USA > Iowa > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882 > Part 62
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535
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
of vegetation has its effect on the temperature of a country, a bare sur- face absorbing the sun's rays much more than one covered with a forest or a crop. Water absorbs much more of the sun's heat, retains it longer, and gives it off more slowly than the land, hence districts of country con- tiguous to large bodies of water-especially when the prevailing winds blow from the water, over the land-are much warmer during the cold season than those farther inland, and do not suffer from so great degrees of heat.
In Michigan, places along the east shore of the lake in about the same latitude as central Iowa, rarely have a degree of cold below ten degrees of Fahrenheit, when we sometimes have it twenty degrees colder, and these twenty degrees in favor of the Michigan climate is the result of the heat absorbed and given off by the waters of the lake.
The state of Iowa is so far from both oceans and the great lakes that she is beyond the influence of any one of them, unless it be that an occa- sional east wind in the spring is colder and more humid than it would be if Lake Michigan was more remote. Ours is strictly an inter-continental cli- mate, one of great summer heat and severe winter cold, the range of the mercury in the thermometer being one hundred and thirty degrees. Our elevation above sea-level is 444 feet in the southeast corner of the state, 660 in the northeast, 1,344 in the northwest, and 954 in the southwest, the average for the state, computed from this data, being 850. But there is an elevated ridge dividing the east from the west water-shed, extending from Dickinson county in the northwest to Ringgold county in the south, and this ridge embraces the highest land in the state, which is in the north about 1,700 feet, and in the south 1,220 feet above tide-water. Other things being equal, the highest points will suffer the greatest degree of cold and the lowest points the least, but the difference is so small and the ascent from low to high so gradual that altitude can hardly be con- sidered a leading factor in comparing the different localities in the state with each other in reference to their climate. The descent from Iowa to the Gulf is less than half a foot to the mile.
Being remote from large bodies of water, we have less cloudiness and more sunshine than places not so situated, and hence, having a greater degree of insulation, our grains and fruits mature much earlier and more rapidly than they otherwise would. During the summer of 1858, which was a very wet season, the crop of wheat became almost worthless in consequence of the great amount of cloudiness, with a superabundance of moisture, both the straw and the grain lacking in substance and maturity, and whole fields remained unharvested.
Iowa being in the belt of perennial rains is subject to the laws which govern those rains or the rainfall, in the belt, and yet it is difficult to determine what those laws are except that a current of warm air saturated with moisture, meeting a cold one or passing into a cold medium, parts with a portion of its moisture in the shape of fogs or rain. The greater degree of atmospheric heat, the more moisture the air can contain, hence our heaviest rains are during our periods of greatest heat.
As with heat, so with-rainfall; we are subject to great extremes. The greatest amount of rain in any one year of which we have any record was in 1851, when it amounted to a little over six feet (74.49 inches), and the least in 1854, when we had a little less than two feet (23.35 inches), the general average in the central part of the State being not far from forty inches.
536
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
In the year of 1851 there were seventeen rainy days in May, twenty- one in June and fifteen in July; in 1858, May had twenty-one, June six and July sixteen rainy days. In 1854, May had thirteen, June two and July ten. In 1855 May had five, June ten, and July eight. Thus it will be seen that in two of our most rainy seasons the three months in which the crops are mostly grown had respectively forty- three and fifty-three rainy days (more than one-half), while in the two years of the least rain the same months had respectively twenty-three and twenty-five rainy days. The noticeable difference in the seasons of 1851 and 1858, was that in the former the rain came in showers, and fell in tor- rents, with much sunshine between the showers, while in the latter the rain fell more continuously with a great deal of cloudiness.
Although the annual rainfall is about the same now as it was a third or a quarter of a century ago, it is apparent that our springs, sloughs and rivers are discharging much less water than they did then; the breaking up of the tough impervious prairie sod, and its reduction to a loose, friable soil by constant cultivation, has increased its capacity for moisture, hence it retains much of the water that used to find its way into the streams, and it may now be questioned whether the turning and over-turning of this soil by the plow of the husbandman and its exposure to the sun and wind is not affording a moisture to the atmosphere that renders it constantly more humid than it was in the first settlement of the country. To this fact, in part, may we not attribute our failure to raise the crops of wheat we once did, and has it not produced a change in the diseases incident to human life?
