The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-05
Total depth

The water came to the surface after penetra.
ting the Pstsdam sandstone, and the stream in
creased a. theaugur descended for about 100 feet,
and not perceptibly beyond that
The Ottawa Academy of Natural Sciences, il
not the projectors Of these wells, at least stmula-
ted the enterprise of sinking them by demon
strating the certainty of success, and took live.
ly interest in every foot the plunger pene-
tratsd into the earth. The information they
have thus obtained and prssevered, combined
with what they have collected in reference to the
geological conformation Of the rest of the county,
enables them to indicate with an approach to
precision where else in the county it will pay to
bore for artesian water.
To illustrate not only our local geology, but
the science generally, the Academy has also,
during the few years Of its existence, made =
collection of geological specimens the extent and
variety Of which really astonishsd US. To give
some idea: they have
The best collection Of fossil ferns in the state
Good specimens of most Of the fossils belong.
ing TO the Trenton limestone.
Many fossils belonging to the Niagara lime
stone.
A very fine series Of shales--calamites and
epidodendrons-frsm the coal measures, as we'll
a. most of the fossils belonging to the coal
measures.
A large collection OF geodes decentralization Of
lime and quartz in hollow stones.
chambered shell (orthocerss) AZ inches in
length.
Specimens Of Iowa marble.
Together with some 400 other specimens of
different kinds Of minerals, including gold, sill.
yer, lead, iron agates garnets, 60.
Also, very curious primitive mill for grind
ing corn, consisting of two pieces of granite
rock so fitted together as to perform the opera
tion of grinding effectually by the use of a
crank.
| These specimens nave been largely collected by
the perseverance and industry of DR.. Paul. who
is an enthusiast in the science of geology, and
whose private property, indeed, large proper.
tion Of them are, but who is willing any day tc
turn them oyer to the Academy when they shall
have obtained suitable rooms for their preserva
ton At present they are kept in his office
There are enough of them, when properly classi
fed, labelled and put up, to fill case feet higl
end 30 or 40 feet in length.
In addition to this splendid collection Of min
eral specimens, the Academy have a very fin,
collection ofspecimens in natural history and or
nithology-beasts, birds, fish, &C., handsomely
preserved and put up by skilful taxidermists
We append partial list.
ANIMALs-Lynx-a fine pair 4 pairl of will
cats pair of woodchucks; cross fox prairi
wolf pup, size of y cat; weazel; genuine gopher
and striped gopher or ground squirrel chip
munk; fox squirrel, grey squirrel, flying squir
rel; opossum, with young in its sack; muskrat
rabbit, go. All the above animals were caugh
in this county, and NEST of them within fe,
miles of Ottawa. They have also fine baboor
brought from Africa last May, but which die
at Marseilles while on its way to join menag
erieiexhibiting in the vicinity. Also . Cayota
antelope and prairie d og from the plains:
BIRDs-Pelican white swan; white heron
bald head eagle; pair large white owls; screec
evil, &C.; pair American bittern; 2 pairs loom
or northern divers; sand hill crane pair Anne,
loan coots; pair river gulls; wood ducks, sum
mer duck, mallard duck, teal duck, pin tail ducl
golden eyed duck, fish duck, little grebs pra
re chicken, partridge, quail, English snipe, gol
on plover. rail, henhawks. sparrow hawk. butch,
bird; American wsxwing; rodbrested grosbsa
, (nals and female0 cuckoo; cat bird; robi,
thrush, willow wren, swamp wren, even bir
blue isy, night hawk. martin kinrAahor: blao]