History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa, Part 17

Author: Western Publishing Company, Sioux City, Iowa
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Sioux City, Western Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 586


USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 17


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61


To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given.


RULE .- Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer.


How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods being given.


RULE .- Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, and remove the decimal point two places to the left.


The diameter being given, to find the circumference.


RULE .- Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7.


To find the diameter, when the circumference is given.


RULE .- Divide the circumference by 3 1-7.


To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- ness throughout will contain when squared


RULE .- Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, mul- tiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144.


152


HISTORY OF IOWA.


General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet.


RULE .- Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144.


To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on.


RULE .- Multiply the square of one-fifth. of the circumference in inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1-10 to 1-15 according to the thickness of the bark.


Howard's new rule for computing interest.


RULE .- The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the in- terest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left; for ten times that time, re- move the point one place to the left; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left.


Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given.


NOTE -The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate; thus 3 per cent. per month, inverted, becomes }% of a month, or 10 days


When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus: 3-1, three ones.


Rule for converting English into American currency.


Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in dec- imals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90.


U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE.


A township-36 sections each a mile square.


A section-640 acres.


A quarter section, half a mile square-160 acres.


An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide-80 acres.


A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square-40 acres.


The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north- east corner.


The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The description of a forty-acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is sup- posed to contain.


The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile.


SURVEYORS' MEASURE.


7 92-100 inches make 1 link. 25 links 1 rod.


4 rods. 1 chain.


80 chains 1 mile.


NOTE .- A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet,


153


HISTORY OF IOWA.


Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a bar- leycorn; three of which made an inch.


Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the stand- ard of measure is four inches- called a hand.


In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is some- times used, which is a length of nine inches.


The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length.


The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length.


A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches.


A fathom is equal to 6 feet.


A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is, strictly speaking, a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league.


In cloth measure an aune is equal to 14 yards, or 45 inches.


An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches.


A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches.


A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches.


MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.


12 units, or things, 1 Dozen.


196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour.


12 dozen, 1 Gross.


200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork.


20 things, 1 Score.


56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter.


24 sheets of paper, 1 Quire.


20 quires paper. 1 Ream.


4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8 feet long, 1 Cord Wood.


HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS.


Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little bus- iness, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and sys- tematic manner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of acquiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the busi- ness transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers.


1882.


A. H. JACKSON. Dr. Cr.


Jan.


10| To 7 bushels Wheat.


at $1.25


$8|75


$2 50


Feb.


4 To 14 bushels Oats at $ .45


6 30


.6


4 To 5 1b Butter


.at


25


1 25


March


8| By new Harrow


1800


8| By sharpening 2 Plows . . .


40


. 4


13 By new Double-Tree.


2 25


April


9 To half ton of Hay


25|00


May ..


6 By repairing Corn-Planter


4 75


July


4 By Cash, to balance account


35 15


$88.05 $88/05


17 To Cow and Calf


48 00 6 25


9 By Cash. .


24 To one Sow with Pigs.


17 50


17 By shoeing span of horses


1


154


HISTORY OF IOWA.


1882.


CASSA MASON.


Dr. Cr


March


21| By 3 days' labor


at $1.25


$3,75


21 To 2 Shoats


at 3.00


$6 00


23 To 18 Bushels Corn.


.at .45


8 10


May


1| By 1 month's Labor


25


1 To Cash. .


10 00


00


June


19 Ry 8 day's Mowing


at $1.50


12


66


26 To 50 1b Flour


2 75


July


10 To 27 1b Meat .


at $ .10


2 70


00


29 By 9 Days Harvesting


.at 2.00


18 00


Aug.


12 By 6 days' Labor


.at 1.50


9:00


Sept.


1| To Cash


20/00


To Cash to balance account.


18 20


$67|75


$67.75


INTEREST TABLE.


A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.


Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the num- ber of days in the interest year) by the per cent. of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest.


ILLUSTRATION.


Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multiplied by .48 gives $222.0000; 360 divided by 6 (the per cent. of interest) gives 60, and $222,0000 divided by 60 will give you the exact interest, which is $3.70. If the rate of interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222,0000 by 30 (because 360 divided by twelve gives 30); if 4 per cent. we would divide by 90; it 8 per cent., by 45; and in like manner for any other per cent.


