The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-10-30
GEOLOGY.



together with Mr.. Jones, one Of the trustees Of
that Institution. The party came here to make Il
personal examination of the peculiar geological
formation Of the country about Ottawa.
4 Monday evening was spent in the hall OF the
Academy of Natural Sciences, singing college
songs, examng the large collection of specimens
there and in miscellaneous speech making
Prof. Clark and Mr.. Jones making few remarks
on what they had noticed about town during the
course of the afternoon, Both spoke in high
praise of Ottawas advantages and possibilities
and OF the imperfect manner in which they were
utilized. They stated the object Of the trip, and
expressed the expectation Of having both pleas
ant and profitable expedition on the morrow,
On Tuesday morning Mr.. D. s. Ebersol, Prcsi,
dent Of the Ottawa Academy Of Natural Science,
procured q suitable number Of carriages and es-
corted the party to Starved Rock, Deer Park, &c.
The day was as disagreeable as could have been
selected had foul, rainy, muddy weather been
the sole object Of the expedition And the four
young ladies Of the class who went with the eX.
petition bore up bravely against wind, rain, mud
and cold, and returned as CHEEKY and chiruppy
| as birds in the evening, Many interesting spe.
cimens were collected on hetrip, and the Profes-
sor and his class were enabled to gather some
thing of the remote physical history of this
section of country. IL
In the evening at eight O'Clock, Prof. Clark
was gre ted by a small audience Of about hun
dred gentlemen, at the reception room of the
Academy OF Natural Science in Cheever's block.
There were no ladies present, as during the en-
tire evening the rain came down with driving,
clustering persistence.
| THE LECTURE
was extremely interesting, and want Of space
prevents fuller report Of it. He began by
promising his auditors only few of the salient
points of his observations during the days jour.
Hey. --.
Those who are acquainted with our western
prairies-those who dwell in Chicago and other
large cities--those ignorant Of the formation Of
western prairles, suppose that they are the low
lands of the state. This is crroneous they are
the very highest ground in the state, while the
hills are in fact the lower. Anew moments con
sideratlon will prove this. AS we approached
Starved Rock to-day, from the prairie beyond
our first view of that remarkable object, the top
of Starved Rock, was lower than the ground
going towards it, AS We approached we de-
scended until we reached its base.
On their way the party visited Fishbern's cave
This is splendid rock shelter such as afforded
primitive man and beast protection from the ee-
ments centuries upon centuries ago. lie gave
the geologist's estimate of the importance to
science, derived from the caves or rock shelters
Observers OF nature recognize that long periods
must exist between the extinctions Of races OF
kinds Of animals. Large numbers of Indians
in remote ages, have been sheltered in Fish
bern's cave, and the lecturer did not doubt but
search in the cave would bring to light many
strange relics Of the ancient physical history OF
| this section.
On the way the party stopped at mineral
spring which came from boring for oil n few
years ago.
| OUR MINERAL SPRING.
| The Professor said that in his travels he had
tasted the waters OF the most celebrated mineral
springs in the known world, and for reasons
which he was about to give, would demonstrate
that the Ottawa mineral springs stand in point
Of medicinal excellence without rival lie had
no doubt but there are many such springs along
WHO '"'i'J vi tho ohuO pioPoitico no tbuh ~ Wv
tawa The most valuable element In mineral
waters is Iodidc of Sodium, This exists in your
mineral water here in far larger proportion than
in any mineral waters yet discovered.
| About 25 years ago the soap boilers Of London
found trouble from the breaking of their large
glass vessels. An incrustatlon would form on
the inside of those vessels and when the vessels
would cool the incrustation being stronger than
the glass the latter would break An eminent
chemist was applied to to solve the mystery
The crust was analysed and a new element in
chemistry discovered. This was iodine, making
the G3d element then known to science He ex.
tracted enough Iodine to discover its peculiar
characteristics. He found that 1t existed only
In soda, and the soda came from sea weed He
examined the animals that feed on sea weed and
found them to be fish, and at length traced this
new element to its hiding place, the liver of the
fish. Experiments demonstrated that iodine is
q sovereign remedy for diseases Of the glands OF
the neck and has been the great specific for
consumption. Cod liver oil is thus valuable, not
only 'because it contains iodine in large quaint
ties, but because ii is combined with oil in the
proper proportion; and now you find in your
with potassium in proper quantities and in the
most perfect proportions, therefore its value as
a medicine. The analysis of your mineral water
made by Prof. Slliman is most perfect and ex-
hausiive, and shows this water to be priceless
boon, not only to your people but to mankind.
This country Is particularly afflicted with dyspep-
slaand iodine is an nfaible cure for this dreadful
malady, and there are no mineral springs in the
civilized world that have yet been discovered
that compare with yours In the great quantity
of Iodine held in their waters. He predicted
great future wealth and prosperity for Ottawa
from these very springs If the people only prop.
erly develop and make known the value that lies
hidden in these waters that spontaneously bub-
bic from unknown depths below and flow on and
on without ceasing.
ANCIENT GEOLOGICAL HISTORY.
Buffalo Rock represents very remote period