The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-29

On the north side OF the Platte the general direcon
are generally nearly parallel the Platte This dspo-
stion OF the rivers OF the Territory would seem 70 indi
cate At least two series OF geological disturbances nearly
q right angles each other: but no trace Of water
courses formed BY rupture OF the surface be seen
in any Of the rocks Where they exposed 70 view
they exhibit out very slight marks Of disturbance Inc
dip Of the rock Is constant and apparently great
Is one degree Tho river valleys appear TO be excu-
svely valleys OF erosion, and Their formation can be
seen at the present time going both large and
small scale all over the country. Most Of the streams
on the north side have high earth banks and ike the
ect to great fluctuations In their height rising and fall
ing rapidly and their waters rarely, ever clear
Skull and Salt creeks the south side have however
rock bottoms and clear water
AL OF the smaller have in turn their tribua
res These are frequently dry except just after rain
waters flowing from the surface These, however, as
we'll as the continuously flowing streams have their rise
detected By the eye except for direction OF the cur
rent II will thus be seen that the country Is cue up
into series OF valleys running ct angles 70 the Platte,
which correspond IN size and importance 70 the rivers
flowing through them. These main valleys are inter-
secied by the valleys Of the tributary streams and these
again by others giving 70 that peculiar structure Of
she surface known a. rolling prairie In ascending any
one OF the streams we lind rich valley which 10 more
or lees broad according to the position and importance OF
the stream which flows through it, This valley usually
called the bottom The banks OF the larger streams arc
generally quite low and are separated from the bottoms
three feet high and forms the banks or the stream.
The bottoms proper commences with tho next terrace,
bottom lands the Missouri river varies from six 70
eight miles, the Platte from three to six the
They composed OF rich alnvia SOIL and in many
cases covered with timber when the bottoms are liable
to overflow Tho smaller streams have also bottoms:
Their banks are often fifteen twenty feet high aud
are almost always OF earth. They show the general
tendency Of the soil TO assume vertical position rather
than taus There usually but one terrace and that
10 the bottom proper. All these small sub
ect TO great fluctuations but rarely leave their banks
The bottoms wide as on the larger streams.
their banks uRuallv ODenincS' OF
hard timber The Platte rarely leaves It's banks Its
tributaries where they enter the Platte bottoms,
liable to overflow In the spring freshes or after very
heavy and long continued rain.
From the bottoms proper there Is gradual rise TO tho
above the river is about fifty feet Omaha The city Is
buit upon it Tho bluffs proper OF the river At the
loot OF fourth terrace They are Of variable height
feet above the level OF the third terrace They consist
Of series OF low ascending hills, which constitute the
divide OF the waters Of the region The divide between
two streams always broken up by the valleys Of other
streams which tributary to them. The top OF the
divide from which the actually now in different
directions is called tho back bonen and u usually
very irregular and crooked Upon this back bone almost
all the roads Of the country built They follow in
most cases old Indian trails and generally the most
expeditions routes Of travel since they present the least
incline, and allow Of carrying the maximum load This
grows ndistinc go west and frequently limited
TO tho first and the fourth.
spots which fail below the level Of the rivers OF
any drainage. These places give rise sloughs which
may be Of almost any size: sometimes they are simply
the collection Of surface waters and dry up after
sometimes they are supplied by springs and at othen
they caused BY the obstruction ct both Of
their ends OF the former channel Of the river These
support their own 1sh and dry except when the
bed Of the stream dries. Sometimes such sloughs are
from quarter TO half mile in length and from atty
hundrea feet vide they DO not appear 70 have any
connection with the river but their Is Of the
temperature and clear They probably supplied BY
filtration through the gravel which underes the whole
Of the bottoms At the depth Of ten nfteen feet.
All the streams, whether large small, take their
nse in slight depresslons In the high rolling prairie
which are either soughs springs. These some
times we'll defined, and sometimes ouly low moist
ground nm which the stream ID formed imper-
osptbiy,, small disconnected sosghs appearing at
fUt. growing larger and 81 shorter Intervals
until gradually the banks Of the stream assume
defined FORM II u frequently dicun 70 determine
the direction Of the now Of the water q To head OF
The water IN such streams has usually about the tenn
perature Of the This method Of formation 10 par
cuary noticeable at the head Of Callahan creek south
Of the Platte Al the banks Of the stream become wen
marked and deepen II commences 70 form bottoma
These usually commence In bend Of tho upon
the side As tho bottoms entirely auvia
stream continually varying its banks and changing
channel A the In the rivers embrace very large
tracts Of rich land. which protected from nres tho
bottoms produce very large amount OF timber. The
banks and narrow bottoms OF the smaller
covered with brush and oak and other trees which
either In cumps or scattered 70 form open-
Occasionally these trees will found little distance
from the banks Of the stream and In the direction
II unusual 70 ind them at any great distance, since
they then lose protection from the prairie nros.