Solution. $462.50 .48


370000


6)360 ) 185000


60 J $222.0000($3.70 180


420


430


0


NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS.


Virginia-The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the " Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region.


Florida-Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers."


Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country.


Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest."


Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning "Long River."


155


HISTORY OF IOWA.


Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for " Smoky Water." Its prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow."


The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Caro- lina," after Charles the Ninth of France.


Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732.


Tennessee is the Indian name for the "River of the Bend," i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary.


Kentucky is the Indian name for "at the head of the river."


Ohio means " beautiful;" Iowa, "the beautiful land;" Minnesota, " cloudy water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel."


Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men."


Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap.


Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more prop- erly applies to the river that flows through it.


Oregon owes its Indian name to its principal river.


Cortez named California.


Massachusetts is the Indian name for " The country around the great hills."


Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River.


Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of England.


New York was named by the Duke of York.


Pennsylvania, means " Penn's Woods," and was so called after Wm. Penn, its owner.


Delaware, after Lord De La Ware.


New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel.


Maine was called after the province of Maine in France, in com- pliment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province.


Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green Mountain.


New Hampshire, from Hampshire County in England. It was formerly called Laconia.


The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble.


Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.


156


HISTORY OF IOWA.


POPULATION OF THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF IOWA, 1880 CENSUS.


COUNTIES.


Organized.


COUNTY SEAT.


Population in 1880.


Adair.


1854


Greenfield.


11,199


Adams


1853


Corning


11,888


Allamakee


1849


Waukon.


19,791


Appanoose


1846


Centerville.


16,936


Audubon


1855


Audubon.


7,448


Benton


1846


Vinton.


24,888


Blackhawk


1853


Waterloo


23,913


Boone


1849


Boonsboro


20,838


Bremer


1853


Waverly.


14,081


Buchanan.


1847


Independence


18,547


Buena Vista


1858


Storm Lake.


7,537


Butler.


1854


Butler Center.


14,293


Calhoun


1855


Rockwell City


5,595


Carroll


1856


Carroll


12,351


C'ass.


1853


Atlantic.


16,943


Cedar.


1836


Tipton


18,937


Cerro Gordo


1855


Mason City


11,461


Cherokee


1955


Cherokee.


8,240


Chickasaw


1853


New Hampton


14,534


Clarke


1851


Osceola.


11,512


Clay


1858


Spencer


4,248


Clayton


1838


Elkader


28,829


Clinton.


1840


Clinton.


36,764


Crawford


1855


Denison


12,413


Dallas.


1847


Adel.


18,746


Davis


1844


Bloomfield


16,468


Decatur.


1850


Leon.


15,336


Delaware.


1840


Delhi.


17,952


Des Moines


1834


Burlington


33,099


Dickinson


1857


Spirit Lake


1,901


Dubuque.


1834


Dubuque.


42,997


Emmet


1859


Swan Lake.


1,550


Fayette


1850


West Union


22,258


Floyd.


1854


Charles City.


14,677


Franklin.


1855


Hampton


10,248


Fremont


1849


Sidney


17,653


Greene.


1854


Jefferson


12,725


Grundy


1856


Grundy Center


12,639


Guthrie


1851


Guthrie Center


14,863


Hamilton


1857


Webster City


11,252


Hancock


1858


Concord.


3,453


Hardin


1853


Eldora


17,808


Harrison


1853


Logan.


16,649


Henry.


1836


Mt. Pleasant.


20,826


Howard


1855


Cresco


10,837


Humboldt.


1857


Dakota.


5,341


Ida


1858


Ida Grove.


4,382


Iowa.


1845


Marengo


19,221


Jackson


1838


Maquoketa.


23,771


Jasper.


1846


Newton


25,962


Jefferson


1838


Fairfield .


17,478


157


HISTORY OF IOWA.


POPULATION OF THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF IOWA, 1880 CENSUS.


COUNTIES.


Organized.


COUNTY SEATS.


in 1830.


Johnson.


1848


Iowa City


25,249


Jones.


1839


Anamosa.


21,052


Keokuk


1844


Sigourney


21,259


Kossuth


1855


Algona.


6,179


Lee.


1837


Ft. Madison


34,859


Linn


1839


Marion


37,235


Louisa


1839


Wapello.


13,146


Lucas.


1849


Chariton.


