The Harrison times., 1901-02-09
CHAPTER ILL.
All Rights Reserved.

the OZarkS upon winch all the Sed-
imentary rocks rest has continu-
Gus main axis which extends from
Lake Superior to Southwestern Tex
as. Its surface is quite undulating
and, after passing southwest from
the southern limit of Wisconsin, it
nowhere appears again above the
present surface previous to reaching
central Texas. except in Missouri,
principally in the counties of St.
Francis and Madison; on Spavina
creek, in Indian Territory. and in
the Washita Mountains.
The exposed portion in Wisconsin
is of triangular shape with the base
lying for more than one-half the
length of the south shore of Lake
Superior, eastward from the extreme
western terminus of the same; while
it's apex almost touches the south
ern boundary of Wisconsin. 1t is
along the border of this base that
the noted Keweenaw Copper, and
and the Gogebic Iron mines are sit
uated. Most of this copper ore is
claimed to be 90 per cent pure. and
the ductility of the GoSebic iron is
equal to that which iron and steel
manufacturers formerly purchased
from Norway and Sweden, and also
Africa. From this exposed portion
of the old elevation to where it next
appears, in Southeast Missouri, we
pass over sag or depression which,
though narrow. we can clearly see is
the axial divide that separates the
two great adjoining basins OF Iowa,
Missouri and Kansas on the west,
and of Illinois on the east 1t i.
lengthwisc on this old divide where
the Mississippi river now flows. 1t
is about midway of this axis where
the broad and rather oval shaped
elevation to which the term Ozark
Upiitt' is more generally applied is
situated Although this is only a
very prominent portion OF the won
derful pro minence which appears to
be mother of minerals from one
end to the other.
Transverse to this main axis and
extending from Cape Girardeau
county almost to Morgan county,
Mo-, is another axis where granite
undoubtedly exists but short way
beneath the surface To this trans
verse axis is due the great breadth
of the Ozark Range at this partic-
ticular section. Our evidence for the
presence of such an axis is the ex-
posure of Cambrian rocks at the
surface. The positions of these rel
tive 10 rnI -. r.. Gs--sstalline e.dse will
ater be shown. t
We should now be able to form r
ONE picture of the topography $
resented by the primal base before :
ediments began to alter into sOhd \
ocks as we now see them, and prior +
o their upheavai or. for that mat
er, as it would now appear if all the
and fossiliferous forma-
ions were removed, since all evI-
ences point to the fact that this
foundation has with
TODD a pumber of subsequent seis-
mic shocks OF magnitude without
eceiving a preceptible scar, except
'erhaps a few rends or splits which.
when compared to the magnitude,
would not amount to more than pin
cratches into the skin. A map
howing such a relief would not ad-
NIT of comparison with that of our
present surface These old basins,
With Gospel measure, were all filled,
leaped up and running over; their
contents were later blown up, shat
cred and thrown and the torrents.
winds and rains of later times have
blamed off and carried out the alter
ID surface into the drainage system
and Typographical contours as we
now find them. Such an operation
surely cannot be considered a mere
chance occurrence and one of Ma
tures greatest efforts without a
purpose, especially de-
signed for the blessings and comfort
of man.
There are very conclusive existing
evidences to show that much,-ii not
most, of the great Ozark plateau in
Missouri and Arkansas was once
covered with beds of coal which |
have since been worn away by sur
face drainage
While attempting a description of
the various rock formations the
natural order of procedure would be
from the foundation up. and would