The thousands of acres that were once covered with a luxuriant growth of wild grass, only pastured here and there by a few wild deer, are now the grazing grounds of myriads of cattle feeding on a "thousand hills,' and this close grazing is having its effect in reducing the quantity of our surplus water.
In the State of Iowa where the surface is not broken by any consider- able ranges of hills, mountains, valleys or forests, and where all the adja- cent country is of like character, the winds are most sweeping and power- ful in their operations. The hyperborean blasts that come down to us from the north, with their breath whetted to the keenest edge by Minus Zero's fingers, cut like Damascus blades, and fortunate are the men, ani- mals and plants that are protected from the surges of these frigid blizzards. The two severest drawbacks in our climate are the few days of severe cold winter weather, and our strong swiftly blowing winds.
The most destructive winds to our fruit crops are those that come from the southwest, and that make their advent soon after the blossoms have appeared, and when the embryo fruit is in its most tender stage. They come from the dry arid plains of New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska, a region that is truly the American Desert, where moisture is the exception, and drought the general rule, and they come to us from those parched regions hot and thirsty, ready to lick up with avidity all the moisture in their course, and their scorching breath is such that the tender leaves of our trees are often shriveled and the young fruit blasted by them. The winds do not blow for a very long time, but they are very telling in their effects while they do blow. Last spring they had come and gone before the blossom-buds had opened.
If the country whence these winds come, and which lies mostly west of the hundredth meridian of longitude, should ever become irrigated by arte-
537
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
sian wells, and thus be rendered habitable and productive, these winds will not come to us in the hot and dry character they now do; but that event, if it ever happens, is in the far-off future. This phase of our climate, especially in such a winter as this [1880-81], when the mercury and zero are hobnobbing nearly every day, is the strongest argument that can be presented for the extensive planting of wind-breaks.
THE IOWA WEATHER SERVICE.
Dr. Gustavus Hinrichs of Iowa City was the father and founder and mas- ter-builder of the Iowa weather service, and his faithful labors, untiring zeal, and practical skill in the work have resulted in official records and reports published by the state that have already given Iowa a rank second to no other state or country in the scientific repute of her meteorological work. The cen- tral station was established by law at Iowa City. And thus, although it is a state work, and a state institution, the credit and the honor both of its origination and its practical success belong to Johnson county, and a John- son county man. Hence this historian has compiled from the immense mass of published data such brief facts and particulars as would have a special or local interest to the patrons of this volume, and at the same time serve to give some general idea of the sort of work that is being done for the benefit of agriculture, commerce and the economic industries, by the devotees of meteorological science.
CENTRAL STATION.
The act of the Seventeenth General Assembly of Iowa, establishing the
CENTRAL STATION IOWA WEATHER SERVICE.
central station and ap- pointing the director of the Iowa Weather Service, did not ap- propriate means for the erection of such an institution, nor give any compensa- tion to the director, whose very extensive duties were defined by the same act. The problem of providing the necessary room was very pressing even during the first year of the service as a state institution. During the summer months of the year 1879 the director,
538
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
therefore, erected a three-story structure in the entering angle of his residence, corner of Capitol and Market streets, Iowa City, and fronting north. The two upper stories and the flat roof or terrace of this struc- ture [see cut] were set apart for the use of the service, and have been so occupied since September, 1879. On the roof or terrace of this building are the instruments which require full exposure, such as wind-vanes, wind force plate, Robinson's anemometer, insulation thermometer, radia- tion thermometer, rain-gauge, evaporimeter, and the like; also a flag-staff for the display of flag and lantern signals. Besides, this terrace is the place for observation of sun-spots, and of all general meteorological phe- nomena, as it furnishes a fine view of the entire landscape and a free view of the sky, the building standing near the edge of the bluff east of the Iowa river.
The room immediately below this terrace is the meteorological observ- atory proper. The windows furnish a fine view of the sky in all direc- tions, and an arrow on the ceiling marks the direction of the wind. Standard mercurial barometers and aneroids give the pressure of the air, while temperature and humidity are observed on a full set of standard thermometers, a psychrometer, and an improved hair-hygrometer in the case attached to the east window of the north wall. Here are also many additional instruments, and meteorological collections have been begun, such wind-worn and polished rocks, specimens of wood showing the effects of as tornadoes and of lightning, and especially a fine collection of meteorites from all parts of the globe.
