1895
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Purchase: the collection of Prof. Edward D. Cope. Exploration of Egypt Coal Fields, NC. Dr. W. D.
Matthew went again to the mine and secured a fine collection of "ancient alligators". Uinta Lake Basin.
The expedition left the museum March 1st and began work in the Unita Basin, UT. Mr. Peterson was sent
with Mr. Granger, who was to work part time for the Dept. of Mammals and Birds and part time collecting
fossils. Dr. Wortman joined them in the later part of May; he was accompanied by Mr. J. D. Irving, a
student of geology at Columbia College. The outfit that wintered in the Black Hills was sent into the
Unit Basin in charge of Albert Thomson, teamster and cook. 3 months were spent in this area with a
collection of 200 to 300 specimens made. Washakie Basin. Enroute the party camped for several days
in the vicinity of the Ladore Canyon of the Green River. Another stop was made at the crossing of the
Green River, Jarvis Ferry to examine the so-called Brown's Park Formation. The scarcity of fossils
precluded making a collection. From here the party pushed on to the Bitter Creek Desert, where we
arrived in June. Camp was established at Kinney's Spring and work begun in the badland exposures to
the SW of Hay Stack Mountain, as well as in the vicinity of LaClede Meadows. Not much was found in
these localities, and it was determined to prospect the exposures lying to the southward along the
southern outcrops of this formation. Camp was moved into that locality at a small alkali spring in the
heart of the bad lands late in June. Mountain fever, lack of grass, bad water and excessive heat made
collecting difficult. Toward the end of August the party broke camp and took the collections to the Bitter
Creek Station to be sent to the museum. From here the party moved southward to explore the region
eastward of Powder Springs on the old Cherokee Trail with very little success. The party disbanded
with Dr. Wortman and Mr. Irving returning east; Mr. Peterson was sent back to Unit; Mr. Granger and
Thomson took the outfit into winter quarters in Nebraska.
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