The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., Part 35

Author: Western historical company, Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 684


USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > The History of Muscatine county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 35


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 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90


Any corporation in this State of an academical character, the memberships of which shall consist of lay members and pastors of churches, delegates to any synod, conference or council holding its annual meetings alternately in this and one or more adjoining States, may hold its annual meetings for the election of officers and the transaction of business in any adjoining State to this, at such place therein as the said synod, conference or council shall hold its annual meet- ings ; and the elections so held and business so transacted shall be as legal and binding as if held and transacted at the place of business of the corporation in this State.


The provisions of this chapter shall not extend or apply to any association or individual who shall, in the certificate filed with the Recorder, use or specify a name or style the same as that of any previously existing incorporated society in the county.


The Trustees, Directors or stockholders of any existing benevolent, char- itable, scientific, missionary or religious corporation, may, by conforming to the requirements of Section 1095 of this chapter, re-incorporate themselves or con- tinue their existing corporate powers, and all the property and effects of such existing corporation shall vest in and belong to the corporation so re-incorporated or continued.


INTOXICATING LIQUORS.


No intoxicating liquors (alcohol, spirituous and vinous liquors), except wine manufactured from grapes, currants or other fruit grown in the State, shall be manufactured or sold, except for mechanical, medicinal, culinary or sacramental purposes ; and even such sale is limited as follows :


Any citizen of the State, except hotel keepers, keepers of saloons, eating houses, grocery keepers and confectioners, is permitted to buy and sell, within the county of his residence, such liquors for such mechanical, etc., purposes only, provided he shall obtain the consent of the Board of Supervisors. In order to get that consent, he must get a certificate from a majority of the elec- tors of the town or township or ward in which he desires to sell, that he is of good moral character, and a proper person to sell such liquors.


If the Board of Supervisors grant him permission to sell such liquors, he must give bonds, and shall not sell such liquors at a greater profit than thirty- three per cent. on the cost of the same. Any person having a permit to sell, shall make, on the last Saturday of every month, a return in writing to the Auditor of the county, showing the kind and quantity of the liquors purchased by him since the date of his last report, the price paid, and the amount of freights paid on the same ; also the kind and quantity of liquors sold by him since the date of his last report; to whom sold ; for what purpose and at what price ; also the kind and quantity of liquors on hand; which report shall be sworn to by the person having the permit, and shall be kept by the Auditor, subject at all times to the inspection of the public.


No person shall sell or give away any intoxicating liquors, including wine or beer, to any minor, for any purpose whatever, except upon written order of parent, guardian or family physician ; or sell the same to an intoxicated person or a person in the habit of becoming intoxicated.


318


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


Any person who shall mix any intoxicating liquor with any beer, wine or cider, by him sold, and shall sell or keep for sale, as a beverage, such mixture, shall be punished as for sale of intoxicating liquor.


But nothing in the chapter containing the laws governing the sale or pro- hibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors, shall be construed to forbid the sale by the importer thereof of foreign intoxicating liquor, imported under the author- ity of the laws of the United States, regarding the importation of such liquors, and in accordance with such laws ; provided that such liquor, at the time of the sale by the importer, remains in the original casks or packages in which it was by him imported, and in quantities not less than the quantities in which the laws of the United States require such liquors to be imported, and is sold by him in such original casks or packages, and in said quantities only.


All payment or compensation for intoxicating liquor sold in violation of the laws of this State, whether such payments or compensation be in money, goods, lands, labor, oranything else whatsoever, shall be held to have been received in viola- tion of law and equity and good conscience, and to have been received upon a valid promise and agreement of the receiver, in consideration of the receipt thereof, to pay on demand, to the person furnishing such consideration, the amount of the money on the just value of the goods or other things.


All sales, transfers, conveyances, mortgages, liens, attachments, pledges and securities of every kind, which, either in whole or in part, shall have been made on account of intoxicating liquors sold contrary to law, shall be utterly null and void.


Negotiable paper in the hands of holders thereof, in good faith, for valuable consideration, without notice of any illegality in its inception or transfer, how- ever, shall not be affected by the above provisions. Neither shall the holder of land or other property who may have taken the same in good faith, without notice of any defect in the title of the person from whom the same was taken, growing out of a violation of the liquor law, be affected by the above provision.


Every wife, child, parent, guardian, employer, or other person, who shall be injured in person or property or means of support, by an intoxicated person, or in consequence of the intoxication, has a right of action against any person who shall, by selling intoxicating liquors, cause the intoxication of such person, for all damages actually sustained as well as exemplary damages.


