OCR Text |
Show 90 FROM GREAT SALT LAKE CITY TO VORT HALL. between the Malade and the waters of the Port Neuf, the road descends by a gentle slope to the dry bed of a small stream, which forms a narrow gorge; emerging from which, and proceeding north, we descended to a small stream forming one of the heads of a branch of the Fort Neuf. It flows at the foot of a spur of the range of hills which constitute the dividing ridge between it and the Pannack, ( another affluent of the Port Neuf,) and rises in a broad valley lying to the westward of the road. It is bounded on the west by a high range of hills extending to the southward, and in that direction forming the " divide" between the waters of the Malade and those of the Pannack. The secondary or lower hills in this valley seem to be composed principally of white clay containing volcanic debris. Crossing the stream, we left the cut- off altogether, and turning to the left, crossed over this ridge, which, where we crossed it, is very high and steep, and a mile and a- half in width. Descending its western slope, we struck upon the heads of one of the main forks of the Pannack, down which an excellent road can be obtained without difficulty, the descent being moderate and the ground generally level. Descending the valley of this stream, we encamped on its right bank with plenty of grass, fine cool water, and a profusion of willows for fuel. Day's march, fifteen miles. At the dividing ridge between the waters of the Port Neuf and the Malade, the direction of the stratification has evidently changed. Near the south end of the pass, an esoarpment of dark limestone is seen on the eastern side, lying on and conformable with layers of feldspathic rock. A short distance farther on, the same rock is again seen, overlaying the dark limestone, and with a dip of about 50° to the north- east. From this point the centre of elevation, consisting evidently of this hypogene rock, appears to take a direction to the north- west, striking the chain of hills continued from the west side of the valley of the Malade. It is plainly to be seen that this has been a region of great disturbance, which did not cease until a period subsequent to the deposition of the secondary rocks that repose on the limestones, although not conformable with them. Passing this ridge, several high conical hills were observed on the right, which seemed to be formed of secondary rocks, the stratification of which was apparently much more horizontal than that of the limestones. The dividing ridge between the Port Neuf and the Pannack is composed of dark lime- |