14,530


Lyon


1872


Rock Rapids


1,968


Madison


1850


Winterset


17,225


Mahaska


1844


Oskaloosa


25,201


Marion


1845


Knoxville.


25,111


Marshall.


1850


Marshalltown


23,752


Mills.


1851


Glenwood


14,135


Mitchell


1854


Osage


14,361


Monona


1854


Onawa


9,055


Monroe.


1851


Albia.


13,719


Montgomery


1858


Red Oak


15,895


Muscatine.


1838


Muscatine.


23,168


O'Brien


1860


Primghar


4,155


Osceola


1872


Sibley


2,219


Page ..


1851


Clarinda.


19,667


Palo Alto.


1857


Emmetsburg


4,131


Plymouth


1858


Le Mars. .


3,567


Pocahontas


1859


Pocahontas Center


3,713


Polk.


1846


Des Moines.


41,395


Pottawattamie


1848


Council Bluffs


39,846


Poweshiek.


1848


Montezuma.


18,936


Binggold.


1855


Mt. Ayr


12,085


Sac.


1858


Sac City.


8,774


Scott.


1838


Davenport


42,270


Shelby


1853


Harlan.


12,696


Sioux.


1860


Orange City


5,436


Story


1853


Nevada.


16,906


Tama


1854


Toledo.


21,585


Taylor


1851


15,635


Union.


1853


14,900


Van Buren.


1837


17,042


Wapello.


1844


Ottumwa


25,282


Warren.


1839


Indianola.


19,578


Washington


1849


Washington


20,375


Wayne.


1851


Corydon.


16,127


Webster


1853


Fort Dodge.


15,950


Winnebago.


1857


Forest City


4,917


Winneshiek


1851


Decorah.


23,937


Woodbury


1853


Sioux City


14,997


Worth.


1857


Northwood


7,953


Wright


1855


Clarion.


5,062


Total


1,624,463


Bedford


Afton ..


Keosauqua


Population


158


HISTORY OF IOWA.


The total footings for the State of Iowa, according to the census, are, males, 848,235; females, 776,228; native, 1,363,015; foreign, 261,418; white, 1,614,- 510; colored (including 47 Chinese and 464 Indians and half-breeds), 9,953, total, 1,624,463.


POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.


The revised and corrected returns of the census bureau show the population of the several States and Territories of the country to be as follows:


Alabama


1,262,505


Montana.


39,159


Arizona


40,440


Nebraska.


452,402


Arkansas


802,525


Nevada.


62,266


California.


864,694


New Hampshire.


336,991


Colorado.


194,327


New Jersey


1,131,116


Connecticut.


622,700


New Mexico


116,565


Dakota.


135,177


New York. .


5,082,871


Delaware.


146,608


North Carolina


1,399,750


District of Columbia.


177,624


Ohio


3.198,062


Florida.


269,493


Oregon.


174,768


Georgia


1,542,180


Pennsylvania.


4,282,891


Idaho.


32,610


Rhode Island.


276,581


Illinois


3,077,871


South Carolina.


995,577


Indiana


1,978,301


Tennessee.


1,542,359


Iowa.


1,624,615


Texas


1,591,749


Kansas


996,086


Utah


143,963


Kentucky


1,648,690


Vermont.


332,286


Louisiana.


939,946


Virginia


1,512,565


Maine ..


648,936


Washington.


75,116


Maryland ..


934,942


West Virginia


618,457


Massachusetts.


1,783,085


Wisconsin


1,315,497


Michigan


1.636,937


Wyoming


20,789


Minnesota.


780,773


Mississippi.


1,131,597


Grand total


50,155,783


Missouri


2,168,380


159


HISTORY OF IOWA.


GEOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES,


PROF. J. F. ELSOM.