For any damages recovered, the personal and real property (except home- stead, as now provided) of the person against whom the damages are recovered, as well as the premises or property, personal or real, occupied and used by him, with consent and knowledge of owner, either for manufacturing or selling intox- icating liquors contrary to law, shall be liable.


The only other exemption, besides the homestead, from this sweeping liability, is that the defendant may have enough for the support of his family for six months, to be determined by the Township Trustee.


No ale, wine, beer or other malt or vinous liquors shall be sold within two miles of the corporate limits of any municipal corporation, except at wholesale, for the purpose of shipment to places outside of such corporation and such two- mile limits. The power of the corporation to prohibit or license sale of liquors not prohibited by law is extended over the two miles.


No ale, wine, beer or other malt or vinous liquors shall be sold on the day on which any election is held under the laws of this State, within two miles of the place where said election is held; except only that any person holding a permit may sell upon the prescription of a practicing physician. .


319-


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIP- TION.


The business of publishing books by subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possible, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is made :


A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consid- eration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the prospectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before subscribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exag- gerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be inade by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the princi- pal, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same.


All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.


Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can- vassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They can not collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business.


It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument, would examine carefully what it is; if they can not read themselves call on some one disinterested who can.


STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE OF IOWA (CENSUS OF 1875.)


No. of


No. of


No. of


Acres


Acres


Acres


Spring Wheat.


Winter Wheat.


Indian Coru.


Unim-


under


Oats.


Value of


COUNTIES.


of Im-


Products


proved proved


Culti-


No. of


Land.


Land.


vation


No. of


Bushels


No. of


No. of


Bushels


No. of


I No. of


Acres.


Acres.


Bushels


No. of


No. of


of Farm


in


in 18:4.


Harv'i'd


Acres.


Harv'i'd


llarv't'd


Acres.


Bushels


Harv't'd


Dollars.


Appanoose.


161059


161043


2345243


Alamakee ..


134.6.


156-21


125188


1019


64571


23819


1093%*


24325


SS1316


Audubon ..


15956


61-50


93,639


151


905920


13:56


21146


1964


12.76


89235


$9-1655


442929


៛1611937


9225


753


1415769


10


33233


Adams


65159


43:33


5433


1.947


261376


124


969717


184153


1-


Adair


Buena Vista .


$3182


55650


66265


2:350


25171


S3115


3,031


2:010


435011


3500


3951


141293


SUNGO


1402128


6:5318


220231


4453


159739


S28111


Benton.


50911


Boone.


29:315


1569.


230 108


13511


162737


2.91


6.069


207528


71$10,


10-612


1313666


280


83241


8328921


15190


2664995


Butler.


14919>


121877


409257


11


44


1395732


445070


46151


1270379


10:01


404620


1015453


20


200


Bremer


14500.


Black Hawk ...


213025


4:001


101510


5.907


641795


23,54


1026641


13837


421:19


1209755


150 ~~ 1


1103021


56392


1939590


1 1259


51:571


Buchanan


19056


151256


89361


1144620


71119


16504


538196


C'lay ..


37059


39919


157240


61201


812/42


1511250


153159


45-31


150120


17431


556209


1998424


33313


51638


171-1


.2615949


Cherokee


8797


4436


98766


123343


Cass. .


110861


31693


45301


45112


401507


9459


$13215


92755


115595


Crawford


2$3114


40123


676209|


40582


8543


85019


S24804


17957


1901062


648638


9079


176281


1284×99


Cedar


24~569


41417


15262


S09895


166185


48648


401GT


640544


26


415463


295


TS224


2815921


20243


9915


4-3357


Cerro Gordo.


529-0


6,5831


2606149


Clayton


212291


2-199


151908


9512


265413


֏199


22609:


Clinton


390855


173622


86883


1305125


1:47


21030


37948


14:1263


20024


591617


57337


1010345


669895


68653


12


3061335


23:01


2081793


Chickasaw


96504


91772


~1104


89297


102059


8049019


9


Carroll


54065


2016


643319


63


9-691


$9159


50187


26:36


S40161


16821


514279


11:44


3


Clarke


16014


550041


446300


107577


894656


20


Calhoun


78.03


17965


217090


55


39066


1580260


451365


26615


12337


867648


7054987


Davis.


10


150J33


115:51


116003


18 397


11040


102631


150


10656


Decatur


53TS


$0993


53,9


56405


62127


351130


2115569


2993


73182


221613


:169


13643


84570%


1600000


Dubuqu'


187831


95273


8211


9-561


146244


634135


817


12239


50484


1768140


10555


844551


143605


58165


49:40


1024541


Des Moines.


