The Van Buren press., 1859-07-13

IL Aoo0tsS1s OSe te9bes1e0 20 AoH1 ~ Ga<W a.
ssrt.ss'.eats ~ Monday ~orains.
Us n Psetsngu 4 Co., 0sn<rst Ne,sspspes
Asent, No. iis, Nsssss Ssreef. New York. sre our
suzhosised xysnss iay that CITY.
Geological Survey Of Crawford
County.
We take the following extracts from the
first report Of DAvrD DALE OwEs. on tho
Geological Reconnaissance Of the $. North
ern Couatie- = ArkAnses = e &.
close to the spfiug, at the foot Of the
mountain over which We passed from the
Barren fork OF the Illinois to Lees creek,
the Archimedes limestone Is in place, 26O
feet below the level OF the prlncipai mass Of
corresponding limestone. in the section Of
the northwest slope of the mountain.
There is. no doubt, 9 dislocation OF the
whole OF the rocks Of the mountain with q
subsistence to the south east, when causes
SO sudden depression Of this limestone.
/ Associated with 4ArcAinedes at the
spling, near the foot OF the mountain, ON
Lee' creek, occurs Ayassizocrinns conicus.
Lees creek meanders or many mile, At
the osse Of nigh cliffs and slopes OF the
spurs Of the Boston InountaIn range, which
are composed of sxndstolss. shaies and
limestone. belonging to the age OF the mill
stone grit ami suDcsrbonifefous group. the
strata gradually dipping down stream to-
wards the south. No coal mas ever yet been
discovered on this part OF L.e's creek. out
near its head. fifteen miles above Alfred
Smiths place. bed is represented Is ocour.
ring AMI ranging from ton 70 twelve inshes
In thickness.
Halt mile below Alfred Smith farm.
sandstone was observed dipping ~ , to the
south east, the Archimeies limestone Deipg
no longer visible ABOVE the bed OF Lee 5
creek.
One Of the most remarkable features in
the scenery OF northwestern Arkansas is
the 'sNatursi Dam." represented 10 the
steel plate engraving forming the iroutIs-
piece 10 this volume. II Is iormed Uy SOL
id bed of sandstone. from SIX to eight .eet IN
! thickness, which runs entirely across the
bed Of Lees creek, forming natural barn.
er TO the descent OF the water. in cOnse-
quence of the g.sdual dip OF the rock up
stream towards The no. % east, at an angle oi
tour 70 nye degrees, being Just the proper
inclination 10 uan tue water "a K, al / throw
it to sluice, that might DO soi,t,iy anu per-
manen,ly liked TO this rock wsii near whore
II runs into the northwest oank.
rna log In.ii. ssen in the frentispisce IS
one of the rudest oesHiptlon /; hardly capa-
ble of grinding thirty 10 forty bushels per
day quite insuih ;ient even lor the accom-
da.,on OF the immediate ne4ghbofs. Tne
eff .iency Of this nalursl dam. running. As
it does, from bank " bank, with Just the
proper inclination ana siigatiy diagonal
direction, a:ross the entire wafer course /;
the soiiiity of It's natural masonry. destin-
cd to endure tor ages Its situation II the
midst OF valley, which, though contract
ed ia its dimensions by tbs mountain last
nesses that bound il on ootn sides, Is, new
ertheisss. ferlils and capable OF supporting
moderate population ali comolne TO
make this natural mlll-site an OBJECT OF
great interest, and its many advantages
would justify the erection OF . substantial
building. fitted up witk all the modern I'M
provements in the machinery Of we'll reg
uiated business grist mill this would at
tract customers. not alone from the valleys
OF the different branches OF Lees creek, but
also from the neighooring mountains. and
more distant settlements, and contribute.
perhaps. more than any improvement that
could De introduced into the country to at
tract fresh population and render the conIi-
ton Of its present inhabitants Independent.
comfortable and agreeable. Notwitnstand-
ing the continual wear to-which this mem
beI OF the milestone grit series-more dura-
BILE than its associate beds-is continually
subject not alone from the mechanical
force exerted by the waters OF Lees creek,
but from the almost irresistible power of
expansion, caused oy tbs alternate thawiny
| ami freezing OF the water, continually per-
meating its mass it stands yet. . monu.
ment Of ages, bearing testimony to the
strength and insolubiiity Of tbe siiiceous
cement that binds the PARTICLES together. and
the stability of the individual grains OF
which its substance is composed and it
affords, at the same time, q striking example
how enduring architectural edi6oes may Oe
made, If constructed of such freessone. ju-
diciously selected. we'll built. and strongly
jointed with good mortar.
Tue ridge, passed over about two miles
from the Natural Dam, is ABOUT 800 feet
above Lees creek. and is composed, 80 far
a. ian be seen, OF sandstones ami shales of
the age of the milestone grit. witch. perhaps,
. capping of some of the lower mem .srs
of the overlaying coal measures.
1t is nearly -of the same materials that
compose the high range Of hills aoove the
town of Van Buren, which has . command
ing view over the valley OF the Arkansas.
From these heights. in clear day. Fort
Smith can be seen. while the bluff opposite
to it. and the glistening water line. making
the bend of the Arkansas river, where il
emerges from Indian territory. and sweeps
past Fort Smith. can be distinctly seen at
ell times; also the distant range Of hills.
running from the Choctsw country towards
Sebastian county, including The House AMI
Sugar Loaf mountains with the small
prairie in the middle ground, which is said
to be underlaid by coal. At the foot Of
this hill, and in the cuts OF tine rsvines inn
malistely back OF the town Of Van Buren,,
twenty-three to twenty y-five feet OF shale are
exposed. the lower portion Of which for ten
feet. is black and bituminous. One humid
red and ten feet more Of shsle have been
|9passed through in the well sunk at Penny
wit + Scott's mill. including. near the bot
tom. q small seam of coal. reported eigh-