" The science of Geology illustrates many astonishing facts." Viewed in the light of authentic tests, the region of country over which this work extends, presents ample study for the Geologist and Antiquarian, for nowhere in the broad expanse of country traversed by the writer-excepting, perhaps, some sections of the country of mines-is there such a fine field for the labor of the geologist. As we stood upon the high bluffs viewing the beauti- ful valleys below, or rowed over any of these streams-commercial arteries of this great country-and tried to peer up the steep sides of the overhanging bluffs, we often imagined ourself living away amid the dim cycles of the past; again we lived in the present, wondering what unseen agencies and gigantic forces had been em- ployed to transform what was evidently once a vast and almost boundless sea, into one of the finest sections of land-food pro- ducing land-between the two great oceans. Again, as the author examined with hammer and chisel, testing the chips by heat and cold, acid and alkali, subjecting the fused residuum to the diaphragm of the microscope, or the wonderful spectra of the spectroscope, he was often amazed at the broad expanse of time that must have elapsed to make this wonderful strata from that ungainly, shapeless mass, which, as Sacred History teaches, was this earth's original form. Furthermore, it seems almost incredible that little by little as these sands accumulate, that there could have elapsed sufficient time for these marine aggregations and changes. This, however, is merely prefaratory, and we must hasten on to the subject matter, accorded to this limited space, for to do the subject anything like justice, a book much larger than this entire history would be required. The reader will know by this why we have not gone more into detail in our discussion of this interesting and valuable portion of the work.


To the geologist, among the first things to attract the attention in this section is the "Walled Lakes" of Northern Iowa, one of them in Wright County-where we first made a survey-is about three-eighths of a mile wide, with a wall or embankment from 2 to 10 feet high surrounding it, formerly supposed to be the work of ancient races, a theory, however, now discountenanced, for practi- cal tests and observation go to prove that they are the results of natural causes, namely the periodical action of alternate heat and cold, aided to a limited extent by the action of the waves. These little lakes are very shallow, and during the ordinary winter freeze nearly solid, so that little or no water remains at the bottom, but


160


HISTORY OF IOWA.


a little will generally be found in the middle. As a consequence all loose substances at the bottom adhere to the ice below, and the expansive power of water when freezing -- which must be immense in such a large body as some of these lakes-aets equally in all di- rections from the center to the circumference, and annually what- ever was on the bottom of the lake has by this means been carried to the shore. This process, imperceptible, perhaps , to the casual ob- server in a single season, has been going on from year to year, century after century, causing these embankments, formerly a great wonder to everyone, but perfectly simple to any and all, if the va- rious strata of the walls be carefully examined and compared with each other.


The entire State contains very few what may be classed as large elevations, the highest point being but a trifle over twelve hundred feet higher than its lowest point as shown by barometrical surveys; there are two such points, and are nearly three hundred miles apart; then if we think for a moment, it will be seen the entire State is traversed by gently flowing rivers- rapids nearly unknown -hence we have the entire State resting entirely within, compris- ing a part of a vast plain, with no mountain or hill range within its limits.


A further idea of the general uniformity which characterizes the State may be gleaned from the survey from point to point, and the following statement of the general slopes in feet per mile, in . straight lines across:


From the NE corner to the SE corner 1 foot 1 inch per mile. From the NE corner to Spirit Lake 5 feet 5 inches per mile.


From the NW corner to Spirit Lake 5 feet per mile.


From the NW corner to the SW corner 2 feet per mile.


From the SW corner to the highest ridge 4 feet 1 inch per mile. From the dividing ridge to the SE corner 5 feet 7 inches per mile. From the highest point in the State to the lowest 4 feet per mile.


This statement shows a great uniformity, and a good degree of propriety in estimating the whole State as part of a great plain, the lowest point showing but 144 feet above sea level. This point, nearly at the mouth of Des Moines River, presents a geological formation of great interest, but being so far removed from the territory within the scope of the work we will not discuss it in this connection. Taking the highest point-near Spirit Lake- and the lowest point-near the mouth of the Des Moines-gives but a slight elevation and depression, and a general average of the entire State of eight hundred feet above the level of the sea, though from the nearest point the State is over a thousand miles from the sea coast, a rather remarkable instance, and another proof of being a part of a vast plain. Of course, when we consider the slightly diversified surface of Western Iowa, the formation of small valleys out of the general level, which have been evolved by the action of streams, lakes, etc., during the dim cycles of the past, it


161


HISTORY OF IOWA.


may appear a trifle jejune, but will not alter the general and ac- cepted theory aforesaid. Especially is this true with reference to the northwestern portion, the seeming deviation being much more apparent in the northeastern portion of the State.