Delaware


4.2020


9;G18


10615


113396


1720


6:118


1:02891


11:310


2301938


25115


643322


1636132


Dickinson


62305


15.70


29.50


161337


60401


102924


5


50


56150


1690385


287392


20577


11.2992


632113


Dallas


11961


1693314


Enimet


132135


51.65


:14625


5,01


29256


3183


44455


2403


37242


9989


445845


186


57632


2484.98


335124


45334


23586


9937


S911


151€


2197


1502047


Floyd .


14.095


S2130


110708!


941430


1519


Fayette.


179504


13.1758


6206%


26162


14273


15244


98156


642448


15461


S241


60779.


5636.01


46


$7091


20170


4$1729


136:377


Franklin


62-59


43. 16


65590


140


1503127


Fremont


1152.7


S1096


199432


455909


103029


200201


841


24000


Groudy


146099


4.026


13239


16625


TSS15


1:03985


9532


** 1106


Green


50010


13510


49:35


6:384


976007


5-119


1:9645


52823


19391


251.60


40175


11156


40194.


1046066


1593977


Guthrie


76502


:$3037


8.259


4:220


27189


393514


41


12- 31


39930


49.251


1669134


4227


120:45


620905


Hardin


4145


-92461


Humboldt


9,765


2:018


SS464


20902


41304


13.9961


10992


153505


29114


356915


Howard


115423


29:381


1066627


8974


90944


200001


Ilarrison


94815


171018


$3:431


61-71


86115


23918


5825031


9916


$07912


10210


1620192


S10268


143:01


1210


44720


8462


734409


Haneock


10162


341015


69140


786677


Hamilton


63,66


4999


1520-0


39935


50219


32050


57599


45816


20676


2946-2


Heury


20141


1253


89405


1503201


670:31


2415670


5108


15026


168262


9011


13393


52762


Ida


łowa


191011


9191


110:31


113203


62672


$58221


6514


48815;


22301


108465


1765670


455


14000


7482211


Jackson


193290


8933.


15$159


142 101


48410


670247


S6


$190:1


241021


550000


1020


2713.30


Johnson


142401


43315


491


€2518


11756


2005049


7125:


193019


2912


45306


666.79


100


1274


53962


1665518


23652


521156


Jasper


27-841


$138174


52.19.


1750091


Jones


205007


119:52


2447515


63392


211949


1107170!


7.142


1.100


140681


462478


100217


4525% 91


15267


409


65 123


1909334


2916538


Jefferson.


16:339


125530


360:0


31


Keokuk


208123


66979


15360


16287


164904


6192


464424


1596416


149672


S68528


66739


55061


1695510


14005


446123


1530140


95909


Kossuth


14S


31550


44,93


10799


13189


1363


75697


15582


447603


1919728


Lee


193832


140


78692


Lucas.


133580


200407


9:51


119741


5143


2851


105306


108353


59:37


10-51


72624


15110


Lyon.


159;2


$1××11


12186


13.51


153557


$1


59-63


2190306


2.9009


$29


47022


1902530


11817


12045


S42164


1681518


8132


2615


10396


1030554


Linn.


281118


62649


1:36 55


16:42


12


226.0


13:59


Louisa


52175


650597


54


32651


15107


52020


160


91.73


3489923


Mitchell.


10 066


58564S


2590052


126381


Mahaska


122190


91133


19,61


159939


10-8811


16267


49642


2184635


65534


6792


113:33


1665:39


Marion.


232395


199669


$2719


150 65


130214


$1:62


2607


112:4


411961


14028


203


45136


2:112


S.63309


1. 646


542602


496215


1591878


2195785


Mills


141512


53 :01


24355


529663


183


84630


S835063


S12961


10937


3335746


2191846


Madison ..


161995


543


59543


1589976


6528


232639


1003509


Monroe


102215


154:00


137079


$=206


628314


25


223:35


91790


117303


101413


8,13


268


Marshall


11634


454


69194


2933630


2-5103


41332


60$97


1125382


5584


1709030


200


45575


1739916


11512


241031


938362


Monona ..


Muscatine.


52212


$9$14


21


61699


2SUN256


12611


465245


17-015


15-31


183811


819358


2301


66473


12 1:00


447665


Montgomery


101633


51 MINUT


1391


416471


63


629


5-1760


1715973


405562


O'Brien


26 31


551539


99251


174.906


33626


166


1441467


532


201635


Oseeola.