THE FIRST LUSTRUM OF THE SERVICE, 1876-80.
The first International Congress of Meterologists introduced the lustrum or period of five years; beginning with the first and sixth year of each decennial period. Our Service, having begun observation on Oct. 1, 1875, has therefore completed one such period, from Jan. 1, 1876, till Dec. 31, 1880.
RAIN-FALL IN IOWA.
The only results fully reduced from the observations of the Volunteer Observers of the Service and covering the entire lustrum 1876-80, are those relating to the rain-fall. The following table indicates the fullness of the material used:
1875
1876
1878. 1879. 1880. 1878-80.
Stations reporting.
75
86
88
105
94
96
Stations complete.
39
47
54
68
64
62
Monthly Reports received.
195
778
776
893
1043
986
2922
Rain-fall measurements.
3500
4500
6126
5994
5962
18086
Rain-days per month
6.8
5.71
5.1
Total number of monthly reports seceived, 4,671, including 195 recieved
539
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
during the first three months of the service, from October to December, 1875. The total number of rain-fall measurements made is 26,082. Hence the average rain frequency per month has been 5.5 during the lustrum for any one station. More accurately the rain frexuency during the year 1878 to 1880 has been 6.2 per month for each station, or one day in five has been a rain-day.
From the tables it appears that the mean annual rain-fall of Iowa has diminished from 1876 to 1879, and is now increasing; that the diversity of distribution was greatest when the mean annual rain-fall was greatest, increasing and diminishing with the same.
For each month and for each year a rain-fall map is constructed, consti- tuting now a large atlas of eighty-four maps. Many additional rain-fall maps are drawn, for decades, special storms, seasons and the like.
RAIN-FALL AND TIMBER.
The rain-fall maps constructed for each year, and for the lustrum 1876- 80, show conclusively that the amount of rain-fall in Iowa is largely influenced by the distribution of timber, the annual rain-fall increasing with the amount of timber or foliage in the different portions of the State.
The amount of rain-fall in any large territory like Iowa, occupying a considerable portion of a continent, is undoubtedly first of all determined by its position in such continent. In the case of our own State, the rain- fall is primarily conditioned by our position in the great Mississippi Valley, which owes its relatively high rain-fall to the southerly winds blowing from the gulf.
The distribution of this rain-fall, expressed in the form of the lines of equal rain-fall is, however, as matter of fact, in Iowa, remarkably special- ized: and this same peculiar form of curves is repeated in the lines repre- senting the distribution of timber within our State. As now, finally, neither elevation nor any other physical element in our State is found to correspond, the conclusion appears irresistible, that the distribution of rain- fall over the territory of our State is closely related to the disibuction of timber in the same. It may, therefore, be asserted as fairly established by the five years' work of our service, that in the planting of timber we possess a means to increase the amount of rain-fall for a given region.
The following rain map is a pictographic exhibit of the practical con- clusions wrought out by the five years' work of Dr. Hinrichs and his co-observers:
his father, D. Prindle.
Enoch Lewis, M. D.
Luther P. Fitch, M. D.
Solon Prindle, died 1880; observations continued by
REPORTS REGULARLY DURING THE FIRST LUSTRUM OF THE SERVICE.
LIST OF STATIONS AND OBSERVERS WHO HAVE FURNISHED MONTHLY
26
28
30.
32.
.34.
-
.
Comflute
WINNEBAGO
ELL
OSCEOLA
ENMET
WORTH
HOWARD
OTCOVA
LYON
DICKINSON
Heather gertice.
KOSSUTH
36.
O'BRIEN
LO ALTO
HANCOCK ComcaAp
FLOYD
B100
CLA
CERRO GOF
CHICKAS
NA and
DR. GUSTAVUS HINRICHS,
3
34.
CHEROKEE
POCAHONTAS
FRANKLI HAMPTON TO
BUTLER
HAVERLY
I_DubuQue
WEBSTER CITY
DUBUQUE
WEBSH
HAROI
GRUNDY
34.
MILTON
*
BENTON
STORY
TAMA
MONONA
· CARROLL
303
SAWALLE
QN --
-
BRISON
AUDUBON
OHN
SON
SHELBY
HAML
W
P- 38
Sku
MUSCATINE
ARREK
AHA
Kag
CASS
MARION
LOUIS
10
UNION,
LUCAS
PET
CLARKE
CHARITA
HONROL
. JOFFERSON
DES MOINES
-
€7
WATHE
AAVIS
RINSGOLD !!
