The independent., 1907-04-18

completing ana discussing the notes
taken during the day and in confer
ences regarding the industrial possi-
! bilities Of the district visited.
| Among the side rip taken was a
visit to the scenic home of the state
fish hateheries. In this region two
rock series Of very different size are
found. The lower ana older is called
the Pennsylvania because the same
series is also found in the state of
Pennsylvania where it is known as the
coal measures" The upper and
younger series called the Dakota be-
cause Of its exposure and type locality
in Dakota county, Neb., was not depos-
tied until the Pennsylvania had long
been land surface which had been
eroded into hills and valleys very sim
liar to those now being made. Then
came submergcnce below sea level, and
the sands and clays of the Dakota
formation were washed in and covered
or buried the old topography so that
the old hills and valleys were prao-
tically obliterated. On the north side
OF the Platte river, opposite South
Bend, one Of these old topograplies is
exposed. At the state fish hatcheries
the top of the Pennsylvania lime
stone has an elevation of about 1910
feet, about a mile southwest Of the
hatcheries, near the north end Of Old
Clarke bridge, the top of the Penn
sylvanian comes to 1900 feet altitude
East of the old bridge the elevation
again becomes less, dropping as low as
1000 feet in an old broad valley about
two miles wide. About one and one
half miles west of Meadow is another
Pennsylvania limestone hill with a
maximum elevation of / ,140 feet, which
is only 1,060 feet above sea level From
the state fish hatcheries 10 Meadow, a
distance o. about six miles, three val
1eys and two hills, the results OF erO-
sion Of Pennsylvania rocks, are ex-
posed. These ancient topographic
forms have since been filed and COW
cred by sandstone and clays of the
Dakota formation of the cretaceous,
and these by still later deposits. At
the hatcheries the sandstones predom-
mate and some of the beds are very
hard and dark colored. Near Meadow
quite an extensive deposit Of clay is
found In the Dakota formation of
this region there are several irreg-
ular beds Of clay
Cedar creek lies IN another Penn
sylyania valley. About one and.aone- |
half miles west of town one side Of |
the old valley is plaiDly shown. Where |
the Dakota sands Were laid against the |
Pennsylvania slales and limestones q |
small modern valley has been eroded |
The west bank Of this little valley is
limestone and shale, the east bank is
sand stones The slope of the limestone |
side is about As degrees and probably |
marks an old bluff. From this point tod
about two miles east Of Cedar creek
sands and gravels predomnate and |
mark what at some time has been |
fro Gel111 hon nal NI.t4
old valley three and one-half miles |
wide and 100 feet deep and filed with |
later deposits, is underlaid by shales
and imestones, which also make up
the sides of the valley. Some beds
found at the west bank have also beer
found at the east bank of the valley.
ard hence the evidence seems conclu- !
sixe proof of previous continuity.
The relation of the ancient topo
graphy of the present is quite marked |
Where the Dakota formation fills an
old valley and hence is quite thick, the /
tributary streams have eroded wide |
valleys and the Platte river also has
wi1ened its course Where the Da-
kota overlies the old Pennsylvanian |
hills end hence is shallow, the streams |
have been cutting into the harder |
Pennsylvania beds and have succeed |
eu III CARVING Dut narrow 20rgeS, and |
the Platte has a narrow course AS a |
result the ancient hills and valleys are
not now distinguished by differences in
elevation. but by different surface re-
lief The Pennsylvania valleys, though /
once obiterated, ar now marked by
smaller lndulating Mills and valleys,
md the Pennsylvania hills are distin
guished by a topography Of relatively
bold relief
During the week trips We're also
made 20 the old quarry opposite South
Bend from which most OF the stone
erected into the state capitol building
Was taken, TO the Green's quarry
which has furnished large outpu.
the old Stout quarry near Louisville,
famous In our carly state history and
which Is again 90 be opened soon by
HE Murphy Co, the Murphy quarries
which alone have furnished Lincoln
more than 500 carloads of crushed
stone year. the National Stsn GO,
he Atwood, and the cullom auarries.
These employ from 9s % % men eacn.
The largest owned hy the National