157526


$107


Polk


1×190


31 106


14904


106052


20,059


1401450


:4757


6379


53981


191542


56241


2510


18:30


69581


Poehahontas ...


83572


5633-9


14219


421


$94


$272010


12155


220263


431:41


2140023


2192%


Pottawattomie


24.11


121600


419189


2541


475


40494


112666


Powesheik


205989


588071


47258


1.5003%


5278


16:081


1252629


Page ..


456971


156;52


1:3171


115121


57312


762926


20235


$5:1105


11416


2393022


Plymouth.


5$283


51912


355792


71886


22289013


833565


SHOUT


1293463


PAIO Alto.


18517


82225


44379


33623


10


160


10097


175.78


4161


120457


434123


Ringgold.


14100


58.29


1679


6641


14:295:


2979


50-13


46559


96616


Scott


235515


10.120


19123


185:12


1:5


1.62


$5613


1145937


9118


111575


Story.


145649


762815


40


615


590:1


126346


15915


Shelby


53180


43871


99354


89326


330,97


S


20


512.3


1733417


11273


843265


3041873


1033:43


Sioux.


39524


SG:391


833515


$1.944


1.6:4


6595556


$1676


5:3026


251256


6.50


$3034


4391


45000


166920


S.c ....


$1336


Taylor.


47201


21179


11056


10


102-61


2353.51


79442


110094


206$13


8602


279:16


9085


6590


239820


Tama ..


255182


2214911


15116


8:18


26905.


9:018


1437807


ttc


S068


48260


141900


908476


Union


73251


2812 59


185:4


$24169


2316405


Van Buren ..


5.005


332 6


45826


21003


99525


14115%


53


960


1130.30


6127


153671


1ST4S


624200


Wayne.


147706


667251


11353


11250


7155


10028


121434


5011


1-23622


12596


35369S


1439586


Warren.


16:17-


103:3


191263


76346


113


1236


63625


2405187


13242


861396


13613.6


Winnesheik


246110


1.1670


1537.7


42115


654679


61


910


8561363.


8391


251510


2208392


Woodbury


23.3100


112175


41179


1813465


27153


57 0.


9,7316


21807


8216508,


2265252


Worth ..


15242


14641


490311


$072


91647


298209


Washington


48027


225176


4.037


3215


230.12


410487


122-201


4143


16133.


396506


Webster.


55 32


41616


4695791


1439


61:41


30531


891051


14198


73263


2532211


15:01


453320


2035264


5


29:18


7491


207493


+33342


Winnebago ..


917911


Wright ..


1:559


80025


1622-1


11


270


13:1


52425


1321


45109


140219


Wape 10.


85516


13629


196166


10189


281821


135176


258655


15 1203


13517


15:325


1617


16139


5.035


2143791


11570


293590


1455319


Totals


:2627-50 $110133


9351905: 3690711, 4266973


69.99


4700176 186284542 982994


29144352 $181536747


A. CarskalSan


HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.


GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC FEATURES.


The following paper upon the physical geography, the geologic formation and the conchology of Muscatine County, and also the evidences of pre- historic man in this region, was prepared expressly for this History by Prof. F. M. Witter, member of the Academy of Science, and Superintendent of Public Schools of Muscatine.


DRAINAGE AND SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS.


The Mississippi River forms the southern boundary of the county for about fourteen miles, beginning on the east, and the eastern boundary for about six miles, making almost a right angle at the city of Muscatine. The Cedar River enters the county near the center on the north, and runs southwest, leaving the county two miles east of the southwest corner.


About two-thirds of the county is between these two rivers. The general drainage, therefore, is south and southwest. Pine Creek, Sweetland Creek, Geneva Creek, Mad Creek, Pappoose Creek, Lowe's Run, and several other small creeks, drain the south and east side of this region into the Mississippi. Sugar Creek and its chief branch, Mud Creek, Musquito and Little Musquito Creeks, with others unnamed, carry the water from northwest of the divide between the rivers, into the Cedar. The third of the county northwest of the Cedar is drained into that stream by the Wapsinonoc.


From the east along the Mississippi to Muscatine, the bluff is about one- fourth of a mile from the limit of high water, and rises rather abruptly, gen- erally in steep ridges pointing toward the river, to the average height above high water of about one hundred and fifty feet.


Below Muscatine, the bluff continues nearly west, bending slightly to the south some four miles before it leaves the county, while the river runs almost south from Muscatine, forming a bottom in this county between the river and the bluff, about six miles square. The greater part of this tract is known as Muscatine Island, once correctly so-called, because Muscatine Slough branches from the river in the southwestern part of the city and runs generally in this county, within a mile of the bluff and reaches the river again some ten or twelve miles below our southern boundary. This slough is closed now in the city by artificial works.


