St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-06-17

top of this, at intervals of different degrees
of frequency, are moraine mounds of vari-
Gus heights and sizes, and the whole has, at
distance, the appearance of low range of
mountains, feature which is wholly lost,
however, on nearer approach, because of
the slight inclination of the slopes.
WOODLANDS.
The impression which prevails amongst
those unacquainted with this portion of the
state, that it is wholly destitute of timber, is
erroneous. The Big Woods extends into its
northeastern corner, covering about l0O, 600
acres with what was originally dense forest
OF oak, ash, walnut, sugar maple, box elder,
elm, birch, linden, poplar and other varieties
of deciduous trees, with occasional pines and
cedars along the streams. On the banks OF
the Minnesota there were also frequent in
extending back mile or more,
and few places were found
where originally woodlands did not intervene
between the prairies and the waters of that
stream. So along the lesser rivers and
creeks, the banks of nearly all were more or
less extensive fringed with timber About
most of the lakes were handsome groves,
and, indeed, wherever these or the water
courses afforded protection from prairie fires,
clumps of trees were found growing luxuri-
antly In these latter localities the soft
wooded varieties were usually. most pre-
valent, though where largea areas as were
covered, considerable proportion OF oaks,
elms, sugar naples, etc., were generally
found.
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES.
While this region is Largely a drift forma-
ton, there are exposures of rocks IN sta in
several parts of it, especially along the Min
nesota river and its larger tributaries, and on
Rock river. In the northeastern corner is
an immense exposure of calcifereous sand
stone, which is first met with at Ottawa, in
LIE Sueur county, and extends along the river
bluff distance of ten or twelve miles and
within the limits of the city of Mankato. The
color of this rock changes from that of yell
lowish brown (Kasota stone) to grey, with
out any important changes of its elements,
and the lower strata seems not to
contain as much lime as those
everything it, These quarries
are simply inexhaustible, and the durability
of the stone is 4 eh that it is used for build
ing abutments and piers for railroad bridges
in this state, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Ne
braska and Dakota territory. Just beyond
the city of Mankato, on the bluffs of the
Blue Earth river,is rocky formation of sim
liar appearance which yields quality of ce-
ment that is claimed to be superior to all
known varieties of natural cement of this
country or Europe. 1t is compact,
finely grained silicious limestone, the
silica being sufficiently abundant to
render it actively hydraulic. 1t also contains
a small percentage of alumina and magnesia.
The silica and lime, however, are in proper
proportions to produce true silicate of lime,
i. E., perfect cement. 1t is very slightly
affected by the action of air and water. Ce-
ment made from it sets quickly and becomes
very hard and durable. The quarry has a
superficial area of about ninety acres and is
twenty-five feet thick. It is estimated that
it will yield about 40, 900, 900 barrels of ce-
ment. 1t rests upon thin stratum of green
ish white clay, Immediately below which is
the Potsdam formation. In Rock
county there is an abundance
of reddish hued metamoruhic
sandrock, or quartzite called jasper, which
is easily wrought and durable, and polishes
almost equal to marble. A process has been
discovered for grinding this rock and forming
from the flour paste that may be nodded
into any form. On hardening, this becomes
as durable as the rock itself and takes even
higher polish. 1t may by this means be
applied to the manufacture of mantels, table
tops, door and window trimmings, fancy
columns for porticos, and other articles of
use and ornament.
Limestone, from which an excellent quail
ty of lime is obtained, is abundant in several
localities, as are also clays for brick making.
Clays fine enough for sewer pipes and stone
ware are known to exist in Blue Earth coun-
ty, and there is no reason to doubt that other
beds of better material will be discovered in
the same neighborhood. White clay or kaolin
taken from near Mankato, is pronounced by
practical German potter sufficiently fine
and pure to form one of the three ingredi-
ents used in the manufacture Of the best
porcelain. No thorough geological survey of
this region has yet been made, it is impos-
sible to say what treasures lie buried beneath
its sod. Discoveries of coal indications have
from time been announced in the Cotton
wood, Blue Earth and Des Moines rivers.
CLIMATE.
Of paramount impostance to the immi-
grant is the healthfulness of the locality
which is to be the scene of his future labors
and the home for himself and family. What
to him are fair fields, towering meadows,
buried in luxuriant growth of fertile soils
3 and tropical suns, if they generate miasms
and vapors? What are soft and perfumeC
breeZes if they watt the seeds of pestilence
What are bountiful harvests and rich, mel
low fruits, if disease must annually visit hi:
dwelling?
The climate of these southwestern countie.
is life giving. The air is dry, pure and in
vigorating, even in the spring months, dur
, ing the season Of the heaviest rainfalls. Tht
skies have a pure blue color, and at night
the stars shine with a radiance which car
hardly be appreciated by those who are ac
customed only to the fogs and mist whicl
more or less constantly prevail in less ele
waited regions. There is hardly time il
either winter or summer when there is al
entire cessation of breezes, and sucl
, constant circulation tends to dispe
: any foul and unhealthy odors and keeps tn
atmosphere fresh and untainted. The iso-
thermal line which passes through the cen
. tire of this region is about the same with tina
= of central Ohio, and though the cold il
q winter is more intense, its influence upol
f the system is not so severe, because the DIR
f atmosphere does not conduct the heat iron
the body, and the chilling effects are far les
sensibly felt. This is a climate in Whic
men and animals thrive.
HEALTHFULNEss.
r The constant motion of the air, as has al
ready been remarked, contributes to keep
e pure Dy ulspelnng mlaSmaGlc VapOrS and thu
freeing it from the causes of intermittent an
# bilious fevers. 1t is doubtful whether cas-
. of ague or chills and fever ever originated i,
: this region, though it has sometimes happen
L ed that those who have been afflicted wit
this ailment previously to their removal her
have afterwards suffered recurrence of it
q attacks, not, however, so malignant and en-
y y during as before; thus showing tha
x removal hither had tended already t
5 ameliorate the effects without who'll
5 eliminating the disease of the system. /