The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-01-30
THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF WESTERN
KANSAS--.A SUBJECT FOR LEGISLATION.

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able adsptability in almost every particular
for the abode of mankind. The richness
and productiveness of its soil, and all its
agricultural resources, are being rapidly
developed, and they will undoubtedly soon
be found to be inferior to none in the whole
extent of our land. But leaving these
things to those more Immediately inter
ested, We propose to speak Of its other
natural resources, which are no less im-
portant to civilization, or for purposes Of
personal aggrandizcment.
As we look over the surface of the coun-
try We cannot but admire the gentle regu-
larity of its formation. Undisturbed for
lcng ages by anything like violent internal
commotions or volcanic eruptions, the rich
alluvial spreads itself out in broad and
extensive plateaux, either entirely level or
in gentle undulations, while the rocky
portion lies in perfectly uniform strata, as
originally left by the waters which depos-
tied them. Look at the sides of our bluffs,
and observe the marks of the waters which
formerly covered the face of the country.
Are they not all evidently shores Of islands,
which the bluffs once we're? And look
more closely at tue substance Of the rock
themselves, and observe the numerous
remains of aquatic animals, fishes, mol
luses, &c, which formerly inhabited this
region, filing it with life and animation
long before man made his appearance on
the earth, and which, becoming petriled,
now form part and parcel Of the rocks;
and think of the vast length Of time it
must have required to fern tie rocks which
we are now using for building, and the rich
soil which we are cultivating, ard to drain
off the reigning waters, and admire the
goodness of the Creator, in thus gradually
bringing the earth from the time when it
was "wi;Lout form and void" to its present
state Of perfection, and perfect adaptedness
for man to occupy.
The formation in this vicinity is known
as the "Cretatious Formation" and came
into existence long after the GRANTEES, sand
stones and coal were formed, and is con-
sequently one of the post recent of all.
The rock bed contains, besides lime, quite
percentage Of chalk, which gradually
increases as you 60 westward, until it
becomes chalk entirely, as in the Chalk
Cliffs described by Mr.. Green, in his report
of the Smoky Hill Expedition. The chalk
in these cliffs is fully equal in quality to
that which is imported from England.
Bat amid the Cretatious there occur
frequent "hiatus," where it is wanting,
and an older formation is exposed to view,
ri=: the Carboniferous. These show them
selves as strata Of shale, or slate, and some
times sandstone, with seams of coal running
through them. The seams of coal are
generally found not Immediately in contact
with the shale or sandstone, but layer Of
+" clay or fine mudrcck both underlies and
overlics each seam." Of such traces of
coal, there are numerous ones all about US
at but short distances, and also on Chap
mans and Humboldt creeks And Mr..
Green describes vein on the Smoky
Hill, about one hundred miles from
here, which is fully six feet in thickness,
and of vast length. There is also said to
be vein on the Solomon's Fork, which is
seven feet in thickness. What a vast
source of wealth, if once made available!
But coal is not the ohly mineral wealth
we have. Quartz rock sometimes makes
its appearances, anG with it ores Of metals,
useful to art and civilization. Slight traces
of gold have been seen some sixty or
seventy miles to the westward. Iron is
found all about us, in the shape Of hematite,
pyrites, or specu!ar iron ore. Copper is
sometimes seen, and we are informed that
a short distance south from here evidences
of the existence Of copper mine have been
discovered. The other day we were shown
a beautiful specimen of galena or lead ore,
which was found within Eve miles of juno
ton. The appearance of the specimen
that more of the same ore must
exist at the spot, and probably valuable
ead mine will be found there, which will
we'll repay its proprietor, or mining CON-
pany, in the future, when transportation
becomes better and cheaper. There may