It will be well enough to mention that the Missouri River, though washing as many or more miles of Iowa's shore than the Mississippi, drains but about one-third of its surface, going to par- tially prove that this plain of which we speak, extends away out in Nebraska, where we have unmistakable evidences of the Mis- souri having once threaded its course, the other side being the eastern border of the State, giving us once a vast ocean about one and two-thirds brcader than the State.


Thus much with reference to the surface indications. We will now go lower and see what can be found beneath this beautiful and somewhat phenomenal exterior.


In our tests of the soil, we will make but three general divisions, which of themselves not only differ in their physical character, but are widely separated in their ultimate origin. These will be classed as drift, bluff, and alluvial, and belong respectively to the deposits bearing the same names, the first of which occupies over two-thirds the surface of the entire State.


Every person who has paid the least atention to any of the ana- lytical sciences, so-called, knows that when we speak of soil, in the general acceptation of the term, that we mean disintegrated or powdered rock.


The drift deposit of Iowa was derived, to a considerable extent, from the rocks of Minnesota; but the greater part of Iowa drift was derived from its own rocks, much of which has been trans- ported but a short distance. In general terms the constant compo- nent element of the drift soil is that portion which was transported from the north, while the inconstant elements are those portions which were derived from the adjacent or underlying strata. For example, in Western Iowa, wherever that cretaceous formation known as the Nishnabotany sandstone exists, the soil contains more sand than elsewhere. The same may be said of the soil of some parts of the State occupied by the lower coal measures, the sandstones and sandy shales of that formation furnishing the sand.


We find upon examination, however, that in the section of Iowa of which this work treats, the drift contains more sand and gravel than any other portion of the State. There is no question in my mind but this was derived from the cretaceous rocks that now do, or formerly did exist, and also in part from the conglomerate and pudding stone beds of the Sioux quartzite.


The bluff soil, then, is that which rests upon, and constitutes part of the bluff deposit, and is found only in the western portion along the Missouri River. Chemical analysis shows but one per cent., generally less, of alumina, at the same time it contains other constituent elements which render it little, if any, inferior for ag-


162


HISTORY OF IOWA.


ricultural purposes; a very large portion of it is far out of reach of the highest floods. and must be very productive.


We now come to the alluvial. This is that portion called the flood plains of the river bottoms or valleys. That portion period- ically flooded by the rivers, of course, is thereby rendered com- paratively valueless for agricultural purposes for apparent reasons; but much of it, we might say by far the larger portion, is beyond the reach of floods, and is very rich in those elements which enter into plant life.


Speaking more properly of the geology of this particular sec- tion of Iowa, we find the rocks to range all along from the Azoic to the Merazoic inclusive. Taking the State as a whole, the sur- face is generally occupied by the evidences of the Palæzoic age. The following tabular statement gives each of these formations in the order in which they occur:


SYSTEMS.


GROUPS.


FORMATIONS.


AGES.


PERIODS.


EPOCIIS.


THICKNESS


IN FEET.


Cretaceous


Inoceramous bed.


50


Lower Cretaceous


Woodbury Sandstone, Shales


130


Nishnabotany Sandstone.


100


Upper Coal Measures


200


Coal Measures.


Middle Coal Measures.


200


Lower Coal Measures.


200


Carboniferous


St. Louis Limestone.


75


Subcarboniferous.


Keokuk Limestone.


90


Burlington Limestone.


196


Kinderhook beds.


175


Devoniau


Hamilton


Hamilton Limestone and Shales


200


Upper Silurian ..


Niagara.


Niagara Limestone.


350


Cincinnati.


Maquoketa Shales


80


١


Galena Limestone.


250


Trenton.


Trenton Limestone


200


Lower Silurian.


St. Peter's Sandstone.


80


Lower Magnesian Limestone.


250


Primordial.


Potsdam Sandstone


300


Azoic


Huronian.


Sioux Quartzite.


50


10to200


Post Tertiary


Drift ..


We now arrive at what is known as the Azoic system. In this section it is known and recognized by the specific name of Sioux quartzite, and is found exposed in natural ledges, only in a few spots away up in the extreme northwestern part of the State, upon the banks of the Big Sioux River, which position doubtless gave it its local name. This rock is intensely hara, disintegrates in sort of splinters; its color varying according to locality from nearly a yellow to a deep red. One thing connected with this rock is its process of metamorphism, which has been so complete all through the entire formation wherever found. Whether exposed to




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