The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-30
North Dakota University

The NTH biennial report of the North
Dakota Geological Survey was issued
during the past summer and is now
ready for distribution. 1t forms vol
une of nearly 300 pages, with so half
tone illustrations and two geological
maps. The subjects which are dis
cussed in the report are as follows:
The Geology OF Southwestern North
Dakota with special reference to coal.
The Geology OF Northwestern North
Dakota with special reference to ce-
ment materials.
The Manufacture of Natural n.y.
draulic Cement.
Laboratory Tests in Cement Making
with North Dakota Materials.
The Geological History Of North Da-
kota
The Bottineau Gas Field.
Good Roads and Road Materials.
The first paper on the geology of
southwestern North Dakota: by DIR.
i A. C. Leonard, describes In detail the
topography and drainage of Billings
and Bowman counties, including an
account of the origin OF the famous
badlands of tine Little Missouri, de-
scription of the burning coal beds, and
the origin of the numerous buttes OF
the region.
The various geological formations
are discussed and their distribution is
shown on the. geological map accomp-
anying the paper. Some account is
given of the many fossils contained in
the rocks, which include shells, leaves
and bones OF extinc> reptiles such as
the huge dinosaur known as Tricera-
tops-a clumsy land reptile with three
horns. There are also the bones 4 of
the three-toed horse, the ancestor OF
the modern horse, and a species Of
lrhinoceros.
A large portion of this first paper is
devoted to detailed discussion of the
extensive. coal deposits of southwestern
North Dakota. So far as possible
every important coal outcrop in the
region Is described and accurately To-
Gated on the map, the thickness Of the
different seams is given and also the
exact location of tie outcrop by, sec
ton and quarter section. Ali coal
mines are likewise located and describ-
ed.
Twenty -one workable coal beds are
shown to occur in Billings county
alone, having an aggregate thickness
of 157 feet One of these seams is
known to have covered an area of at
least 500 square miles and 1t probably
had an extent Of 1000 to 1900 square
miles Many coal analysis are given
and the development of the coal re-
sources is discussed.
The paper on the geology of north
western North Dakota, by John G.
Barry and Vi Helsted, describes the
topography, drainage and geological
history Of Pembina, Cavalier. and ad-
joining, counties, and is accompanied
by a geological map of the region. It
contains detailed account of the Lake
Agassiz beaches and the location of
these is shown on the map. Particular
attention lie given to the cement re-
sources of the region and every. out
crop, of cement rock is described, it's
location given in the text and indicat-
ed by a symbol on the, map. The ce-
ment rock Is shown to have, a greater
extent than was previously supposed.
being known by its outcrops to occur
for nearly thirty miles south. of the
Canadian boundary along the western
edge of the Red river valley. Nuner-
GUS analyses are given not only OF the
cement rock but also of !. the shales
and clays suitable for brick making
". J. Melsted discusses briefly the
manufacture of natural hydraulic ce-
ment. particularly the methods adapted
to the manufacture of cement in North
Dakota. This In followed by. an ac-
count Of the laboratory tests on, ce-
ment making with North Dakota MAJ
terials.
In the chapter on the geological hts
tory of North Dakota DR. Leonard de-
scribes in popular style the develop
ment sof the state geologically from
earliest times down to the present;
how 1t has been many times submerg-
ed beneath the sea and repeatedly
elevated; how the various rock forrna-
tions were formed, and how the pres
ent physical features originated This
chapter was prepared especially for
use In the schools, in order that the
pupils and others, interested may be
informed as TO the many changes the
state has passed through before man
appeared upon the scene.
The Bottinc au gas field is described
in short paper by Mr. John @. Barry
including an account OF the depth and
occurrence Of the gas, location OF the
wells. and probable origin of the gas.
/ The subject Of good roads IL one
of great interest and Importance to the
people Of the state and the concluding
paper of the report, by w III. Clark
deals with good roads and road ma
terials The relation OF roads to top
ography and geology il pointed out
and 80 far as possible the location OF
materials suitable for road making il
given. The report contains some rules
of road building and mrtions important
types OF road making machinery
This volume OF the geological survey
should prove of interest and value Ia
the people OF the state, containing as ii
does 80 much information regarding
the natural resources. geology and top
Biography of the region A copy Of the
report can be secured free OF charge
by writing the STATE geologiat, DR.. Al
To- Leonard. Grand Forks, N. b.. ans
Ienciosing IL cents In stamps to pas
the postage. All previous reports Oh
the survey. except the flrst, can like
wise be obtained by re1nitting postage
4 The second Biennial repor deals ai-
Imoat entirely with the coal deposits oi
1.-THE state. Postage Ia IL cents.
n The third biennial report contains
8