The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-23
Geological.
from the Burlington Hawk-Eye.1

OESIhESlLLEt Juu0 40, 1000.
EDITORS HAwK-EYE:-Passing through Da.
WIS county on my way to the western part ol
the State, where expect to spend the sum
mer and autumn, could make but few ex.
aminations of matters Of interest in this vicin-
ity, but send You brief account of those, in
compliance with q provision of the law re-
organizing the geological survey.
Upon Salt creek. near its junction with
Soap creek, where the Bloomfield road eros.
es the former, there are several "salt licks''
or springs, from the largest of which OBJ.
tanned q quantity Of water and boiled it down
in my camp kettle, producing very small
amount Of impure salt. There had been fire.
quent and heavy rains for week previous to
our visit. The springs were flowing freely,
and consequently were less saline than they
would be in dry weather. ! obtained bottle
Of the water for analysis, the results Of which,
together with that Of bottle which Mr.. s.
D. Wells is going to send from reputed
mineral spring on his land in the same vicin-
ity, propose to send you for publication when
completed. Frequent bubbles gas are seen
rising from the springs, which presume to
be sulphuretted hydrogen gas, and is doubt
less generated from decomposed sulphuret oi
iron in the carbonaceous shale, or perhaps
coal, from which the water issues. This is
44-inch bed of good coal is exposed in the
bank Of the creek few rods below, and on
nearly the same line with the springs. These
springs are favorite resort for cattle and
horses, which drink the water with great
relish. The early settlers Of Davis county
used to shoot many deer here, where they
came in great numbers to drink, and doubt
less long departed generations of Indians did
the same.
Half mile above the mill of Mr.. Hen
bricks, and three miles from the springs, q
bed OF compact blush limestone rests upon q
four foot bed of good coal, which is little
used in this vicinity, because wood is so
abundant. From this limestone Mr.. Hen
bricks manufactured some years ago a con-
siderable quantity of hydraulic cement, which
was used IN the construction Of some Of the
locks on the Des Moines river.
This is the first instance. so far as | am
aware, of hydraulic cement having been made
from hmestones associated with the coal de-
posits. Judging from appearances of the rock
II seems TO contain little if any magnesia;
and its hydraulic property is probably due to
alumina, or perhaps sllicate ofalumina, either
of which substances ere now known tc impart
that property to the limestones containing
them. 1t is my intention TO have many Of
the rocks of the State tested for similar pur-
poses.
The good repute which Davis county coal
has obtained, renders ii unnecessary for me
to make any general remarks upon 1t. more
than to say that the county no doub, contains
more than its citizens can ever themselves
consume, even without using any of its very
abundant aud excellent timber for fuel
The soil is of similar character to the best
of that found in the southwestern portion of
the State, south Of the Iowa river. Clay pre-
dominates in it, particularly in the sub SOIL
rendering it more durable than IN ost other
soils. and more retentive of its primitive and
artificial fertility.
After making general reconnaissance Of
the neglected portions of the State hope, Of
course, to return and give this country, among
others . very careful examination.
c. A. WHfTE.
State Geologist