TAYLOR
- DECATUR
APPANDOSE
-
38,
36.
`36.
30
. Stations with complete read
Hayi hạn Makingtes
RAIN MAP FOR THE LUSTRUM, 1876-80.
540
Albion, Fort Dodge,
Algona, Charles City,
Grant City,
Sac City,
Station.
Sidney Smith, Merchant.
Observer.
Edwin Miller, Postmaster.
James Barr, M. D.
14
RECUAR
ADAMS
Tw Towoow
FORTHOVED
FLORIG
BUALIPTON
ATOUREN
*
FREMONT
Rainfall ," of Lustrum 1876-80
Brody
ILLE
Skup
mean yearly
34_
w Hors Ta
WASHINGTON
POTTAWATTAMIE
38.
KEOKUK
MUSTATINE.
-
Anıt
32 90
Missis upp
CALHOU
HOWBLACK GANK
SAC
ICKSON
CRAWFORD
GREENE
WRIGH
PLYMOUTH
IDENA VISTA
HUMBOLDT
BREME
MINNESM.EK
A-LAMAKEE
IOWA
......
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
SHORTGONE RY
POWESHIEK
ENO
541
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Station. Observer.
Grand Junction, E. J. Couch and Geo. Cough, Farmers.
McGregor, Hon. Frank Larrabee and Miss Rachel Larrabee.
Waukon,
Francis H. Robbins, Druggist.
Cresco,
Gregory Marshall, Farmer.
Clermont, Miss Augusta Larrabee.
Independence, Gershom H. Hill, M. D.
Waterloo, D. W. Crouse, M. D.
Blairstown,
Hon. Jacob K. Wagner, M. D.
Anamosa,
Mrs. May U. Remley.
Monticello,
M. M. Moulton, City Marshal.
Dubuque,
Prof. Thomas Myrick Irish.
Maquoketa, Davenport,
A. B. Bowen, M. D.
Prof. D. S. Sheldon and Miss Sarah G. Foote.
Tipton,
H. H. Maynard, M. D., and Thos. Rigg, Druggist.
Muscatine,
Prof. Finley M. Witter.
Crawfordsville, Hon. J. D. Miles and Theo. W. Bennett, M. D.
Iowa City, Miss Anna Hinrichs.
Amana,
Conrad Schadt, Druggist.
Oskaloosa,
H. C. Huntsman, M. D.
Fairfield,
Geo. D. Clarke, Druggist.
Brookville, Curtis Houghton, Farmer.
Mt. Pleasant, M. Riordon, M. D., and Hiram N. Bassett, M. D.
Denmark, Col. Gustavus B. Brackett, Horticulturist.
Burlington, Dr. Charles Wachsmuth, Palæontologist.
Sherman Twp., Jasper county, Edwin T. Preston, Farmer.
Grant Twp., Union county, Capt. Chas. S. Stryker, Farmer.
The work done by the observers named is doubly valuable because it has been continuous. Even where a change became necessary, the observers named had sufficient interest in their work to secure its continua- tion by a competent person. As this work is altogether gratuitous and voluntary, it will be seen that it was no small labor done for the public benefit; and the people who did it are worthy of perpetual honor and gratitude, for such reports are of no value unless kept up faithfully for a series of years.
IOWA CITY WEATHER REPORT.
The following local report for Iowa City is also by Dr. Hinricks :
TWENTY YEARS' NORMALS OF TEMPERATURE AND RAIN-FALL.
For Iowa City we have the record of the observations of Professor T. S. Parvin, begun in 1861, and our own observations, begun in 1871. The observations of Professor T. S. Parvin have been copied from his original journals for the years 1861 to 1870, and properly reduced. The same has been done for my own series of observations, for 1871 to 1880. The two series combined give, by the so-called secondary means, the values given below for each decade of each month, covering this period of twenty years, 1861 to 1880:
1
542
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
NORMAL8 BY DECADES AND MONTHS, FOR THE CENTRAL STATION, I. W. S.,
For Twenty Years Observations, at Iowa City, Iowa, 1861-80.
MONTHS.
MEAN TEMPERTURE' DEGREES, F.
RAIN-FALL, IN INCHES.
I II III Month.
I
II III| Month.
January.
