The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-03-15

OonOId, anu is q valuable contribution
to the literature relating to. the state.
The book contains nearly 800 pages,
including cuts, and is geographically
a pleasing piece of work.
The Agricultural College survey has
been for several years engaged in max
ing investigations of the soils and the
underground waters of the state, and
this volume contains the results of
these Investigations made during the
past two years. If there is any one
subject more important than any 9TH
er in the resources of North Dakota
it will not need to be argued that that
subject is the soil. Next in Importance
after the soil is probably the water
supply. These two subjects represent
the lines Of investigation that have
been given especial attention by the
director of this survey and his staff of
assistants, for several years.
The work has nearly all been done
in cooperation with the federal sur
veys at Washington. The very small
appropriations that have been made
by the state for the investigations Of
the natural resources of the state
would not have permitted any such
amount of work to be done as has
been accomplished had it not been for
the generous treatment accorded by
the federal departments.
The present report contains articles
upon the soils and soil conditions in
nearly all parts of the state, and also
a consideration Of the water supply
for general farm and household pur-
poses in those parts of the state where
it has been possible to carry on these
Investigations.
The volume contains the admins
trative report of the director, consist
ing of about twenty pages, and 100
pages of matter devoted to discussions
Of soils in their various aspects, and
articles on the water supply. The
book is copiously illustrated with
maps, pen-and-ink drawings, and pho
to-gravures. The volume contains
nine maps, and pen-and-ink drawings
to the number of twenty-four, show
ing sections of valleys, hills, rivers,
terraces, gravel pits, kinds of soil, etc.,
ETC., and seventy-three photo-engrav-
ings, showing fields of grain, native
prairie grasses, streams, lakes, farm
buildings, sod houses, Russian "adobe"
houses, views in the Bad Lands, seams
Of Ignite coal in natural outcrop-
pings, and many other things which
have great interest to any one living
in North Dakota, or interested In
North Dakota.
A feature of this book is the amount
of information it contains relating to
the western portion of North Dakota,
a region that has not been fully de-
scribed in any papers that have been
published heretofore.
Besides several chapters upon sub.
jects of general or special nature, all
of which are in some way related to
the problems of soil and water sup
ply, the volume contains the follow
ing chapters on the subjects of soils
and waters to which it is desired to
call especial attention. These special
chapters are the following:
The Soils of the Tower Quadrangle.
(The Tower quadrangle includes poE-
lions of Cass, Barnes and Ransom
counties.).
A Soil Survey of the Cando Area,
embracing the southern quarter of
Towner county.).
A Soil Survey of the Darlington
Cooperstown Area, embracing the
southern half of Griggs county and
two-thirds of Foster county,.
A Chemical Consideration of the
Soils of the Darlington ooperstown
Area.
The Soils of Ransom County.
The Soils of Williams County.
A Preliminary Study of the Soils
West of the Missouri River.
Notes on the Water Supply of Por-
ton of Cass, Barnes and Ransom
Counties.
Notes on the Wells of Portion OF
the Dakota Artesian Basin.
The attention of persons Interested
in these particular regions is especial
ly invited to these papers. These
chapters have been written by men
who are either specialists in their lines
or have made such special studies of
the particular matters here consider
ed that they may be said to speak
with authority.
1t is quite generally admitted by in
telligent people that farmers ought to
know something of the nature of soils.
It ought not to require much argu-
ment to convince intelligent people
that all citizens of an agricultural
community or country ought to know
something of the nature of soils. There
is much information in this volume re-
lating to these subjects, and an effort
has been made to put the matter In
such form that 1t can be used under
standingly by any person interested.
Soil surveys during the past two years
and carrier have been made in quite
widely separated portions Of the state
Grand Forks 10 Very Glad.
The action Of the state legislature