Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-09-04

West river, which extends from the north
en- 70 the eouthsrn line of the county, al.
most directly through its middle. II is
longer stream than the Nodaway, and its
valley occupies . much wider ARA, but
aearly all that was said Of that valley is also
applicable TO this. The approaches 10 the
stream, however are longer and more grad
ual; the valley is wider from the highest
land on either side. averaging four miles -
more in width, and then Il has also a dis
;inct bottom. which is not 80 marked fea-
turc Of that OF tic Sodaway.
\ dweler by the Mississippi, viewing
:is valley from the high lands for the first
time would be Likely to mistake the real
character OF its bottom, for il il ne. n ,o-
ait; so fat IS those lie is accustomed to
see there For the greater portion Of il Is
payer reached By the highest floods which
Awell Ne sivse IN vet oeaeonS. Standing
near the river, and locking towards Vie
slopes on each side, the bottom land viii in
most cases, be seen TO rise without . ter.
race towards them, 1t the rate Of about for
~ feet in the mile, the distance from the
foot Of the slope TO the river being often ~
much o. more than this. There are oecs>
sional low places which orc reached by the
high waters, but most Of them are drais
when the waters subsids. leaving no pond,
and the surfsce becomes covered With grass
every year. The soil OF these places, and
that closely bordering the stream 10 COM
posed Of the disturbed material Of the bluff
deposit, while the higher portions Of the
bottom land are composed Of unaltered
blu6 material like the high lands along the
border u the valley asd - the westward Of
It, The view Of this valley from the high
lands 10 everywhere NO delightful that il is
not essy to select any one region which
greatly excels ono4hsr in this respect, but
no persea eapabe Of sppsecisting the beau.
" can pass over the TOAD from Sidney 10
Hamburg without being thankful that his
lovely - thoss which ~ his visw sll the
way.
The deep drift IN the eastern part Of the
County, and the deeper blu6 deposit Of the
middle aud western portions have covered
from sight. oil. Or nearly al the strsuhed
rDshs Whieh ssiss bs~saah il except along
the base Of the Missouri River bluffs, the
most sovshern exposure Of which 10 seen On
thc town ~ Of NJ. Allen ness hi nv min
in Hamburg. This is now nearly obscured
By grading, bet enough Wae sese - indicate
several layers ef cpal Gssoanee 1ioeeeens with
nasly partiaes, resaisg upsn . nos grained
micoseous sandstond, ct an elevation OF 80
OF 10 feet above the genera! level Of The nv
q bottom. Following up the bSso Of the
bluff along the bottom road to PUN creek,
occasional exposures Of the same beds are
seen cropping out, at about the same eleva.
tioo - q Hamburg. In The vicinity oi
Plum crssk the exposures, particularly Of
the limestone, beceos more frequent, and
sGosd good quarry rock. At shout two
thence some two miles further along the
bass u ~ bluGs, thsse are very fall expos
uses Of limestone. which afford the finest and
most extensive Quarries have seen west oil
Madison county. The stone closely resem.
bic those ebtaised from the quanies Of thst
county, ia quality ~ we'll a. in the excel
lencs ef IL lime. II can be obtained here
in almost. any desired quantity. and with
net greater than the ordinary amount Of 10
Der In euarrying.::
Neae the residence Of Mr.. John Wilson
% section II, township 20, range IS, thil
gsntlsmaa kindly pointed out plass vher,
. ten inch bed Of coal had been exposed By
excavation. - examination of which, to
esther With the strata above and below t.
leaves but little il any doubt that it 10 th,
sane bed which il being worked in Adams
Taylor and Page counties. Il 10 hardly
probable thae this b viii be found thicl
s,Sgh 70 b probably worked in th
couaey, and further examinations in tn
adj AGENT aud neigh,oring counties arc re-
quirsd 10 aid in forming correct opinion
- 70 the existence u another bed OF cos
beneath Fremont. the results Of which vii
b given 90 the public % soon as they ar
completed.
4 The brick made in this county are Of YER,
fair quality, The esay for which ives OBJ
taioed from the drift 1t the hase IL the blui
deposit, ct the only yard where il was ez
amined. The bluff material would itse
probably make very good brick were Il no
that the small l,my concrctions which i
contains. arc changed 70 quick lime wher
; the bricks are burned, and then when ex
posed to moisture the Stacking Of the linn
bursts them. Many interesting matters i
this county arc yet 70 be referred to- but i
view Of The great length Of this letter, an
} the fact that Mills county 10 similar to it i
snany respects, they win ssceivs aitentio
my next letter from that county.
c. A. WHITE,
) State GeoloRist.