18.7|19.1|20 3|
19.4
.52
.60
.60|
1.72
February.
22.0 24.4 27.1
24.4
.55
.55
.70
1.80
March ..
29.6 32.2 37 3
33.1
.80
95 1.10
2.85
April.
43.3 47.9 51.6
47.6
1.20 1.20 1.10|
3.50
May.
55.5 60.0 63.8
59.9
1.20
1.20
1.35
3.75
June
66.3 68.8 71.8
69 0
1.65
1 65 1.55
4.85
July.
73.7 74.1
73.8
63.9
1.65
1.27|1.20
4.12
August.
73.1 71.8 69.6
71.2
1.42
1.65 1.85
4.92
September
66.4 62.9 59.4
62.9
1.80 1 55 1.25
4.60
October
55.0 50.3 45.1
49.9
1.10
.95
.90
2.95
November.
40.7 35.8 29 3
35.3
.95
.82
.70
2.47
December.
26.3 23.2/20.2
23.1
.60
.50
.50
1.60
The year-mean.
47.47
Total.
39.13
These temperature normals are the results of 30,000 observations, of which about 11,000 belong to Parvin's series, the other 19,000 to my own. I have determined the mean temper- ature of every other day of the year from the above, the first thoroughly reduced and near- ly uniform series of twenty years' observations for any one place in the State.
These values are of great importance for the determination of the character of any day, as to its being hot or cold, and how much above or below normal it may be. The follow- ing table gives the normal mean temperature for every odd date of the year; the values for the days of even date are obtained by interpolation at sight. Thus: January 16th has a normal mean temperature of 19.1 degrees.
NORMAL MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR EACH DAY OF THE YEAR, Determined from Twenty Years' Observations, at Iowa City, Iowa
DATE.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May.
June.
July.
Aug
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
1.
19.2
21.2
28.7
40.7
54.0
65.3
73.0
72.8
67.8
56.8
42.2
27.
3. .
18.9
21 6
29 1
42.0
54 8
65 9
73.3
72.7
67.1
55.9
41 3
26.8
5.
18.7
22.0
29 6
43 2
55.5
66.3
73.6
72.6
66.4
55 0
40.4
26 3
7
18.6
22.5
30.1
44.3
56.3
66.8
73.9
72.5
65.7
54 0
39.6
35.7
9.
18.7
22 9
30.5
45.4
57,3
67.3
74.0
72.4
65.0
53.1
38.7
25.0
11
18 8
23.3
31 0
46 3
58.2
67.8
74.1
72.2
64 3
52.1
37.7
24.4
13.
18 9
23.8
31.5
47.1
59.1
68 3
74.1
72.0
63.7
51.2
36.7
23.8
15.
19.0
24.4
32.2
47 9
59.9
68.8
74.1
71.8
62.9
50.2
35 7
23.2
17.
19.2
24.9
33 0
48.6
60.7
69.4
74.0
71.5
62.2
49.2
34'7
22.5
19
19.5
25.4
33.9
49.3
61.4
69.9
73.9
71.1
61.5
48 2
33 5
21.9
21.
19.8
25.9
34 9
50 1
62.2
70.6
73.7
70.5
60.7
47.2
32.0
21.3
23.
20 0
26.5
36.0
50 8
62.5
71.1
73.5
70.1
60.0
46.2
30 5
20.6
25.
20 3
27.1
37.1
51 6
63.2
71.8
73.2
69.6
59.3
45.1
29 4
20.1
27.
20.6
27.6
38.3
52.3
64.3
72 2
73.1
69.0
58.5
44.1
28 6
19.8
29. .
20.8
28.2
39.6
53 1
64 8
72.6
73.0
68.4
57.6
43.2
27.9
19.4
Persons who may wish to investigate this Weather Service matter still further, can obtain sundry printed reports on it by applying to Dr. Hinricks. The observations throughout the state are compiled at the Central Station and printed by the State Printer in monthly bulletins; and no one can realize or fairly comprehend the nature, extent and real value of the work being done without examining a series of these well edited and neatly printed bulletins.
543
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
DATES OF EARLY AND LATE FROSTS.
Table showing the date of the earliest and latest frosts and ice; also the time of disappearance, and depth of frost, and thickness of the ice at Iowa City, from 1839 to 1873, prepared by H. W. Fyffe.
YEAR.
LATE FROST.
EARLY FROST.
