The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-11-19
From Halls O Geology Of Iowa.l
r he origin of the Prairiex

The subject Of the origin Of the prairies,
or the cause Of the absence OF trees over so
extensive region, is one which has often
been discussed, and In regard to which d.
ametricaliy opposite opinions are enter
tanned.
The idea is very extensively entertained,
throughout the West, that the praires were
once covered with timber but that this has
been destroyed by the fires which the Indians
have been in the habit of starting in the dry
grass, and which sweep over a vast extent OF
surfnee every autumn. A few eeHsia sfasieHs
will show that this theory is entirely unten-
able.
In the first place, the prAirles have been In
existence at least rs far back MS We have any
knowledge OF the country since the first ex-
plorers Of tho West described them Just as
they now are. There may DO limited areas
once covered with woods, and now bare; but,
in general, the prairie region occupies the
same surface which il did when frat visited
| by the white man.
1 But, again, tho prairies are limited to d
peculiar region, one marked BY certain char
acteristic Typographical and geological fea-
lures, and they are by no means distributed
/ about wherever the Indians have roamed and
used Ere. Had the frequent occurrence OF
4 fires in the woods been the means OF remov.
ing the timber and covering the soil with
dense growth 81 grass. there Ii no reason
Why prairies should not exist in the Casters
\ and Middle States as well ~ ia the estern
The whole northern portion Of the Unitet
4 States was once inhabited By tribes differing
bat little from each other in their manner Of
living.
Again, were The prarics formerly covered
by forest trees, we should probably now iind
some remains Of them buried beneath the
soil, Or other indications 81 their having for.
merly existed, Such is not the case, Tor tbe
occurrence Of fragments of wood beneath the
prairie surface is quite rare; and when they
are found, il IL in such position M to show
that they have been removed to some distance
| from their place OF growth.
! 1t has been maintained by some, that the
want OK sufficient moisture in the air or soil
| was the cause Of the absence Of forests in the
! Northwest; and il is indeed true that the
prairie region does continue westward, and
become merged in the arid plains which az.
tend along the base Of the Rocky mountains,
where the extreme dryness il undoubtedly
the principal obstacle to the growth OF any
thing but q few shrubs, peculiarly adapted to
! the conditions Of climate and soil which pre-
vail 10 that region. This, however, cannot
be the case in the region east Of the Missis.
sipri and near Lake Michigan, where the
prairies occupy so large surface; since the
| results Of meteorological observations shor
/ no lack Of moisture in that district, tbs IN.
nual precipitation being fully equal to what
il IL IN the well-wooded country farther east
IN the same latitude. Besides, the growth OF
! forest trees is rich and abundant al through
! the prairie region, under certain conditions
Of soil and position, showing that their
range IL not limited by any general climatic
/ logical cause.
Taking into consideration all the circum.
stances under which the peculiar vegetation
\ If ihe prairie occurs, We are disposed to CON-
slider the nature OF the soil as the prime cause
VI the absence Of forests and the predomi-
nance OF the grasses over this widely.extend-
ed region. And although chemical compo-
sition may not be without influence ia bring.
Ing about this result, which il a question for
farther investigation, and one worthy Of
careful examination, yet Nc conceive that
the extreme fncness Of the particles Of which
the prairie soil is composed il probably the
principal reason Why il 10 better adapted TO