Some two or three miles back from the bluff of the Mississippi, the surface is moderately rolling. A considerable portion, indeed, of the divide, especially in the northern and eastern part, is quite level. The bluffs along the Cedar are not so high and bold as along the Mississippi.


The bottoms of the Cedar are from two to three miles wide from bluff to bluff. Muscatine Island and a large part of the bottoms along the Cedar, are


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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.


scarcely above high water. The former is protected by a levee. But little land is covered by ponds, lakes or swamps.


Muscatine Slough is generally about eighty feet wide and ten feet deep, supplied largely by springs. It expands near the southern border of the county into Keokuk Lake, a sheet of water some two miles long, one-half mile wide, and four to six feet deep. Some low land, along the Cedar. is being reclaimed by a system of ditching.


Soil .- The whole county, with the exception of the river bottoms and Muscatine Island, may be said to be covered with unconsolidated material of uncertain thickness, perhaps from fifty to one hundred feet, called Drift. It consists of clay, sand. gravel, and granitic bowlders. The gravel and bowlders do not come to the surface anywhere in any considerable quantity, and but a small region is injured by sand. This is along the east bluff of the Cedar. from the northern border a few miles into the county. The surface of all the higher portions is a rich black loam. The bottoms are river deposits, and in some instances, contain rather too much sand and gravel for the ordinary crops. Muscatine Island has become famous outside of Iowa for its sweet potatoes and watermelons. The light, sandy and gravelly soil so near the level of the river, makes it well suited for early vegetables, and the products named above.


The bluffs along the Mississippi are generally covered with timber, which extends up the little streams, and the valley of the Cedar is well supplied. Perhaps three-fourths of the county may be regarded as prairie.


Water .- Springs are quite common along the bluffs. especially on the Mis- sissippi, and good wells are easily made almost anywhere. Muscatine Slough and Keokuk Lake, together with the Mississippi, afford an abundance of excellent fish, and the low grounds throughout the county are the resort in fall and spring of innumerable water-fowl.


Good opportunities offer for pisciculture, and experiments in this direction are now being made about four miles west of Muscatine, by Mr. John Miller.


Water-power is not very feasible. A good turbine is operated on Pine Creek, about one mile from the Mississippi, and a dam is thrown across the Cedar at Moscow. The Cedar is the chief, if not the only, stream that could afford any considerable water-power.


Along this stream, except at Moscow where there might be a vast power employed, the banks are generally low and insecure, and no good foundations for dams or mills are apparent.


Building Materials .- Comparatively little of the native timber is now used for building or, with the exception of posts, for fencing. Pine, either as logs or lumber, is so easily brought from the north that it is cheaper than oak, ehmn. maple, cotton-wood, etc.


Brick of good quality can be made from the clays almost anywhere in the county. A deposit under the city of Muscatine, known as Loess, makes the best of beautiful red brick. Wood being abundant, brick are cheap.


Limestone is quarried at several points on Pine Creek, about six miles from the Mississippi ; near Moscow, on the Cedar, and on Geneva Creek and vicinity. and sandstone at Wyoming Hills, on the Mississippi, about seven miles east of Muscatine ; at Geneva Creek : Muscatine; two miles west of Muscatine along the bluff and three miles west on Lowe's Run. Rock from all these places make good foundations and some sandstones have been cut into sills, eaps, keys. coping, etc.


Fuel .- From the eastern border along the Mississippi to Muscatine, with little interruption, there seems to be considerable coal. It is net generally of


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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY.


the best quality, and does not appear to reach back more than one or two miles from the river. The bed is on an average about twenty feet above high water, and is therefore very easy of access and cheap to work. The inexhaustible coal of Keokuk and Mahaska Counties near us on the west, and the timber in the county and on the islands in the Mississippi, afford an abundance of cheap fuel.


Ores and Ochres .- Iron in the form of an oxide with sand. an impure car- bonate and a sulphide, may be found where our sandstones are exposed, but it is in such small quantities that it can be of no practical utility. A small amount of sulphide of zinc has been taken from near the coal in Muscatine. Fragments of sulphide of lead are occasionally found in the Drift. Some beds of red ochre exist near Muscatine. but no use has yet been made of it.


GEOLOGICAL HISTORY.


Little or no disturbance has occurred in this county since the oldest rocks to be seen within its borders were laid down. For this reason the study of the order and history of the successive groups is comparatively simple.




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