DISAPPEAR- ANCE OF FROST.
DEPTH OF
LATE ICE.
EARLY ICE.
INCHES
1839
April. . . 17|Sept.
. . . 12
March . . 25|Nov
7
1840
April . .. 27|Sept
.28
April ... 18 Oct
3
1841
April . .. 12|Sept
.. 11
April . . . 14 Oct
17
.
1842
May 4|Sept .. 17
April . .. 28 Oct
19
1843
May 2
May 1 Oct
8
. .
1844
May.
. . 21 Oct. .
10
March. . 30 Oct
16
. .
1845
May .. . 25 Sept
21
April . .. 8 Oct
5
1846
April . . . 15
Oct
2
April. .. 13 Oct
18
·
1847
May
. 26 Oct
9
May. . . . . 4 Oct
14.
1848
May
10|Sept
23
April .. 26 Oct
1
.
1849
May
1 Oct
8
April . 20 Oct
13
1850
April. . . 23|Sept
7
April . 23|Sept
26
1851
May
5 Sept
28
May
.1 Oct 15
1852
May 20 Sept
26
April
. 22 Sept .26
.
1853
May
25|Sept.
10
May
13 Oct
.2
.
1854
May
2 Oct
15
May
2 Oct
15
.
1855
May . 6|Sept
.27
May 6 Oct 25
27
1857
May .. 20 Oct
10|May
5 14
May .. . 12
Oct 20
12
1858
April
... 26 Sept
12 April
112
April. .. 16 Oct
. 7| 10
1859
April. .23 Sept
2 April
1:11
April . . 23 Oct
6| 10
1860
May .. . 1 Sept 11
March. . 20 11
April .. 2
Oct 24|
11
1861
May .4,Oct
23 |March .. 12 20
April
16
Sept
24 21
1862
April. . . 24 Oct
10 April . .. 1 20
April
6 Oct
25
20
1863
August. . 25 August . . 29|April
2 18
April
S Oct
7 20
1864
March. . 11 Sept .19|April
17.18
April 14 Oct
18| 20
1865
May . .
11|Oct
2 April .. 10|20 |April 6
Oct
15|
18
1866
May
2 Sept
21 May.
.7 20
April
6 Oct 31
24
1867 May
6 Oct
23|May
23|18
April
6 Nov
4
18
1868
April. . .
.5 Sept
17
April
15|20
April
Nov 8
1
22
1869 May . . .. 19|Sept
26 April
7 21
April
13 Oct 13
20
1870
April. . . 16 Oct 12
April
20 18 May
4 Sept.
24
17
1871
May . . .. 10 Sept .
21 May
11 ..
May. , 11 Sept
21
1872
April. . . 22 Sept
26 April
22 ..
April ... 22 Sept
26
1873
April. .. 25|Sept
8|April . . . 22
.
April . . . 25 Sept.
30
1856
April
. . 19 Sept.
24|
April
10 29
April ... 19|Sept 24|
Oct .8
INCHES.
THICK. I
544
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX .- PART 2.
GEOLOGY.
Two State Geologists .- U. S. Geologist at Iowa City .- Prof. Agassiz at Iowa City .- Prof Calvin's List of Fossils of Johnson County.
Iowa has had two State Geologists, Hall and White. Hall's reports were published in two volumes in 1858. His work was entirely in the eastern half of the State, and gave a fly-brush touch on Johnson county, while Dr. White's work was entirely in the western half of the State, and did not touch Johnson county at all. So out of four volumes of official State reports on the Geology of Iowa, here is all we find about this county:
On the Iowa river, in Johnson county, the rocks are well exposed in the neighborhood of Iowa City, where there are numerous quarries, which have been opened to supply the town with lime and building materials. The layers are of very various lithological character. In a quarry opened about a mile above the city, on the east side of the river, nearly opposite the mill, there is an exposure of about forty feet of a thin-bedded, bluish limestone, which weathers of a dirty yellow.
The layers dip about 5 degrees in a direction S. 80 degrees E. This rock is not durable enough to make a good building stone when it is to be exposed to the weather; it will answer very well for underpinning.
Nearer the town, on both sides of the river, the rock along the base of the bluffs is a dark-colored argillaceous limestone, which is crowded with fossils, especially corals, among which the genera Favosites, Lithostrotion,* and Stromatopora are the most frequent.
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