, which comes bubbling up from the ground in a clear, pellucid stream, affording abundance of the coldest and most delicious water we had yet found. ( Temperature, 52}°.) Here we spent the following day, which was the Sabbath. No wood was to be obtained nearer than the bluffs, and I was obliged to despatch a wagon thither to procure sufficient for cooking purposes. The hunters went out early, and returned about ten o'clock, with as 4 |